Podcasts are a great way to indulge in your favorite topics and hear enthusiasts talk about the subjects they know best. Whether its news, current events, stories, interviews, history or more, we’ve got a list of favorite automotive podcasts covering all kinds of car-related topics, recommended by a couple of our very own car experts here at 1A Auto, Andrew and Jeremy.

7. Power and Speed Podcast

http://www.powerandspeedpodcast.com/

A few extremely talented and smart drag racers talk about what it takes to make drag racing cars move down the track. Power and Speed gets incredibly technical with data, and brings some heavy-hitting guests on the show to discuss various aspects of engine design, including ways to make more horsepower. From cam lobe design to rear gear choices, these guys discuss the topics that nobody else does.

Read More

Premature rear brake wear is a common problem on 2008-2010 Honda Accords.  There are over 1,000 reports of premature brake wear for the 2008 Accord alone on carcomplaints.com. Keep in mind that only includes people who took the time to note their complaint.

What Causes the Accord Brakes to Wear Out So Fast?

Read More

Car ads are big business. Automotive News noted that car companies are some of the top spenders on advertising, shelling out billions of bucks on ads. Most car ads are slick and well-produced. Some are funny, some are exciting, and a handful are really weird. Not that that’s a bad thing. Sometimes oddvertising is especially memorable. Here are some of the weirdest and wildest car ads that stand out in my mind.

Dogs Making Out (Subaru)

Everyone loves dogs, but especially Subie owners. Subaru knows from market research that roughly 67% of their drivers have dogs. This notable when comparing to the American average of 44%, according to the ASPCA.  So, the company launched an ad campaign called “Dog Tested. Dog Approved” that showed dogs doing people things in Subarus. Weird, but cute. Then there’s this one with two pooches on a hot date. Gross? Funny? You be the judge.

Read More

We passed Memorial Day, the kickoff to summer and road trip season. AAA estimated that over 41 million Americans would hit the road over Memorial Day Weekend. Have you ever stopped to wonder who took the first road trip? Well, we have Bertha Benz to thank. She was the first person to drive a car from one place to some place else – the original road trip.

The Car

You may have noticed that Bertha Benz shares a name with one of the biggest car companies in the world. She was the wife of automotive inventor Karl Benz. Karl was working on the world’s first gasoline powered car (with a little bit of financial help from Bertha’s dowry), later dubbed the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.

Read More

YouTube has an ever-expanding universe of automotive delight. From professional restoration shops to backyard hacks like me, there is a flavor for everyone. I’m subscribed to exactly 122 YouTube channels. Do you know how much automotive content that is to digest on the regular? I’m literally drowning in videos while tears of joy stream down my cheeks and into my popcorn.

Today, I am giving you my top 11 YouTube channels. Coincidentally, “11” is about the same number of miles I’ve put on my 1964 Impala in 21 years… but that’s another story for another day.

As you dance your way down this list, you’re surely going to find some surprises. For example, Motor Trend didn’t make the list. Sure they have 1.7 billion YouTube views, 5 million subscribers, and over 2,000 absolutely amazing videos. They also have Roadkill. But they also quit making YouTube content recently, which made me quite grumpy, and thus my once-favorite YouTube channel simply didn’t qualify for my “Top 11” list. All right, let’s get to the list:

Read More

Engine oil keeps the internal parts of the engine lubricated and working smoothly. Without it, the engine would seize up, requiring a costly repair or a new engine or new car altogether.

There are many reasons why an engine might be consuming oil at a fast rate. Some are common; some are rare, but it’s a problem not to be overlooked. There are also ways to mitigate it as an engine ages.

What is excessive when it comes to oil consumption?

Excessive oil consumption is the consumption or loss of oil at a rate that is faster than “normal.” What’s normal depends on the specific engine, as each one will have its own recommended change interval and may burn oil at different rates compared to other engines. According the James Dunst at bellperformance.com, an average rate is 1 quart every 1,500 miles, and this number can be less than 1,000 miles for performance vehicles. Manufacturers will have a common mileage number for consumption, which you can find in your owner’s manual. It’s important to know that this number can change depending on what oil is used.

What causes excessive oil consumption?

Read More

Sunday April 22 is Earth Day, but it’s always a good time to think about your impact on the world you live in. One of the great things about our cars and trucks is that we can take them out of the city to go enjoy the scenery all around us, whether you’re headed to a national park, the local lake, a camp site, or out on trails. Of course, if you have a favorite spot off the beaten path, you’ll want to preserve it so you can keep using, and maybe your kids and grandkids can too, someday. Offroaders know they have take good care of the trails so everyone can keep using them. That’s why so many offroading groups organize trail clean up events around the country from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest.

If you’re not an offroader, or you’re just looking for another way to take care of the environment, what are some other ways to keep things green with your car? Well, it turns out that maintaining your car and doing it right is the green thing to do.

Scientific American cites a study done by Toyota that found that 28 percent of the carbon emissions in a car’s lifecycle come from the manufacturing process, and the remainder is from driving. Maintaining your old car can be better for the environment than buying a new car, even one with better fuel mileage.

Here’s some repairs you can do keep things clean and some tips for how to make your repairs more environmentally friendly.

Car Maintenance to Reduce Emissions and Save Gas

Read More