Explore Your Engine Bay: A Novice’s Journey Into Car Mechanics

Sent: Mar 04, 2024

What's Under The Hood? A Beginner's Look Into A Car's Engine Bay

Well over a century since the Benz Patent-Motorwagen sparked the automotive revolution, the automobile has become the largest source of transport in the United States. The affordable car is mostly unique to the US, but a low price doesn’t guarantee reliability. Tight budgets or a lack of caring means maintenance is a second thought for most owners, and that can leave hidden issues waiting to jump out right after a second-hand purchase. Checking the engine bay is a great way to understand how the car’s been maintained, but that’ll be tough if you don’t know what to look for.

Shop Hand-Built Service Kits For Your Car

How To Save Money When Replacing Your BMW E90 M3 Tensioner Pulleys

BMW’s 4th generation M3 has almost all the best traits of highly desirable enthusiast cars. Even as early examples approach 15 years of age (at the time of writing), their value has remained relatively stable, thanks to their unique offerings. But with that uniqueness comes bespoke parts engineered for performance. In many ways, that’s good, but not when it comes to time for service.

Very few components on the E9X (E90, E92, E93) M3 are shared with more widely produced E9X 3-series models, and when you factor in economies of scale, there’s no wondering why those bespoke parts cost more. That said, not every M3 service or repair means draining your rainy day fund just to get the car back on the road. Thinking outside the box can save you a lot of money, and we’re here to help you.

Project “Golden Era” - Building A Modern Day Mercedes 190E 2.0-16 Touring Car

Towards the very end of 2021, FCP Euro Director of Motorsports and resident touring car die-hard Nate Vincent came forward with an entirely new concept for FCP Euro; a build series done entirely out of passion and respect for one of the greatest periods in motorsport history, completed primarily in-house, to create a modernized Mercedes 190E deserving of claiming its lineage.

How To Replace The Timing Belt On A P1 Volvo (Volvo C30, C70, S40, & V50)

The timing belt is the only thing preventing all of the engine’s moving parts from slamming into each other in interference engines. As such, keeping track of your P1 Volvo timing belt’s health is a critical part of being a vehicle owner. Typically, manufacturers will recommend a belt change every 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Volvo’s P1 chassis’ transverse engine layout makes the timing belt job tricky as the front of the engine is up against the passenger’s side frame rail. The camshafts need to be locked into place, and accurate marks have to be made to ensure that nothing inside the engine slips out of position.

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FCP Euro 155 Hill Street Milford, Connecticut 06460

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What's Under The Hood? A Beginner's Look Into A Car's Engine Bay Well over a century since the Benz Patent-Motorwagen sparked the automotive revolution, the automobile has become the largest source of transport in the United States. The affordable car is mostly unique to the US, but a low price doesn’t guarantee reliability. Tight budgets or a lack of caring means maintenance is a second thought for most owners, and that can leave hidden issues waiting to jump out right after a second-hand purchase. Checking the engine bay is a great way to understand how the car’s been maintained, but that’ll be tough if you don’t know what to look for. Read more » How To Save Money When Replacing Your BMW E90 M3 Tensioner Pulleys BMW’s 4th generation M3 has almost all the best traits of highly desirable enthusiast cars. Even as early examples approach 15 years of age (at the time of writing), their value has remained relatively stable, thanks to their unique offerings. But with that uniqueness comes bespoke parts engineered for performance. In many ways, that’s good, but not when it comes to time for service. Very few components on the E9X (E90, E92, E93) M3 are shared with more widely produced E9X 3-series models, and when you factor in economies of scale, there’s no wondering why those bespoke parts cost more. That said, not every M3 service or repair means draining your rainy day fund just to get the car back on the road. Thinking outside the box can save you a lot of money, and we’re here to help you. Read more » Project “Golden Era” - Building A Modern Day Mercedes 190E 2.0-16 Touring Car Towards the very end of 2021, FCP Euro Director of Motorsports and resident touring car die-hard Nate Vincent came forward with an entirely new concept for FCP Euro; a build series done entirely out of passion and respect for one of the greatest periods in motorsport history, completed primarily in-house, to create a modernized Mercedes 190E deserving of claiming its lineage. Read more » How To Replace The Timing Belt On A P1 Volvo (Volvo C30, C70, S40, & V50) The timing belt is the only thing preventing all of the engine’s moving parts from slamming into each other in interference engines. As such, keeping track of your P1 Volvo timing belt’s health is a critical part of being a vehicle owner. Typically, manufacturers will recommend a belt change every 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Volvo’s P1 chassis’ transverse engine layout makes the timing belt job tricky as the front of the engine is up against the passenger’s side frame rail. The camshafts need to be locked into place, and accurate marks have to be made to ensure that nothing inside the engine slips out of position. Read more » No longer want to receive these emails? Unsubscribe. FCP Euro 155 Hill Street Milford, Connecticut 06460