For the second consecutive weekend, Chase Elliott and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team collected a stage win and led 14 laps on their way to earning a solid, seventh-place finish at Pocono Raceway. In Sunday afternoon’s 400-mile event at Pocono, Elliott and the No. 9 team started sixth and quickly jumped into the top five, finding fourth on Lap 3. He moved up to the runner-up position as green-flag pit stops began. Before heading to pit road on Lap 23, Elliott reported that he was battling loose handling conditions with his NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. As the field cycled through green-flag pit stops, Elliott moved back inside the top five, climbing to the runner-up spot once again as the laps wound d

As complicated as modern vehicles may be, there are still a number of basic things that you can do to make sure that your ride is running properly, including checking and adjusting fluids. In addition to knowing how to check your brakes in the garage, you should also be able to ensure that your car stops properly. Performing a Systems Check Brake fluid level: With your car on a level surface, the brake fluid level should fall between the lines marked “min” and “max.” If you need to add brake fluid, only use the recommended fluid from a sealed container and follow the correct procedure, all of which can be found in your owner’s manual. Brake fluid condition: Brake fluid breaks down over time

There aren’t many places in the United States where you can drive on a beach. If you find one, then you’re in for a real treat. That is, if your vehicle is capable of tackling this difficult terrain. Before you put your wheels to the sand, here’s everything you need to know about beach driving. 1. Know the Rules If you’re going to a beach that allows vehicles on the sand, then you must familiarize yourself with the beach’s rules. They’re typically laid out on signage and affirmed online or in a brochure. First, know the difference between recommended and required equipment. If something is recommended, such as four-wheel drive, then the authorities have determined that this kind of equipment

Thermostats are very simple mechanical control devices that work until they don’t. There is usually not much in-between partial function. While they are not expensive to replace, testing one that you suspect isn’t working is a good way to narrow down a problem. If you don’t know for sure, then you are just guessing and throwing money at a problem. Thermostat testing is the best way to know for sure if this little part is doing its very big job. A Little Background Information First One of the most basic principles of physics is that energy is neither created nor destroyed; rather all energy is merely transferred from one type of energy to another. The most common transference of energy comes

Car alignment might feel like a set-it-and-forget-it maintenance item. The reality, though, is that rough roads, potholes and worn-out suspension components can all conspire to pull your vehicle’s alignment out of spec. Fortunately, there are a number of signs that your vehicle may have an alignment issue. When you discover one, you usually can get to a garage well before your vehicle incurs serious damage. Let’s take a look at three symptoms that indicate an alignment problem. 1. Uneven Tire Wear This is the big one — the most common clue that your car alignment isn’t within factory specifications. If the tires on one side of the vehicle are showing additional wear that simply isn’t visible

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS team had a strong showing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, leading 23 laps and collecting their first stage win of the season en route to a fifth-place finish. After a rain delay that spanned more than three hours, Elliott and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team started 10th on Sunday afternoon in the 301-lap event. Elliott and the No. 9 team made quick progress through the field in Stage 1. During the first few cautions of the race, Elliott radioed to crew chief Alan Gustafson that his car “felt good” and was “super grippy.” From Lap 50 to Lap 75, Elliott methodically worked his way from sixth to finish the first stage in second, earning nine stage points. D

Whether you’re dealing with dust, bird droppings, pollen or everyday road grime, the right car cleaning products will make you a master of the car wash — right at home in your own driveway. After detailing the interior, don’t just use anything to clean the body and glass. Household glass cleaner and laundry detergent might seem like good options, but using auto-specific car wash products will get your car cleaner and prevent you from damaging it in the process. Here are six must-haves. 1. Automotive Glass Cleaner Supermarket household glass cleaner might be doing your car more harm than good. True, basic glass cleaners will clean the glass, but their chemicals can ruin the dash, interior pla

You’re probably familiar with hybrid cars, and have likely seen plenty of Prius models prowling the pavement. But have you heard of a mild hybrid? While other automakers have responded to Toyota’s market-dominating Prius with standard and plug-in hybrid models, a little-known term — mild hybrid — is about to become big news. That’s because it describes models such as the 2019 Ram 1500, with more examples on the way. A Hybrid Matter Before we drill down into Ram’s new system, however, here’s a brief overview of the two most common hybrid technologies. A conventional hybrid utilizes a gas engine and one or more electric motors, which are sometimes known as generators. Electric power comes from

A puddle on the garage floor may be your first clue that something is wrong with your car. Indeed, car leaking can point to a significant problem, leading to an extensive repair. Before you panic, though, you need to determine what the leak represents. Diagnosing a leak isn’t that difficult. In fact, the color of the leak or the smell it gives off will usually point to the problem. The sooner you make a determination, the better. You can use a drip pan to capture the fluid and note the color and smell of the liquid. Here are seven visual and olfactory clues to help solve the mystery. 1. Transparent: In the Clear? The most common car leak color is transparent or clear, although if you park on

Automobiles have thousands of individual parts, ranging from screws, nuts and bolts to body panels and drivetrain components. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Ford and Nissan often turn to outside suppliers to provide them with parts. So it’s not shocking that, according to Popular Mechanics, GM is embracing an emerging technology to procure parts: 3D printing. 3D-printed parts for cars may sound somewhat far-fetched, but the benefits of the technology are tangible. Here’s a look at what exactly 3D printing is, and what it has to offer the auto industry. What is 3D Printing? 3D printing represents a manufacturing method where three-dimensional objects are formed by adding materia

Car technology has advanced to the point where cars can detect when tires need air, sense when a crash is imminent and even take appropriate countermeasures. Some models can automatically notify 911 when a crash occurs. Not all cars have these features, but they’re currently available and are making a difference — and they’re just the beginning. Soon, your car may go one step further by monitoring your personal health. Yes, even before a crisis ensues, your car may literally give you an update on your health. It’ll even be capable of potentially lifesaving responses. Car Technology: My Car, the Medic There is a convergence taking place between automobiles and technology. Ever since the feder

Is it time to change your power steering fluid? Chances are, even if you’re on top of oil changes and tire rotations, you probably haven’t given much thought to this particular aspect of automotive maintenance. There are a few reasons why this might be the case. Not every mechanic — or owner’s manual — agrees on the exact change interval for power steering fluid. Since it’s largely out of sight and out of mind, many drivers don’t swap in new fluid until a problem arises. To further complicate things, different fluids can also have different service lives. Considering all this, it’s hard to know for sure when it’s time to change your power steering fluid. Here are three ways to tell. 1. Read

As the summer heat picks up, it’s important to protect your dashboard and interior from getting damaged by the harsh rays of the sun. UV light is no joke when it comes to the materials that make up your automobile’s cabin. This is especially true if you live in a hot climate, where the sun beats down year-round and the temperatures routinely crest triple digits. Fortunately, there are a number of products and tricks that you can use to ensure your car interior looks great at the end of the summer. 1. Block It If You Can The simplest method you can use to protect your dashboard and interior is to keep them out of the sun to begin with. There are a number of strategies you can employ to get th

Whether you’re an occasional DIYer or a professional mechanic, chances are you have a few tools lying around. And since tools are the kind of things you need when you need them, you likely know the value of keeping them all neatly in one place. But with the number of tool boxes available, it can be easy to not know where to start. Here’s a look at how to choose a tool box that suits your space and project needs. Size Matters The number-one consideration when picking out a new tool box is capacity. Tool boxes come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from handheld to modest New York City apartment. If your tool collection consists entirely of Allen keys collected from Ikea purchases, you’ll be fi

Chase Elliott raced inside the top 15 throughout the 400-mile NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway before ending the night with a 13th -place finish. Elliott and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team started Saturday night’s event in 16th. By Lap 33, Elliott had moved into 13th before being shuffled outside of the top 20 after a round of green-flag pit stops midway through Stage 1. Elliott quickly worked his way back into 18th by Lap 60, and ten laps later, he was running 11th. He gained another position in the closing laps of Stage 1 to finish the segment inside the top ten. During the stage break, crew chief Alan Gustafson called the 22-year-old driver to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and

For those who work in a garage, summer can be one of the hardest seasons to get through. Oppressive heat is not only uncomfortable, but it can be deadly. Trying to cool your garage with air conditioning isn’t impossible, but it is completely cost ineffective. Luckily there are a number of things that, done together, make a big impact and can help keep your garage cool. Protection Plan The first step is best summed up in one word: insulation. Your main goal is to keep the sun and ambient heat from penetrating the walls and ceiling. You can do this by creating shade or making it as difficult as possible for heat to transfer. This plan of attack starts outside the garage. If your garage faces t

It’s summer, and that means it’s time to take classic cars out of hibernation for car show season! From local cruise nights to track days, car shows are a staple of classic family entertainment. Across the country, there are hundreds that you can participate in or enjoy as an attendee. Here’s a quick-and-dirty guide to this summer’s car shows. How to Prepare Your Classic Car for a Show Want to show off all the hard work you’ve put into your car this summer? Getting your classic featured in a car show isn’t too hard. You’ll have to meet the specific show’s standards — whether they’re by model or state of restoration — and usually pay entrance fees. Once you’re all registered, it’s time to get

In a perfect world, breakdown essentials would be neatly packed in your trunk and ready to go in the event of some unexpected automotive emergency out on the road. In reality, there’s only so much space that you can devote to carrying extra gear, fluids and supplies, which means you’ve got to pare it down to the items you’ll most likely need should a breakdown occur. Here’s a handy checklist to get you started on expecting the best, but preparing for the worst. Coolant and Oil Fluids are the lifeblood of your engine’s health and as a result should form the core of your breakdown essentials kit. The most common fluid-related issue you’ll encounter out on the road is overheating, which can hav

Engines get so hot under normal driving conditions that there is an entire system dedicated to cooling them down. That’s because an engine overheating will cause problems and even complete engine failure. Instead of shelling out thousands of dollars and enduring a ton of stress, here’s a primer on some common causes of overheating — and how to keep up with your cooling system before disaster strikes. How Your Cooling System Works The cooling system is relatively simple: A thermostat determines when the temperature is right to allow circulation. Once the car is warmed up, hot coolant flows from the engine through a radiator in order to remove heat from the liquid (by way of air and fan) befor

Buying a flood-damaged car or truck can be a risky proposition, even if you know the full story behind what happened to the vehicle. Water, sewage and salt can all do significant damage to an automobile, in ways that are often hidden or can take a long period of time to present. It can also be very difficult to fully repair these types of problems, as corrosion, mildew and rot from flood exposure become more embedded in a vehicle’s wiring system, interior and sheet metal. Here’s how to avoid buying a car or truck that might have flood damage, regardless of how clean its history report might look. 1. Don’t Trust Incredible Deals When shopping for a used vehicle, always keep in mind the old sa