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About This Quiz
The automotive world is vast, with a history that stretches all the way to the root of the automobile in 19th century Germany. Cars have been made all over the world, modified by people in their garages, and drive just about everywhere. We love our automobiles, but most people understand relatively little about them. They take their car to the shop when there's a problem, try to remember to check the oil once in a while, and pretty much hope everything will be okay. If you're reading this, likely you know more than that.
But are you a car expert? It's one thing to know the difference between a C4 and C5 Corvette, and yet another to remember the firing order of the engines. It takes a special level of interest and expertise to truly rise above pretty much everyone else, knowing things about cars no regular human would even fathom are a possibility.
This test spans automotive knowledge. You'll need to have a firm grip on repairs and maintenance, along with automotive history, engineering, and trends. Do you have what it takes to claim the title of a car expert? Take the quiz now and find out!
What do the spark plugs do in an engine?
Turns on the headlights
Light the fuel in the cylinders
Without spark plugs in a gasoline engine, your car wouldn't go anywhere. They are literally the thing that ignites the fuel in the cylinders, with oxygen in the air feeding that instant explosion, which makes the wheels turn.
Makes the radio light up
Maintain proper fuel pressure
What does the third pedal in some cars control?
Clutch
Thanks to the growing popularity of automatic transmissions and CVTs, manual transmissions aren't even available in a majority of vehicle models sold today. Still, some drivers prefer the level of control and engagement a manual transmission provides.
Overdrive
Nitrous
Turbine rate
What is the measurement of an engine's twisting power?
Twistiness
Tornado force
Torque
You'll constantly hear automakers, car reviewers, and others talk about torque. It's the thing that helps a car really get moving in a hurry from a standstill, plus it helps determine how much weight a truck or SUV can haul or tow.
Voltage
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Where does extra coolant go in a car?
In the headlights
On the ground
In the coolant overflow
Coolant expands when it heats up, so the cooling system in your car needs somewhere for it to flow when this happens. The overflow reservoir is a plastic container, not too dissimilar to a plastic orange juice jug, only it can hold hot coolant and not melt.
Into the headliner
What's one way to simultaneously change the stud pattern on a car and the wheel offset?
New wheels
Engine swap
Wheel spacer
Wheel spacers are controversial among some enthusiasts, but they can allow you to easily switch up the bolt pattern on your vehicle, since they bolt onto the hub and can feature their own bolts. They also push the wheels out, increasing the offset, if that's the look or effect you want.
Different tires
What do you call the maximum amount of water a car can cross?
Fording depth
When you ford a body of water, you cross it without putting the vehicle on a boat, raft, etc. In other words, you drive straight through the water. Taller vehicles like trucks and SUVs in general have higher fording depths, which you can increase further with a a snorkel.
Water torque
Liquidation
Liquid charge
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What car brand is famous for "adding lightness"?
Ford
BMW
Lotus
"Simplify, then add lightness," was what Lotus founder Colin Chapman was famous for saying constantly. That has become the company's mantra, with Lotus cars boasting incredibly low curb weights and designs that are simple, yet fun to drive.
Toyota
What is the purpose of a roof scoop on race cars?
Cool the engine
It looks good
Increased aerodynamics
Feed air into the cabin
In general, race cars don't have air conditioning, so the hood scoop helps direct some airflow through the cabin. Really, it's a comfort thing, plus in rally races it can keep dust from flying in through the windows.
What scandal hit Audi in the USA back in the 1980s?
Fuel economy cheating
Unintended acceleration
Americans started claiming that their Audis would accelerate out of control, causing a number of accidents. A government investigation didn't conclude there was anything wrong with the cars, but Audi's image in the country was tarnished for some time.
Emissions cheating
Fake leather
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What is the name of the only Swedish hyper car brand?
Saab
Volvo
Koenigsegg
Not only do Koenigseggs look wild, they have crazy performance to back that up. The brand has claimed all kinds of records, including a top speed record that had been set not too long before by the Bugatti Chiron.
IKEA
What is orange coolant called?
Orange Bliss
Dexcool
In the 1990s, General Motors released its own coolant called Dexcool. It's longer-lasting than other coolants since you can wait for 150,000 miles to flush it. Dexcool does have some drawbacks, with more corrosion when the coolant level gets low, and the tendency for the coolant to eat at gaskets.
Orange cool
OCool
What do you call a differential that can send different levels of torque to the different wheels?
Active differential
Torque vectoring
Some all-wheel-drive and even front-wheel-drive cars use torque vectoring as a way to improve handling in any situation, and to increase traction in slippery conditions. The technology is fairly simple, but the results are pretty amazing to experience,
Locking differential
Electronic differential
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Why do some cars shoot flames out of the tailpipe?
They're running extra rich
When a car has a mix that's extra rich, unburnt fuel will make its way into the exhaust system. Once there, it can suddenly ignite, which is what causes the flames shooting out of the exhaust tip.
They're running extra lean
They're super fast
They're using jet fuel
What does the co-driver in a rally race read out loud?
Rally notes
Pace notes
Pace notes contain detailed explanations of what's to be expected on the rally course, including junctions, turns, landmarks, etc. Being able to speak this unique language clearly in a roaring rally car is definitely a skill, especially as the car flies by trees and other obstacles.
Road notes
Car nerdese
What do you call the area between the lugs on a vehicle's tires?
Voids
The voids and lugs combine to create the tread pattern on a tire. You might not realize it, but the lugs help with traction in water, mud, snow, etc. since it gives a pathway for liquids, etc. to escape out from under the tire.
Luggers
Gappies
Anti-lugs
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What can happen if you don't tighten the gas cap on your car properly?
The car explodes
The check engine light turns on
The dreaded check engine light is perhaps one of the most misunderstood warnings on a car. In this case, the system detects there's something wrong with fuel containment, allowing vapors to escape into the air. That could be caused by a cracked gas cap, or just not tightening it until you hear one or more clicks.
The gas turns into vodka
Your car goes faster
Which Big Three American automaker produced jeeps during World War II?
Chrysler
GM
Ford
Ford, along with Willys-Overland and American Bantam Car Company stepped forward to make jeeps for the United States Army during the war. The lightweight, maneuverable, and capable vehicle quickly proved itself, becoming the envy of the Allies and Axis.
AMC
What are GDI engines?
Good diesel injection
Great doing internals
Gasoline direct injection
Gasoline direct injection means the fuel is sprayed right into the combustion chambers, instead of being pre-mixed with the air in the intake manifold. This design results in better efficiency and performance, which is why it's become quite popular.
Gasoline diesel injection
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What does a throttle spacer do?
Turbocharge the engine
Charge intake airflow
Throttle body spacers have grooves in them that are supposed to increase air velocity, charging the intake air for the engine, leading to better performance. They're controversial modifications, with some claiming they're nothing more than snake oil, while other enthusiasts swearing by them.
Supercharge the engine
Inject NOS
Why do racers do burnouts before running the quarter mile?
To look cool
To intimidate the other racer
To get some cheers
To make the tires stickier
The friction produced by a burnout heats up the tires, so they stick to the drag strip better, which helps with acceleration. Also, burnouts will clean rocks and other debris off the tires, which can cause problems on the drag strip.
What does an exhaust resonator do?
Decreases sound
Increases sound
Many people think a resonator is like a muffler, but they're pretty different. A resonator will make your exhaust louder, plus it doesn't restrict the flow of exhaust gases like a muffler, making it a popular choice for people who want the best performance possible and don't care about noise.
Spirals the exhaust
Increases back pressure
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What immediate problem can riding your brakes cause?
Spontaneous combustion
Poor fuel injection
Brake fade
Riding your brakes means the pads and rotors are rubbing together so much, a tremendous amount of heat is generated through friction. That can boil the brake fluid, leading to the brake fade issue.
Tire wear
What three technologies do Ford EcoBoost engines combine?
Direct injection, variable valve timing, and supercharging
Turbocharging, variable valve timing, and direct injection
Ford has pushed its EcoBoost engines as a way to enjoy improved fuel economy, without sacrificing performance. Many shoppers have gravitated to these engines because they provide the best of both worlds.
Variable valve timing, diesel, and turbocharging
Turbocharging, supercharging, and direct injection.
Where does the Hemi engine name come from?
Its inventor, John Hemingway
The hemispherical combustion chambers
The secret to efficiency and extreme power you get with a Hemi engine is the hemispherical combustion chambers. The design is still relevant today, which is why Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep still use Hemi engines in several high-performance models.
The double helix fuel injectors
The helical crankshaft
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If a car were to catch fire, what would happen with the nitrous oxide system?
It would explode the car like a bomb
Nothing
It would snuff out the fire
The oxygen would burn
Nitrous oxide by itself isn't explosive, but it does contain high levels of oxygen that would feed a fire. The fire would first need to reach about 565 degrees Fahrenheit, which shouldn't be difficult, then the oxygen would feed the fire, causing it to spread faster.
What is a Roots supercharger?
Essentially a turbo
A type of twin-screw design
A blower
Really a Roots supercharger has a simple design with meshing lobes that spin, forcing air through the supercharger housing and into the engine. Essentially, it's a giant air blower. You'll see this type sticking out of the hoods of old hot rods and muscle cars.
A centrifugal design
What is oversteer in a car?
When it turns wider than you want
When it turns more sharply than you might want
You might hear car reviewers and enthusiasts use this term, and it's important to get what it means. Also, understeer is when the car wants to keep going straight as you turn the wheel, making it unresponsive.
When it drifts to the side during hard acceleration
When the front tires pick up under hard acceleration
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What's the main advantage of a Boxer engine?
Lower center of gravity
Karl Benz was the first one to create this design, which gets its name because the moving pistons look like a boxer's gloves as he punches at an opponent. Since the engine sits flat, the weight sits lower, which is a big advantage for handling on a road or track.
Less complex design
Improved torque curve
A built-in turbocharger
What is overboost?
When the turbo provides full boost for a time
Some cars, like the VW GTI and Ford Focus ST have an overboost function, which temporarily sets the ECU to allow the turbo to provide full boost. That means engine output raises to a level higher than any other time, which is nice when you need an extra burst of speed.
When a turbo blows from too much boost
When the wastegate releases too much pressure
When you use NOS and a turbo
What is a shooting brake?
A station wagon
A hatchback
A two-door wagon
Shooting brakes aren't too horribly common in the United States and Canada, but they're all the rage in Europe. There are plenty of examples of these automotive masterpieces, including the Ferrari FF and BMW M Coupe.
A car with a cargo bed
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What's the big difference in the turbos for a sequential setup?
Spool rate
Size of the turbos
In a sequential turbo system, you have one smaller turbo that provides boost earlier. A second, larger turbo provides even more boost, but takes more time to spool up. This design eliminates the turbo lag you get in a traditional twin turbo setup.
Housing material
Wastegate placement
What vehicle is often referred to as "Godzilla"?
Toyota Supra
Mazda RX-7
Nissan Skyline GT-R
Thanks to its absolute dominance in racing, journalists started referring to the Skyline GT-R as Godzilla. The name stuck, and ever since has been applied to the car, and more recently to the Nissan GT-R, which carries on that legacy.
Dodge Viper SRT-10
Which of the following technologies wasn't included on the Porsche 959?
Electronically-controlled ride height and damping
Anti-lock brakes
Computer-controlled hydraulic clutches for the center differential
Backup camera
Many people in the 1980s thought the Porsche 959 was excessive in many ways, thanks to the advanced onboard technologies included on the car. That's funny, because many of those technologies are included on non-exotic vehicles today.
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For what was the Plymouth Superbird primarily created?
Rich people
Better Dodge Charger sales
NASCAR
Chrysler took the Plymouth Road Runner and modified it big time, including putting a nose cone on the front and a humongous wing on the rear, all in the name of having the ultimate NASCAR racer. It mirrored a lot of the modifications used in the Dodge Charger Daytona, becoming a dominant force in races.
The Plymouth CEO
What is Quattro on modern Audis?
Four-wheel drive
All-wheel drive
Audi demonstrated the superiority of all-wheel drive in tough environments in Group B rally races of the early 1980s. Since then, the German automaker has perfected this technology, which gets its name from the Spanish word for "four."
Anti-lock disc brakes
Traction control
You Got:
/35
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