Being knowledgeable and aware of the inner workings of your vehicle can be pretty helpful at times: for instance, if your vehicle brakes start squeaking or your engine will overheat too often. Doing ...

Despite sounding like a thoroughly entertaining evening out, it is actually a description for one of the most important processes in the majority of engines. Known as the four-cycle, it is the process ...

Intake. Compression. Ignition. Exhaust. The four holy stages of the internal combustion engine. Anyone who’s ever taken shop class or watched a cheesy automotive promo video will have seen some kind ...

From a gearhead's viewpoint—take that back, anybody's informed perspective—there's one guy who stands out as a catalyst in the art of automotive as we know it. Not talking about the caveman who ...

Volkswagen isn't reinventing the way your internal combustion engine works. The automaker has, however, created a new twist on the Otto cycle that's a revised version of the Atkinson cycle. Your ...

NOTE: With this issue of HOT ROD, your Shop Series begins a slightly different and more comprehensive approach to the discussion of engine and vehicle basics. In the coming months, you'll find a frank ...