Under hood Tips to Help You Keep Your Cool by Consumer Info Center

The refrigerant in all but the most recent model year vehicles is chlorofluorocarbon-12 (also known as CFC-12, R-12, or by the brand name Freon).

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Automotive Information Index

Brake Systems

Brakes are actually energy conversion devices, which convert the kinetic energy (momentum) of your vehicle into thermal energy (heat).

Cooling Systems

The purpose of the engine's cooling system is to remove excess heat from the engine, to keep the engine operating at its most efficient temperature, and to get the engine up to the correct temperature as soon as possible after starting.

Automotive Drivelines

The drive train serves two functions: it transmits power from the engine to the drive wheels, and it varies the amount of torque. "Power" is the rate or speed at which work is performed. "Torque" is turning or twisting force. Multiple ratio gearboxes are necessary because the engine delivers its maximum power at certain speeds, or RPM (Rotations Per Minute)

Electrical Systems

Today, an automobile requires an elaborate electrical system of circuits just to produce, store, and distribute all the electricity it requires simply for everyday operation.

Automotive Engines

There are several types of internal combustion engines: two and four cycle reciprocating piston engines, gas turbines, free piston, and rotary combustion engines.

Exhaust Systems

Many states require emissions tests on vehicles. This means that you drive to a facility where the test people take a sample of your emissions and run it through some analysis.

Fuel Systems

Major parts of the system include: fuel tank and cap, emission controls, fuel line, fuel pump, fuel filter, carburetor, and intake manifold as well as the fuel gauge, which indicates the amount of fuel in the tank.

A/C and Heat Systems

Not only do we depend on our cars to get us where we want to go, we also depend on them to get us there without discomfort.

Suspension and Steering Systems

Suspension, when discussing cars, refers to the use of front and rear springs to suspend a vehicle's "sprung" weight. The springs used on today's cars and trucks are constructed in a variety of types, shapes, sizes, rates, and capacities.