Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Paying for an oil change every time you need it can be costly, inconvenient, and unnecessary. You don't have to be a car buff to change your car's oil. Anyone can do it! It can even be a fun...

An engine's head gasket serves the purpose of sealing the automobile's engine cylinders against water or coolant from elsewhere in the engine. A blown head gasket can allow water or coolant to...

Transmission leaks can come from different parts of the transmission. The most common area for leaks is the pan at the bottom of the transmission that holds the fluid. Between the pan and the...

The valve cover (also known as a rocker arm or camshaft cover) is a long metal cover that sits directly on top of the cylinder head. Saturn vehicles are equipped with overhead cam engines, which...

Change the oil on any car enough times, and sooner or later you're going to run into a filter that refuses to move. Though there are a number of specialty tools on the market to deal with...

The valve gasket, or more accurately the valve cover gasket, is a common source of oil leakage on the Honda Accord. When the valve cover leaks, the oil runoff can soak the whole engine with oil,...

Replacing your auto's thermostat takes just a few minutes and can be done easily without any automotive experience. A thermostat and gasket can be purchased for around ten dollars.

The vast majority of engine overheating problems can be traced to a defective thermostat rather than a problem with the radiator itself. The thermostat operates like a switch to prevent the...

The sole purpose of an oil pan is to store the oil used by the engine. Oil pans are one-piece designs, which makes them fairly durable. However, they can sometimes crack. Oftentimes the crack can...

The idle air control valve (usually called an IAC valve) helps maintain the proper idle speed on your vehicle. The Toyota 4Runner idle air control valve is mounted on the throttle body, as it is...

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve on your Crown Victoria helps reduce tailpipe emissions and improves engine efficiency. The EGR valve is located at the rear of the engine bay. Cleaning...

Recognizing the symptoms of a faulty water pump on your Jeep is the first step to replacing it. An engine that regularly overheats is a good sign that your water pump is failing. Water leaking on...

An engine thermostat is an essential component of the engine cooling system. It regulates the temperature of the coolant and ensures that your engine remains cool. Thermostats work because of a...

A car's head gasket provides a seal between the head (where all the valves and rollers are located) and the block (the "main part of the engine" that houses the camshaft and part of the pistons)....

Camshaft sensors, formally called camshaft position sensors, help your engine maintain emission and idle efficiency. The sensor itself cannot be fixed; it must be replaced. A faulty camshaft...

The valve covers (rocker arm covers) on a V-6 Buick are stamped steel covers attached to the top of the cylinder heads. The valve covers protect the rocker arms, valve springs and valves, and...

The timing chain cover on Ford's 460 engine not only physically covers the timing chain; it prevents the oil within the engine from leaking out. The cover also acts as a mounting point for the...

If your Honda's head gasket has sprung a leak or blown, it needs to be replaced. Instead of taking it to an auto mechanic, you may want to change the gasket yourself to save money. This is a...

Replacing a cylinder head in your Honda Civic or other vehicle is a dangerous, complicated and difficult job. This particular type of repair should only be attempted by someone with experience...

The fuel pump is responsible for pulling the gasoline stored within the fuel tank to the front of the vehicle, and then routing that fuel to the fuel delivery system. Over time the seals within...

When installing a set of heads on a Chevy, the surface preparation is important to prevent leaks. The surface on the head and the block must be free of gasket material, dirt, dust and all grease....

The 350 is quite possibly Chevrolet's most popular small-block engine. Although the 350 is known for its durability, this does not mean that the engine is always problem-free. A blown cylinder...

The Ford Escape is available with two different engines. Both engines have idle air control valves and other than location, replacing the valve is the same in both engines. A faulty idle air...

The intake gasket forms the seal between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. As such, it is subjected to high temperatures and pressures. Failure of the intake gasket can cause the engine...

The idle air control valve (commonly called the IAC valve) helps your Honda maintain regular idle speed. The valve is electrical and works in conjunction with the throttle body on the intake...

EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valves have been an important feature in automobiles since the late 1970s. The EGR valve helps your engine run more efficiently and reduces tailpipe emissions....

A worn out or broken valve cover gasket on your GM vehicle can leak engine oil out of the cylinder head and require replacement. Depending upon the particular model you might have to remove one or...

The valve cover gasket on a Mustang keeps the oil in the head of the engine from escaping. It also keeps the oil out of the spark plug wells. When you notice oil leaks at the top of your engine...

The thermostat in your Honda Accord helps the cooling system to maintain the engine operating temperature. A faulty (or sticking, as it is commonly referred to) thermostat can cause your Accord to...

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve is a vital emission-control component on your Mercury Villager. Faulty EGR valves can cause your engine to run rough and decrease fuel efficiency. The...

The valve cover gaskets cover the internal working parts of the upper part of the Jaguar 4.0 engine. This top section of the engine is called the "head." Underneath the valve cover are cams, valve...

The valve cover on your vehicle protects the upper half of your engine, called the engine head, from external contaminates. It also keeps the engine oil inside the engine so that the oil can...

The valve cover gasket in a 2000 Plymouth Neon keeps oil from leaking into the spark plug wells, as well as keeping engine oil from leaking down the side of the engine. When you have an oil leak...

The CRX was a popular compact hatchback that Honda sold from 1984 to 1991. The car was built from the Honda Civic platform and shared many components with the Civic. All models of the Honda CRX...

The EGR valve opens and closes to release exhaust back into the manifold so it can be reused. This reduces noxious gases and regulates engine temperature. Sometimes EGR valves get completely...

The Chevrolet Impala uses a EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve to monitor and reduce the flow of harmful tailpipe emissions. Faulty EGR valves can result in check engine lights, poor fuel...

A valve cover on a vehicle is a steel or aluminum piece, designed to cover the valves and rocker arms of an engine. It usually mounts to the top of the cylinder head. Periodically the valve cover...

EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valves help reduce the harmful emissions produced by automobile engines. Since Saturn is a relatively new car company (established in the late 1980s), all Saturn...

A faulty oil pan gasket can result in oil leaks around the perimeter of your oil pan. Many people mistake a faulty gasket for a faulty oil pan and spend hundreds of dollars to replace the pan when...

The oil pan in your vehicle holds the oil that circulates through your engine. Inside the oil pan is an oil pick-up that picks up the oil from the pan to move it through the engine. The entire pan...

The Ford Ranger is a small pickup truck available with three different engine configurations. The Ranger has not been majorly redesigned since 1994, so most repair instructions for 1994 and newer...

Changing the water pump on an outboard motor is a relatively simple procedure. There is one caution to be observed when removing the lower unit, that being the lower unit is quite heavy, and when...

STI is the top-of-the-line trim package for the Subaru Impreza. The STI version of the Impreza contains a more powerful turbocharged engine as well as other sporty upgrades such as larger brakes...

The thermostat serves an important function in your Kia Rio's cooling system. It helps to regulate engine temperature and distribute the proper amount of coolant to your engine. A failed...

The LT1 was a high performance V8 engine produced by General Motors in the 1990s and used in several sports-car applications including the Chevrolet Corvette and the Pontiac Trans Am. The LT1 is...

A faulty fuel pump can cause erratic starting, low engine output or even leave you stranded by the side of the road. With a few simple tools, you can have your Lexus ES300's fuel pump replaced in...

Your car's muffler is responsible for muffling the resonance created by your engine. As exhaust gases are expelled from the engine, they are carried down the exhaust pipe and out through the...

Does your car's exhaust smoke? How about your lawnmower? This is usually caused by oil getting into the combustion chamber. Which can be attributed to oil sneaking past the piston rings, or...

You can learn how to make a valve cover gasket from something as simple as a corn flake box. This will save you money and last just as long as a cork gasket that you would buy from a parts store.

A new intake manifold gasket is needed as part of a cylinder head overhaul or when replacing a bad intake gasket. The exact procedure for removal and installation differs from one vehicle model to...