What is a Muffler?
The main function of a muffler is to reduce the sound level of an exhaust stream, but they can also serve aesthetic and other purposes.
Tagged: definitions
What is an Exhaust System?
From the headers to the tailpipe, every automotive exhaust system has a number of important tasks that it must accomplish.
The History of Antifreeze
The history of antifreeze has three main players, one of which may be poised to make a comeback.
What is Antifreeze?
Antifreeze is a chemical additive that is used to lower the freezing point of water. Ethylene glycol has been the dominant antifreeze for half a century, but recent studies are indicating the possible return of a long-forgotten solution to this age-old problem.
What is an Automotive Fuse?
An automotive fuse is like a safety valve that can protect the electronics in your car by failing before anything else can be damaged.
What is a Radiator?
Radiators are the components in water cooling systems that actually remove heat from the coolant via the mechanism of convection.
What is a Drive Belt?
Drive belts transfer power from the crank or camshaft to the alternator, air conditioner, and other accessories. The first belts were leather, but they’ve been made from rubber and various polymers since the 1920s.
What is a Thermostat?
The purpose of a thermostat is to regulate engine temperature by controlling the flow of coolant. These remarkably simple components have remained relatively unchanged for almost half a century.
What is a Blower Motor?
A blower motor is a simple DC electric motor equipped with a fan cage. These devices are installed in heater boxes and can blow either hot or cold air through the HVAC ducting and vents depending on how the climate controls are set.
What is a Fuel Gauge?
Early motorists went for a surprisingly long time without fuel gauges. The first “gauges” were actually yard sticks, the first dash-mounted gauge didn’t appear until 1914, and even then most fuel gauges were mechanical and read at the tank.
