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Reverse will do that, most transmissions don't use synchronizers in reverse and do use sliding straight cut gears. If any of the gears or shafts are still moving, even from inertia, it'll make noise. There are a few transmissions that DO use synchros in reverse. I've never looked in to how it works ...

Easiest: my old '87 S10. clutch pedal was HEAVY, engaged slowly over 90% of the travel, shifter had no play and was about a foot between each gear, couldn't miss. Sounds like my Buick, except for "shifter had no play". I'm surprised that the clutch was heavy, the '94 S10 that was the tran...

My uncle was looking at options when buying a new van a few years ago. They settled on a Sienna but opted for the FWD over the AWD because the rear diff took the place of the spare tire: the AWD had run flats and no space for a spare. "1/4 ton" pickups now are bigger than 1/2 tons even 15 ...

Snake oil with a solid basis that can be achieved by other/better means. As described in the article, the benefit of running the hotter oil is that it is thinner and flows more easily. In that case, yes running thinner oil would have the same benefit. Hence why almost most car manufacturers have spe...

Easiest: my old '87 S10. clutch pedal was HEAVY, engaged slowly over 90% of the travel, shifter had no play and was about a foot between each gear, couldn't miss. Mini Cooper S I'll agree to. LT1 F-bodies (stock) are pretty easy...lots of torque and smooth engagement. 3/4 and 5/6 rows are a little c...

Wow, busy in my absence. The article I read was started because the writer was calibrating his torque wrench and then started to wonder, then tested it by measuring the difference in turned angle wet/dry and seeing what torque it took dry to turn the same angle. While I agree in principle with the a...

All engines take time to decelerate. Most cars are 1-2 seconds. how noticeable it is depends on weight of moving parts, balance, engine layout, and as mentioned, engine mounts. Some of the stuff we have at work (15l, 20l diesels) have cranks that weigh more than my trucks block (plus 200lb flywheel,...

Yup, part of the franchise contract: when a mfr comes out with a new car, new model year, or new service procedure if there are new special service tools for it those tools get shipped to the dealers automatically and the dealers are billed automatically. Takes money to make money.

Having worked in a shop and used torque sticks for several years, technique using the impact gun has as much an effect on how tight they are as driving style does on fuel economy (holy cow I know you're on Gassavers too). Being the inquisitive person that I am, I started paying attention to how I wa...

Instead of separating everything, as mentioned, blend. In addition to what others have said about see-sawing the gas/clutch, I like to put just a little pressure on the shifter in the direction it's going to go. That way, as soon as torque releases the gears I can feel it and move the shifter. That ...

It's not psychological. Very simple if you get into the physics of the engine. The throttle is sized for where you have peak power (where you have max airflow)...in a honda, probably 5.5 or 6k at least. Airflow is volume x rpm (minus inefficiency) hence you need a lot more airflow (and bigger intake...

I think there's also a lot of "change is hard" attitude. old 3 and 4 speeds had direct drive for the final gear, back then 5th gear was added on top using the same or similar housings, shafts, and other parts. for a LONG time 5 speeds with overdrive were those same gearboxes. (toyota used ...

I've done those several times at work. the tab is indeed attached to an eccentric lobe and will change toe if you move the tab. loosen the nut/bolt and move the tab up and down to adjust. I work in the rust belt so it's usually a combination of PB blaster, hammer, ratchet strap, and adjustable wrenc...

sounds like a high spot on the flywheel or pressure plate. it's hitting enough to make noise when you're holding it as it's engaging. any less and it's not touching, any more and it's hitting hard enough to not resonate and make noise. might be able to get it under warranty but they might say it's a...

extended fluid drain intervals FTW