Using a lubricant when installing spark plugs was once common practice, but today, you might want to think twice before adding anything to your spark plug threads.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Flip spare tires to make life easier for owners and techs (VIDEO)
From the factory with the spare’s valve stem pointing up, but you can flip it over and reinstall for easy checks and refills.
Three lessons from “Traffic: why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us)”
A textbook yields a few pearls of wisdom for those in the automotive biz.
The cheapest tool you can buy to turn more hours in a dead bay
Four reasons to buy a ½” breaker bar adapter.
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Fuse box-compatible circuit breakers are the ultimate spares when space is limited
Throw a set of these resettable “fuses” in your toolbox.
Miata Spotter’s Guide (VIDEO)
Learn to ID Miatas generation by generation like a pro (and from a pro!)
Texas nonprofit helps low-income vehicle owners afford auto repairs
Autocare Haven uses donations and volunteers to subsidize service for vets, seniors, single parents and others.
A day in the life of a service writer (VIDEO)
A Shop Press ode to the unsung heroes taking calls, keys, and credit cards.
Serviceability Hall of Shame: Ford Taurus Spring Shields
Ford’s so-called fix for servicing corroded front springs was something neither drivers nor dealer techs were happy about.
ABOUT SHOP PRESS
Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle. With interesting stories from around the world, features on creative people and solutions, and all kinds of other stuff that’ll make you use your mind and your hands.
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Separate gasket – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)
Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY to require a separate gasket for installation?
January Automotive Horoscopes
We read the astrological signs and predicted your automotive future.
It’s totally fine to run your fuel tank down to empty
Stop telling your customers otherwise—modern fuel systems don’t care.
LOF PSA: Don’t forget the lube job
Engine oil is a lubricant, but that’s not what the task’s title is referencing.
Best of Shop Press 2022
Our favorite and most popular articles and videos from the first year of ShopPress.com.
VIDEOS
Preston Tucker: Visionary or Villain?
The Tucker 48 had many innovative design features, but was Preston a scam artist?
Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again
Low new car inventory, inflation, and rising interest rates have all caused people to keep their vehicles at historic levels.
Witness marks: your reassembly guide when the service manual isn’t enough
Examining the parts closely can yield valuable clues for putting a machine together.