Mechanical

I've noticed that some models of the same make but in different categories have engines with the same number of cylinders and displacement (for example, a 2-litre in-line 4-cylinder), but different power ratings. How can this be? --------------------------------------------- Hello Philippe, The number of cylinders and the displacement of an engine …

Canada’s auto service market has declined to a pre-pandemic level of $9.1 billion this year, down from $10.9 billion in 2022, according to the J.D. Power 2023 Canada Customer Service Index—Long-Term (CSI-LT) Study released today. Dealerships have grown their overall share of the market to 61 percent in 2023 from …

Whether you do it yourself or let a professional mechanic do the work, changing your motor oil is one of the most crucial maintenance tasks to keep your vehicle in good health. Some myths persist, however, and we thought it would be a good idea to set the record straight.

For motorists, good winter tires are just as important in the cold season as vigilance on the road. Modern vehicles certainly make it easier for us with their various electronic control systems, which sometimes can be set depending on your current needs. For example, a good number of vehicles feature …

Four-wheel and all-wheel drive systems help improve a vehicle’s grip in various conditions, but another device called “limited-slip differential” also serves that purpose in many performance cars, including the Mazda MX-5 , the Porsche 911 and the Honda Civic Type R , but in SUVs that are focused on off-road …

If you still haven't purchased your winter tires, you really should hurry, because the deadline is approaching fast. Just in case you forgot, winter tires are mandatory on all road motor vehicles registered in Quebec, including rentals, from December 1st to March 15th inclusively. Motorists who don’t comply with the …

We’ll say it again: improperly inflated tires can have a significant impact on your driving, your safety, and your fuel consumption, not to mention the resulting premature wear. In Canada, an estimated 25% of all road vehicles have at least one tire with a pressure that’s too low by 20% …

Technologies are everywhere in modern vehicles, but they were not all created equal. Some are far more useful than others and can have a big impact on performance and handling. The device we will focus on today is the idle start-stop, a system designed to reduce fuel consumption. With the …

Many people wonder if they should sell their car or maintain it to make it last longer, and it’s understandable given the significant increase in used cars' values since the pandemic. With more and more people working from home and the high fuel prices, we don’t use our vehicles the …

Maintaining your vehicle, whether it’s used or brand-new, is an important thing to do. But in these times of inflation and high fuel prices, many owners are tempted to take shortcuts and skip a few visits to the garage. Others decide to buy cheaper replacement parts, hoping they will last …