Exhaust Knowledge This guide is intended to provide you with a basic understanding of how to replace exhaust system components; not to provide in-depth knowledge of engine operation or exhaust systems. It will assume that you are familiar with the basic components of an exhaust system such as...

Spark plugs are one of the most misunderstood components of an engine. Numerous questions have surfaced over the years, leaving many people confused. This guide was designed to assist the technician, hobbyist, or race mechanic in understanding, using, and troubleshooting spark plugs. The...

The Basics The key parts of any camshaft are the lobes. As the camshaft spins, the lobes open and close the intake and exhaust valves in time with the motion of the piston. It turns out that there is a direct relationship between the shape of the cam lobes and the way the engine performs in...

A turbo can significantly boost an engine's horsepower without significantly increasing its weight, and that is the huge benefit that makes turbos so popular! Turbochargers are a type of forced induction system. They compress the air flowing into the engine. The advantage of compressing the air...

Forced Induction You probably know that in an automobile engine the pistons go up and down, and this makes the wheels go round and round. It's the down stroke that sends the driving force to the wheels, and the more powerful the down force, the more horsepower you have. The way to get more...

What is nitrous used for ? I am sure the air in heaven must be this wonder working gas of delight". So wrote poet Robert Southey of nitrous oxide, N2O, also known as nitrogen oxide, dinitrogen monoxide, hyponitrous acid anhydride and facticious air. However, its most well known name is...

Torque   Torque is a force that tends to rotate or turn things. You generate a torque any time you apply a force using a wrench. Tightening the lug nuts on your wheels is a good example. When you use a wrench, you apply a force to the handle. This force creates a torque on the lug nut,...

Horsepower The term horsepower was invented by the engineer James Watt. Watt lived from 1736 to 1819 and is most famous for his work on improving the performance of steam engines. We are also reminded of him every day when we talk about 60-watt light bulbs. The story goes that Watt was...