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12 Bonehead Basics of Car Maintenance
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You know, That Guy who thinks that the best way to keep a car from overheating is to roll down the window. That Guy who hires the neighborhood kid to wash his car 'cause he’s allergic to “going outside and doing things.” There are lots of ways to be That Guy, but only one way not

to be: by regaining your self-sufficiency and learning the basics about car care. Using STP® is a good first step. And while we can’t do the rest for you, we'll give you a few pointers. Check out the tutorials. Take a look at the videos. And get under your hood. Good luck, and Don't Be That Guy.

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  • Dec
    07
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    FWD & RWD: A Primer

    Posted in: This Guy Wisdom, Tips and Tricks: Under the Hood, Car Knowledge
    Shaq Diesel
    I eat your Slim Jim.

    Howdy, chief. Last week I posted an entry about how to install tire chains, and it raised two interesting questions worth addressing here today: Do Sasquatches really eat Slim Jims, and what are the main differences between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive in your car? Here we go:

    1) Sasquatches will eat any processed and/or dried meats, including Slim Jims, Snausages, jerky, Spam, Treet, and all potted meat food products. What I failed to mention in last week’s post is that all Sasquatches possess telepathic abilities. This, coupled with a keen sense of smell, means that if you’ve got a Slim Jim stashed in your gear, the Sasquatch will find it and devour it. This is reason #108 why you should never hide meat in your pants.

    2) And what exactly is the difference between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive? Here’s a primer for the uninitiated:

    Front-wheel drive (FWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) simply refer to which wheels are powered by the engine, the front wheels or the rear wheels. Both FWD and RWD vehicles have their advantages and disadvantages, and each have their own camps of supporters and detractors.

    FWD vehicles tend to offer more interior space than RWD vehicles because the engine, the drive wheels, and the drive shaft are all situated in one location at the front of the car. In a RWD vehicle, you have to run a drive shaft tunnel through the center of the car to power the rear wheels, and this takes up valuable space inside the car. So FWD vehicles tend to be roomier inside. Also, FWD vehicles have fewer parts (no drive shaft tunnel, for example) than RWD vehicles, which means that FWD vehicles actually weigh less. And pulling less weight means that FWD vehicles are more fuel-efficient than RWD vehicles.

    But many people — especially advanced and professional drivers — prefer RWD vehicles because they handle better in icy conditions, offer better traction and better braking, and can accommodate powerful engines like the Inline 6 and 90˚ big-bore V8. And besides, it’s more difficult to do a sweet move like the Tokyo Drift in a FWD vehicle, and this makes Vin Diesel angry. And you don’t want to make Vin Diesel angry. Like the Sasquatch, he too possesses telepathic abilities and a love of Slim Jims.

    That’s it for today, chief. Until next time: Travel safe, live smart, and get your hands dirty. And if you’ve got any meat in your pants, you may want to consider dumping it before a bear or a wolf or Vin Diesel catches your scent.

    —RC, STP® blogger

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