Yes! Your Car Has Two Different Air Filters
Issue 16 • Engine & Transmission Tip If you’re now asking yourself: “My car has air filters?” You’re in the right place. Probably one of the most overlooked protective consumable items your car relies on the engine and cabin air filters. When you get your inspection any good shop, or even your oil-change place, will […]
Engine Alternator
Issue 11 • Engine & Transmission Tips No great story ever started with “I remember when my alternator failed.” Inside your engine is something called an “alternator”. The alternator is an electrical generator powered by the centrifugal force of your engine, made possible by a series of pullies and belts connected to your motor’s crankshaft. […]
Your VIN Number Speaks Volumes About Your Vehicle
Issue 15 • Engine & Transmission Tips Every production car manufactured in the United States has a VIN, or vehicle identification number. This 17-digit code is like the fingerprint of your automobile, as no two are the same. As you can imagine, each digit, and its corresponding position in the code, contains specific details about […]
Fraser’s Quick Guide To Understanding and Maintaining Your Brakes
Issue 14 • Engine & Transmission Tips Brakes are the most essential safety system in your car, as they stop your vehicle when necessary. Production automobiles have brakes on all four wheels. Some cars have a ‘drum’ brake assembly on the back wheels, but this configuration is notably less-efficient and exists on vehicles in the […]
What The Heck Is Engine Tuning? Benefits vs. Risks Explored
Issue 10 • Engine & Transmission Tips First, What exactly is Engine Tuning? Engine tuning adjusts the performance of your vehicle’s engine and drivetrain by modifying the behavior of varying engine components. The majority of these “tweaks” are done via the ECU, (Engine Control Unit), sometimes referred to as the ECM (Engine Control Module) Commonly, […]
Transmission Failure
Issue 9 • Engine & Transmission Tips Tell-Tale Signs, It’s Time For A Transmission Rebuild or Replacement NOTE: For editorial purposes, the information below applies to both manual and automatic transmissions. We will use the terms “when you shift” for both types and when specific, MT for manual transmission and AT for Automatic Transmission. The […]
Take Care of Your Car, and You’ll take Care of Your Wallet
Issue 7 • Engine & Transmission Tips Vehicle Maintenance You Can Do! Maybe you’re a new teen driver, with a new-to-you vehicle, or perhaps you just want to know what maintenance you can do yourself (DIY) that will save you money. And doing some of these simple tasks will definitely save you bank. Think about […]
Motor oils and filters can make all difference in the life of your car
Issue 6 • Engine & Transmission Tip Here at Fraser Engines, we build a LOT of engines, and of course, we know about engine oils and filters. Without getting overly technical, we’d like you to know the major oil options for your car, as well as the differences in oil filters, and trust us, there […]
Engine Noises – How to listen to what your car is telling you
Issue 4 • Engine & Transmission Tip Engine Noises are tough to diagnose for a mechanic because the words we use to describe them include: flapping, hissing, knocking, popping, scraping, sputtering, tapping, ticking, and whining. Yet, you can train yourself to ‘hear’ what your car is telling you by visualizing what might be causing the […]
An Introduction to Transmissions – Fraser-Style
Issue 1 • Engine & Transmission Tip Welcome to Fraser Engine Company’s Under The Hood – A new resource for engine and transmission tips. Our goal is that the information you read in this series directly impacts, and improves, your understanding of your vehicle. We know some of you are experts in your respective automotive […]