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About This Quiz
Cars are getting more complex, with onboard computer diagnostics and the like, but some of us still like to pick up a wrench ... or, for money reasons, have to! How much do you know about keeping your ride running? Find out now with our quiz!
How often should you change your car's oil?
every 3,000 miles
every 5,000 miles
every 7,500 miles
there's no consensus on this anymore
Want to start an argument among car buffs? Ask this question! Once upon a time, the 3,000-mile rule was golden, but newer cars don't need such frequent changes. However, if you drive a lot of short trips with stops and starts, or in inclement weather, you might need to change the oil more often. Every 5,000 miles might be a good choice.
How long should you run the engine before checking the oil?
five minutes
fifteen minutes
however long it takes to completely warm up the engine
this should be done cold
The best time to check the oil level is before the car's first start-up of the day. That'll give you the most accurate reading on the dipstick.
Approximately how long should you let the engine run before changing the oil?
five minutes
Five minutes is enough to circulate the oil and thin it out. Any longer, and you risk burning your hands on hot oil and/or engine parts.
fifteen minutes
however long it takes to get the engine and oil fully warmed up
oil changes should be done cold as well
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Which of these will you NOT need to work under your car?
jack
jack stands
drop light
timing light
If you said "jack stands," go to your room! One of the most dangerous things you can do as a shade-tree mechanic is go under the car using only a jack. Always use jack stands as well.
You can get better gas mileage if you, among other things, keep _________.
your timing belt taut
your gas tank topped up
your tires well-inflated
Don't laugh at that person at the gas station who's always crouched by the air hose, trying to keep his or her clothes clean while adding air to the tires. It really helps with mileage, as well as acceleration when you need to pass. Just don't overdo it -- over-inflated tires can make for a rough ride.
a crucifix hanging from the rearview mirror
Which of these is useful in checking tire tread wear?
silly putty
a nail file
a penny
Here's the penny trick: Slip a penny into the tread with Abe Lincoln's head upside down (going in first). In a fresh new tire, his head should disappear. If you can see his whole head, it's time to replace your tire.
a sewing needle
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How long does your car need to warm up before you drive it?
two minutes
three minutes
five minutes
it depends on your car's year
Today's cars don't need to idle for minutes after the first start-up of the day. This was common practice back in the day, but no longer -- and it just wastes gas and hurts air quality.
What would you use a lug wrench for?
changing a tire
This wrench is for the big lug nuts on the wheel. Don't forget to loosen and tighten them in the right order -- opposite-to-opposite, not going around the wheel in a circle.
replacing an air filter
replacing an oil filter
rebuilding a carburetor
Does premium gasoline improve a car's performance?
yes
no
Here's the skinny from the Car Talk guys, Tom and Ray Magliozzi: "It's true that premium gasoline does contain special or extra detergents, but in our opinion they're of no added benefit." Neither does it give you better mileage. Ignore the sales pitch, even if your dealer's warranty specifies using premium gas in your new ride.
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Which of these problems can stop a car in its tracks?
a broken timing belt
a blown fuel-pump fuse
an overheated radiator
both #1 and #2
An overheated radiator is a problem, but it's a problem that gives you time to find a freeway exit, maybe even get to a service station. When the timing belt snaps or the fuel pump fuse blows, it's lights out, right away.
Which of these will you only find in an older car?
brake lines
carburetor
Fuel-injection systems replaced carburetors, starting in the 1980s. Carburetors are easier to work on at home -- some skilled mechanics even like to rebuild them.
spark plugs
starter motor
Where do you usually find the fuse box in your car?
at the back of the glove box
right next to the battery
in the trunk
under the dashboard
It's useful to locate this before you need it; it's not usually difficult to reach. Then carry some spare fuses in the glove box, so you'll have them when you need them.
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Which of these is a very complex job for a DIY mechanic?
changing the oil
changing the coolant
replacing spark plugs
a ring job
If your piston rings are loose, you're losing compression and need a "ring job." This requires disassembly of the engine and is not to be undertaken lightly. Happily, it's usually a problem for older cars only.
Which of these is closely related to a ring job (and about as hard)?
brake job
dipstick job
transmission job
valve job
A valve job means cleaning carbon deposits off the valves to improve compression. It is difficult and time-consuming, and fortunately, with better-made engines, it isn't often needed in newer cars.
Which of these might actually be the problem when your engine is overheating?
the accessory belt
Why should a belt affect the cooling system? According to car expert Deanna Sclar, this is because the accessory belt drives the water pump. Ah... all is becoming clear! This is one of several issues that can cause overheating.
a poor grade of gasoline
inadequate tire pressure
the starter motor
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Why does keeping your engine oil at sufficient levels prevent overheating?
adequate engine oil reduces waste heat
As with the other tip on overheating, this one comes from Deanna Sclar. It's one of several reasons to keep a close eye on the level and the cleanliness of your car's oil.
oil is inherently low-temperature
the cooling system is powered by engine oil
it doesn't
Which of these is used to check the engine oil level?
a dipstick
You'll use a funnel to add oil, but not to check it. To do that, you'll just need a clean rag and knowledge of where to find the handle of the dipstick.
a funnel
a hex wrench
a timing light
In hot summers, you will need to use ______ engine oil.
lighter
heavier
more
modern cars do not need different weights of oil
In years past, people would put a lighter-weight oil in their car during the cold winter months, to keep it circulating freely, and a heavier weight in the summer. Not anymore; engines are much improved since then. Use the oil your owner's manual recommends, year-round.
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True or false: Is it important to buy motor oil from your dealer?
true
false
If there is an automaker that also produces its own engine oil, we can't think who it is! The big carmakers are simply re-branding engine oil with their own name. Save some money and go to a regular auto parts store instead.
The air filter should be changed every ________.
5,000 miles
10,000 miles
20,000 miles
Though the idea of a car that runs on air sounds like the stuff of urban legend, it's kind of true! Your car doesn't just run on gas, but on a fuel-air mixture that explodes in the cylinder. So changing the air filter is important. Fortunately, the filters last much longer than engine oil.
six months, regardless of miles
Which of these is harder on your engine?
a 100-mile trip on the highway, at about 65 mph
100 miles of town driving at 25-30 mph
The disconnect here is tha we tend to think of our cars as like our bodies: it'd be much, much easier to jog 5 miles at a medium pace on 20 different days than to run 100 miles at once at a high speed! But cars aren't like bodies; once machines start running, they like to keep running. Stops and starts are actually harder on your car than consistent operation at freeway speed. This is why you might need to change oil more often if you do a lot of town driving.
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Under what circumstances should you disconnect your car's battery?
during a lightning storm
in very cold weather
when on an extended vacation
If you're storing your car or going on a long trip, disconnecting the battery will keep various devices (onboard computer, etc) from slow draining it. (And yes, the fourth option is a joke -- we know you can't drive with a disconnected battery!)
when driving through deep standing water
How many batteries does a hybrid car have?
one
two
A hybrid car has a regular battery of the kind you can pick up at Pep Boys. But it also has the hybrid battery, which is much more complex and expensive to replace. If you need to store your hybrid car, talk to a qualified mechanic about how to disconnect the hybrid battery so it doesn't die.
three
a hybrid car doesn't use a battery
Which of these should you never do around an exposed engine?
drink a cup of coffee
smoke a cigarette
Obviously, a lit cigarette is dangerous in a garage. A cup of coffee and/or a sandwich are actually important accessories to lengthy engine work. That is, if you find yourself getting frustrated with a job that's not going well, take a break before you skin your knuckles, break off a spark plug or something similar.
actually, you shouldn't smoke ever
Ma? Is that you?!
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Which of these will you NOT need to clean your battery terminals?
baking soda
petroleum jelly
an old toothbrush
pipe-stem cleaners
Corrosion tends to build up on car batteries. Remove it by disconnecting the cables and scrubbing them gently with baking soda on a damp toothbrush. A coating of petroleum jelly finishes the job.
Which battery cable should be disconnected first?
the positive
the negative
If you have a background in finance, don't get confused here. With car batteries, red marks the positive cable/terminal and black the negative -- the opposite of the financial world, where red means debt and being "in the black" means you're on the positive side of the ledger.
it doesn't matter
Which of these don't mix?
water and coolant
green and orange coolant
Technically, these are called ethylene gycol (green) and Dexcool (orange). Mixed together, they will thicken and clog up engine parts -- so don't do it. On the other hand, diluting with water is safe; in fact, with some coolants it's necessary.
different weights of engine oil
different brands of engine oil
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Where would you find an idle speed screw?
on the gas pedal
on the starter motor
in the cooling system
on a carburetor
The idle speed screw, as the name suggests, adjusts the speed (okay, RPMs) at which the engine idles. So if your older car is idling high and wasting gas, tighten up the screw and fix the problem.
Dim headlights can be a sign of ______.
low-quality fuel
poor-quality spark plugs
a battery issue
If your headlights seem underpowered, don't replace them until you've cleaned the battery terminals and checked the cables for fraying and wear. If that's not the problem, a new battery altogether might take care of the problem.
poor gas mileage
When is a likely time for a timing or multi-accessory belt to break?
just after being replaced
It's easy to relax after you've replaced a belt: "I won't have to worry about that for a while!" But a new belt, put on too tight, can easily snap. Check it after driving a few miles, and make sure there's a little bit of give (no more than a half inch). This can save you a breakdown.
very hot days
on trips under five miles
on a cold night when you left your cell phone at home
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Which of these is not used in car maintenance?
a hammer
slip-joint pliers
a socket wrench
all of these might be used
If this answer surprised you, it was because of the hammer, right? Okay, a hammer isn't an everyday tool in car repair, but "percussion" with a ball-peen hammer actually does loosen up tough nuts and bolts. Just don't go crazy with it.
Which of these can be famously hard to remove?
the oil dipstick
the fan
the idle speed screw
spark plugs
Spark plugs are notorious for settling into the engine and never, ever wanting to leave. Don't feel like a failure if you have to have your spark plugs replaced by a professional mechanic.
In an emergency, will your cooling system run on just water?
yes
This is true of most cars, though if you have a very recent and high-tech model, you might want to check your owner's manual. For everyday use, coolant is better, because it doubles as antifreeze.
no
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Which of these has a sweet taste, tempting to pets?
coolant
Like motor oil, coolant is toxic and should be recycled. But its appeal to cats and dogs is an extra reason that you shouldn't let any spill on the ground.
gasoline
motor oil
windshield-wiper fluid
Will keeping your car clean make it run better?
of course!
no, not really
Okay, you could strain to find ways that cleanliness leads to better function -- like if rust got so out of hand it affected the engine or power train. But generally, the correlation between clean cars and healthy ones isn't causative. It's just that people who like to spend time keeping the engine purring tend to want their ride to look its best, too.
You Got:
/35
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