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Don’t Forget to Season the Automobiles, Mechanics!

I guess after you watch the following video, you won’t need much commentary. I thought this was common knowledge, but as I’ll explain in a moment, I may be wrong.I thought it necessary because a good friend at an independent repair facility recently bemoaned the fact...

Coolant Service – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing proper cooling system maintenance. Technician A says that time and mileage should be considered but are not the only factors to consider when recommending a cooling system service to a customer. Technician B...

What are Frits? (And Why Does Almost Every Car Have Them?)

It’s a pretty safe bet that most younger techs haven’t heard of frits before. Not one single customer, ever, has come into your shop looking for some help with a frit problem. So while this article won’t help you turn bays faster or improve your diagnostic skills,...

Cat DTC Diagnosis (P0420) – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A and Technician B are discussing the troubleshooting procedure for a P0420 (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold) DTC. Technician A says that the presence of any other codes should be considered first before replacing the converter. Technician B...

What Shape Is a Piston?

At this late date, if you work in a standard automotive facility servicing late-model vehicles, it’s probably infrequently you even see—let alone think about—pistons. However, if you are in a rebuild shop, a race environment, or the antique space, seeing a set of...

Cabin Filters – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that cabin air filters protect the occupants from over 200 known contaminants found in a typical car’s passenger compartment. Technician B says that the cabin air filter protects the evaporator core from copper particles emitted by the...

Should You Replace That Damaged Plastic Intake Manifold?

It seems like plastic is everywhere under the hood of a modern car. You even have to remove a plastic cover to find the engine! But plastic and composite parts like distributor caps and ignition coil housings have been in use for over 100 years. In the 1970s,...

Godspeed, Pat

Godspeed, Pat

Pat Goss died on March 19, 2022, at the age of 77. Pat owned auto repair shops in Maryland, and he also was heard on the radio, where he hosted multiple car shows. Pat also made a weekly appearance on YouTube for many years, but you probably know him best for the...
Meet the best auto tech in the United States

Meet the best auto tech in the United States

When Logan Brown first heard about a national auto technician skills competition, he was slightly skeptical. “Who the hell’s going to pay a technician $40,000 to show off his skills?” he said recently. The answer was the first annual U.S. Auto Tech National...