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About This Quiz
Are you constantly thinking about cars? Do you have high-octane fuel flowing through your veins? Do you look up what car museums, tracks, etc. are in a place before deciding to go on vacation there? Do you use Armor All on your dashboard every day? You're likely a real gearhead, sometimes referred to as a car nerd or automotive genius.ÂÂ
For most people, cars are a bit of a mystery. They might admire a Porsche or Corvette as it passes, but they have no idea what's under the curvaceous body panels. True car experts can start reciting all kinds of facts about vehicles as they pass, their knowledge going beyond just a single brand or type of car. To reach that level, you need to be studious, obsessed and always looking to learn more about vehicles.ÂÂ
There's a lot to know about cars, considering they're been in existence since the 1800s and have been manufactured all over the globe. Plenty of automakers have come and gone, along with numerous technologies and designs. There's also car culture, motorsports and historical breakthroughs, to name a few more knowledge categories.ÂÂ
Are you ready to get behind the wheel and prove your car smarts? Take this quiz now! ÂÂ
Which automaker uses VTEC for its engines?
Holden
Honda
VTEC, which stands for Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control, was created by Honda in 1983 as a way to push the limits of efficiency for the four-stroke engine. The result is better performance at higher RPMs, meaning the engines behave normally when driven at low to mid RPMs.
Ferrari
Jaguar
What's the biggest automotive market in the world?
United States
Canada
China
Dating back to 2008, the Chinese auto market has been the largest in the world, when it comes to the number of cars sold. That fact means many automakers concentrate on what Chinese consumers want when developing certain vehicles.
Germany
Which of the following is a reason why drag racers do a burnout before a race?
to gain the popular vote
for world peace
to heat the engine all the way up
to heat up the tires
While burnouts look cool, they heat up tires, which helps with traction for a better off-the-line start, especially if a car is using racing slicks. A burnout will also shed rocks and other debris that might have stuck to the tires, keeping the track free of extra stuff.
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Why do many Porsches feature the ignition on the left of the steering wheel and not the right like most cars?
better theft protection
quicker starts
Porsche started installing ignitions on the left side of the steering wheel thanks to the brand's competing in Le Mans races. This enabled drivers to run to the car, jump in, shift into first while turning on the engine, giving them a slight time advantage.
a famous Porsche engineer was left-handed
Porsche likes to screw with people
What does shifting an automatic transmission into drive while the car is still rolling into neutral do?
puts extra wear on the drivetrain components
No, doing this won't make your transmission suddenly fall out of the car, or trigger a huge explosion in the engine, despite what some people believe. But, it does put an extra strain on numerous drivetrain components, because you're suddenly slamming the car into drive while everything's moving in the other direction, which can lead to some expensive repairs far earlier.
throw a rod
explode the transmission
shear the flywheel clean off
What's the main point of slotted rotors?
they look cool
expel excess heat faster
Slotting cut into brake rotors, as well as cross-drilling and also vented rotor designs, are all about shedding heat built up from friction between the brake pads and rotors. They provide the heat with a pathway to escape quickly, like taking the lid off a pot of boiling water, avoiding risks like brake fade.
they make you turn more precisely
they drop curb weight
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What country was the first car created in?
USA
Japan
Germany
While there's some controversy over whether the three-wheeled car with a one-cylinder two-stroke engine invented by Carl Benz was indeed the first car, most people accept that it was.
Egypt
As outdoor temperatures drop, what happens to your tires' air pressure?
It stagnates.
It decreases.
The air in your tires is absolutely affected by temperature, because it's a gas. At the beginning of winter you need to pay attention to air pressure, because it can drop, reducing traction. In the summer your tires might become overinflated, increasing the risk of a blowout.
It increases.
nothing
What do you call vents in a car's hood that are designed to let air out and not in?
air foils
ram air
hood scoops
heat extractors
Some high-performance cars have heat extractors to keep temperatures under the hood from getting out of control. Often, air enters through the front fascia and is channel over the engine before leaving through the extractor.
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What were the original Jeeps used to do?
have fun in Moab
win the Baja 1000
transport military personnel during WWII
The US military originally commissioned Jeeps to be made en masse during WWII as an agile transport. It even served as a reconnaissance vehicle, running behind enemy lines by going off the roads and allowing GIs to scout enemy positions.
climb Mount McKinley
Which of the following could happen if you pulled a car's parking brake at speed?
the car rockets ahead
it will start driving backwards
the car spins out of control
There's a reason why a parking brake is called what it is, because you're only supposed to use it once the vehicle is stationary. If you need to slow down at speed, let off the accelerator or press the brake pedal.
one huge burnout
Which of the following isn't an angle that matters when off-roading?
breakout
Before you take a vehicle on trails and start climbing over obstacles, you need to have a solid understanding of the approach, breakover and departure angles. Knowing these will help you not get stuck or caught in a dangerous situation.
approach
breakover
departure
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Why do some race cars zig-zag on the track before a race begins?
It's a silly tradition.
It keeps the tires heated up.
When following the pace car, you'll notice many NASCAR, F1 and other racers zig-zag the car, which builds up heat through the extra friction. That heat makes the tires stickier, improving handling, acceleration and even braking performance.
to test the suspension
to recalibrate the steering
What are wheel chocks for?
to keep wheels on the ground from moving at all
Wheel chocks can be made out of a variety of materials, but they're made into a wedge-like shape. One side sits flat on the ground, while another has a tread pattern on it, keeping the tires from slipping, so the car stays stationary when you only have one end on jack stands or ramps.
to push the wheels further out from the hubs
to tuck the wheels more into the wheel wells
to clean brake dust off the wheels
Where did the boxer engine get its name?
the dog breed
They were originally made of crates called boxes.
the Porsche Boxer
from the piston movements looking like a boxer punching
If you look at a four-cylinder boxer or flat engine from the top-down, and could see the internal movements, you'd notice that the cylinders on each side alternate strokes, making them look similar to a boxer punching a bag while practicing.
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Why did people have to crank engines manually back in the day?
It was good exercise.
They used 6-stroke engines.
They lacked modern starters.
Back in the day, many cars didn't have a starter like what we benefit from today, so drivers had to use the manual crank to fire up the engine. It wasn't exactly a convenient method, plus sometimes engines would kick back, making the crank move the other direction, which could be dangerous.
The engines lacked a crankshaft.
What's the first step in taking the wheel off a car, if you're using a tire iron instead of air tools?
slightly loosen the lug nuts
The lug nuts on your car's wheels should be tightened quite securely, so loosening them at first requires a bit of force. You can't do that once the car is on a jack, otherwise you risk knocking it off the jack, so loosen the lug nuts slightly, then jack up the car and remove the lug nuts the rest of the way.
Jack it up.
Drive it onto ramps.
Hit the wheels with a hammer.
What lowers the coolant temperature as it flows through a radiator?
water
air
As the car drives and coolant flows through the radiator, air flows through the radiator. The heat from the coolant transfers to the air, thanks to small fins that are attached to the passageways where the coolant travels.
dry ice
magic
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What is GM's magnetic suspension damping system called?
MagneRide
The MagneRide system boosts performance and isolates everyone in a vehicle from harsh road conditions, thanks to shock absorbers filled with a mixture of iron particles floating in synthetic hydrocarbon oil, which can quickly be magnetized to stiffen or soften the suspension as needed.
Magnesuspense
Magnetic Dampening
IronClad
How is a twin-turbo system different from a biturbo setup?
It's superior in every way.
Twin turbo usually means sequential turbochargers.
While some people may use the two terms interchangeably, in general a twin-turbo system has sequential turbos. That means one is a small turbo that spools up quickly, proving boost a low RPMs, while the second is larger and helps with high-end power. Biturbo setups usually feature two turbos of the same size, but that get their exhaust gases from only half of the cylinders each.
Twin turbo features turbos that are exactly alike.
They're the same thing.
What was the first mass-produced car with electronic fuel injection?
Chevrolet Corvair
Chevrolet Corvette
Honda Civic
Volkswagen 1600
Bosch was a pioneer in electronic fuel injection, which the components producer used successfully in the 1967 Volkswagen 1600, making it the first mass-produced car to use the technology. The improved fuel efficiency became popular during the oil crisis a short time later, and the push for improved vehicle emissions also encourage automakers to use the tech.
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Where does NASCAR trace its origins back to?
Germany
bootleggers
During Prohibition in the United States, people in the Appalachian area came up with a creative way to get bootlegged alcohol to speakeasies. They would hire young men with cars that looked stock, but were modified to outrun the police, which led to the creation of NASCAR.
Formula One
Ford
What is brake fade?
You lightly apply the brakes going into a turn.
when the emergency brake slowly stops working
temporary reduction or complete loss of braking power
Brake fade happens when the brake pads and rotors rubbing against each other don't generate enough friction to slow or stop a vehicle consistently. It's a temporary condition that goes away once the pads and rotors cool some.
a method in hypermiling to increase fuel economy
What's the biggest advantage of a mid-engine layout for a car?
more even weight distribution
Having a big, heavy engine sitting at the front or rear of a car creates an imbalance in how the weight is spread out, which negatively impacts handling and braking performance. Of course, a mid-engine layout means the vehicle can only have two seats, so it's not always practical.
It allows for more seating space.
The engine cools more rapidly.
You don't risk the engine flooding.
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What type of engine definitely won't become damaged if the timing belt or chain breaks?
flat
interference
mnemonic
non-interference
A timing chain or belt helps ensure the pistons and valves in an interference engine don't cross paths and collide. That means if the chain or belt breaks, you likely will have to replace several engine components.
Which of the following is a possible cause of a car always having a thick, white exhaust cloud?
bad valve springs
blown head gasket
When you first start up an engine, the exhaust might appear white, but as you drive and the engine reaches its normal operating temperature, that should no longer be the case. White smoke usually indicates the cylinders are burning coolant, which usually happens because the head gasket is blow, but a cracked block is another possibility.
blown catalytic converter
The oil is too old.
Which of the following is not something the oil does in an engine?
soaks up heat
lubricates parts
elongates belt life
The oil in your car's engine performs several vital functions, but as it becomes dirty and the viscosity breaks down, those benefits start to go away. That's why you need to be diligent about changing the oil regularly.
removes deposits
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Why should you torque bolts on a car to spec?
You avoid damaging the bolts.
The components don't come loose at speed.
The car runs just as it was designed.
All of these are correct.
If you're going to do work on your car, always use a torque wrench and look up the torque values for the bolts and other fasteners, as specified by the automaker. You'll avoid plenty of problems doing this.
When off-roaders talk about protecting the pumpkin on their rig, what are they referring to?
their head
the engine
the differential
When you're rolling over big rocks or fallen trees, the differential is at risk of getting damaged, since it hangs lower than most other components in the chassis. If you puncture the cover, fluid might leak out and cause the differential to seize, which is a costly repair.
the winch
What was the big deal about the BMW 2002?
It only sipped gas
It was sporty and fun
While you might think BMW is an exciting, performance-oriented brand, that wasn't always the image portrayed by the brand. It was the 2002 with its 2.0-liter engine and tight handling that first really established Bimmers as fun cars made for enthusiasts.
It was more affordable than a Ford Escort
It used a four-cycle engine
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Which wasn't a reason Mazda stopped using the rotary engine?
It burns oil.
Nobody wanted them.
The Wankel rotary engine provides some amazing benefits, including smooth power delivery, amazing weight-to-power ratios and fewer moving parts than other engines. Those pluses were outweighed by the drawbacks, especially when it came to fuel efficiency and emissions.
inefficient design
poor emissions
What's one of the main advantages of direct fuel injection?
high compression
greater efficiency
Direct or port injection engines not only are more efficient, they often produce higher output for improved performance. That doesn't mean there aren't drawbacks, namely the valves getting dirtier over time.
no need for turbocharging
nitrous oxide mixed into the fuel
Which of the following is one advantage provided by integrated exhaust manifolds?
They have larger collectors.
They're always made of carbon fiber.
Exhaust gases are liquid-cooled.
Integrated exhaust manifolds don't take up as much space in the engine compartment, they weigh less, plus they reduce turbo lag and help the engine reach operating temperature faster, which is why they're catching on.
They contain twin turbos.
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What's the purpose of a turbo wastegate?
It sounds cool.
to inject nitrous oxide
to maintain safe boost pressures
Without a wastegate, you could easily blow your turbo accidentally if it produces too much pressure. Everything mechanical has its limits, and the wastegate helps the turbo stay within its limits.
to allow for water injection
What are trophy trucks built for?
rock crawling
fording rivers
high-speed off-road races
The specs for a trophy truck mostly relate to safety standards, but they usually feature a high-powered engine and long travel suspensions. These are purpose-built trucks usually never used on the street.
drag racing
You Got:
/35
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