A diesel engine is simultaneously incredibly simple and incredibly violent, using compression as a means of ignition. This is because of the properties of diesel fuel: Namely, diesel is less volatile ...

If you drive a diesel car or truck, you've probably bumped into the term biodiesel. Like most owners, you probably first saw the term biodiesel on the pump (as a mix for ultra-low-sulfur diesel) – and ...

Ever been told your car is running lean? It means the engine is receiving too much air or not enough fuel during combustion. You see, your car's engine needs a very specific balance of air and fuel to ...

If you hear a knocking sound from the bowels of your engine, it could be rod knock, but what exactly is it, and just how catasrophic can it be?

Mike is a UK-based automotive journalist who joined CarBuzz as a freelancer in 2026. He has previously been a staff writer at Car Throttle and held a communications role for Caffeine&Machine, and is a ...

Heat is a byproduct of combustion. Both air-cooled and water-cooled engines need to dissipate that heat to keep the engine from running too hot. Can piston rings play a role in managing that heat?