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The Car Show with Dane Donovan 11/15/2025

The Car Show with Dane Donovan 11/15/2025

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About this episode

Dane Donovan dives into essential winter car preparation, emphasizing the importance of checking batteries, fluids, and tires as the cold season approaches. He addresses listener questions about engine issues, oil consumption, and paint repairs, providing practical advice and insights from his extensive experience in auto repair. The episode features engaging discussions on maintaining vehicle longevity and the significance of regular oil changes, while also touching on the impact of fuel types on engine performance. Listeners gain valuable knowledge on how to keep their cars in top shape during winter.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

battery

"...making sure that we're getting the batteries tested, making sure that our fluids are checked. You know, again, I've talked about this a lot of times on the radio show..."

A battery in a car is like a big rechargeable battery that helps start the engine and power things like lights and radio. It's important to check it before winter to make sure it works well in the cold.

Term

fluids

"...making sure that our fluids are checked. You know, again, I've talked about this a lot of times on the radio show..."

Fluids in a car are liquids that help it run smoothly, like oil for the engine and coolant to keep it from overheating. It's important to check these before winter to avoid problems.

Part

tires

"...especially tires. That is that, you know, we get a massive influx, again, that first snow that we always get, you know, everybody can't get to work because they don't have any tread on their tires."

Tires are the rubber parts that allow your car to grip the road. They need to have enough tread, or grooves, to help with traction, especially in snow or rain.

Term

seized engine

"can I help? Well, this may be an oddball question. I've got a engine that was seized. I got it in trade for a used one I sold, and I'm trying to see if it's rebuildable."

A seized engine means the engine won't move anymore, usually because something inside is broken or stuck. This often happens if the engine runs out of oil or gets too hot.

Term

cylinders

"And the three of the pistons so far are stuck in the cylinders. It was, you know, when I took it apart, there was water and a couple of the cylinders."

Cylinders are the spaces in the engine where the pistons go up and down. They help the engine make power by mixing air and fuel.

Term

pistons

"And the three of the pistons so far are stuck in the cylinders. It was, you know, when I took it apart, there was water and a couple of the cylinders."

Pistons are parts inside the engine that move up and down to help create power. If they get stuck, the engine can't work.

Term

connecting rod bearings

"I've got the crank and, you know, I got the head off and the crank out and the crank bearings seem to be in reasonable shape as well as the, as well as the connecting rod bearings."

Connecting rod bearings are parts that help connect the pistons to the crankshaft, allowing them to move smoothly. If they're in good shape, it helps the engine run better.

Term

head gasket leak

"So it must have had a head gasket leak or something. Yeah."

A head gasket leak is a problem where the seal between parts of the engine breaks, causing fluids to mix. It can lead to big issues if not fixed.

Concept

restoration

"I know that it happens, you know, on these cars that some people that try to restore a car that's been sitting out in the field for, you know, 30"

Restoration is fixing up an old car to make it look and work like it did when it was new. It can take a lot of time and effort, especially if the car has been sitting for a long time.

Part

cylinder head

"...the only thing I could think of is you said you've got the cylinder head off and you've just got the pistons. So one, so when you try to turn that crank just, it just, it's locked."

The cylinder head is the part of the engine that sits on top of the cylinders. It helps control the air and fuel that enters the engine and the exhaust that leaves it.

Term

WD-40

"...soak them, let them soak a while longer with, you know, WD-40 or whatever. Yeah. Well, I played on the underside..."

WD-40 is a spray that helps loosen stuck parts and prevent rust. It's often used to make it easier to take apart things like engines or tools.

Term

PB Blaster

"...Have you ever used or tried PB Blaster? Yeah. Yeah, I've got some PB Blaster silicone, but I don't have the..."

PB Blaster is a special spray that helps loosen stuck parts in cars. It's useful for getting bolts and other pieces to move when they're rusted or stuck together.

Part

cylinder walls

"you want to make sure that somebody, you know, takes care of those cylinder walls and make sure that they're not scored or whatnot. Right. So I have to go, I have to bore it over if I want to rebuild it."

Cylinder walls are the inside parts of the engine where the pistons go. They need to be in good shape for the engine to work well.

Term

bore it over

"that they're not scored or whatnot. Right. So I have to go, I have to bore it over if I want to rebuild it."

Boring an engine means making the holes inside the engine bigger so it can fit larger parts or fix damage. It's often done when rebuilding an engine.

Company

Burton's Collision

"I've got a great machinist here near me. It's, it's a Burton's collision. They've got a machine shop. I was there. I was there."

Burton's Collision is a place where cars are fixed after accidents, and they also have a shop that can do engine work.

Company

Smite's

"Yeah, there's a smite's on move up here in, you know, the Westchester area. It's done some work for me before and I never had a problem."

Smite's is a shop that does engine work and other car repairs. It's located in Westchester.

Term

paint chip

"...a dime size chip in the paint that's come off. And I know in the past, yeah, you can go to the dealer..."

A paint chip is a small spot on your car where the paint has come off, usually because of scratches or damage. It can make your car look less appealing, and people often want to fix it to keep their car looking nice.

Term

full paint job

"...I don't want to get a full paint job. And I think out, if I go to a paint place..."

A full paint job means repainting the whole car, which can be expensive and take a lot of time. People usually do this to make their car look new again or to change its color.

Term

octane

"I'm starting to see 88 octane pop up around the place. I'm curious if that's safe to use or not. So, here's your opinion. Sure. You know, as far as like, I haven't, the 88 octane would be fine."

Octane is a number that tells you how well a fuel can prevent engine knocking. Higher numbers mean the fuel is better for powerful engines that need more performance.

Term

injector issue

"once had a car that came into me that had an issue running with, you know, an injector issue"

An injector issue means there is a problem with the part that sprays fuel into the engine. If it's not working right, your car might not run well.

Car

Honda Pilot

"Oh, I've got a 2020 Honda Pilot. So 2020 Honda Pilot. Yeah, you'd be fine."

The Honda Pilot is a family SUV that can carry several passengers and has a lot of space for cargo. The 2020 version has some modern safety features and is designed for comfort.

Term

oil consumption

"...cars coming in with no oil in them. And it's something that I've talked about so many times on this show and I'm rebuilding..."

Oil consumption is how much oil an engine uses while it runs. If an engine uses too much oil, it can cause problems and needs to be checked regularly.

Car

Audi

"...my technician is rebuilding another. He had to replace pistons in two outies this week due to oil consumption and burning oil..."

Audi is a brand of cars from Germany that makes luxury vehicles. The speaker mentions problems with oil in some Audis, which can be a serious issue.

Term

oil change

"...10,000 miles, I need to change my oil. And I'm sorry, I'm not going to do that..."

An oil change means taking out the old oil from your car's engine and putting in new oil. It's important to do this regularly to keep your car running well.

Term

5,000 miles

"...the best and cheapest and easiest thing that you can do is change your oil regularly, 5,000 miles..."

5,000 miles is a distance that many people use to decide when to change their car's oil. It's a good rule of thumb for keeping the engine healthy.

Brand

Hyundai

"And yeah, I see it pop up. Your cars, yeah, absolutely. Hyundai's and Kia's have a known problem that these things burn oil just like the Audi's do."

Hyundai is also a car company from South Korea that makes many different cars. Some of their cars have had similar engine problems as Kia cars.

Brand

Kia

"And yeah, I see it pop up. Your cars, yeah, absolutely. Hyundai's and Kia's have a known problem that these things burn oil just like the Audi's do."

Kia is a car company from South Korea that makes different types of cars. Some of their cars have had problems with the engines that people are concerned about.

Term

check engine light

"...Was the check engine light on or anything? Yes. Check engine light on. It burns about a quarter oil a week."

The check engine light is a warning light on your dashboard that tells you something might be wrong with your car's engine or emissions system. It's important to get it checked out if it comes on.

Term

exhaust pipe

"...put your hand over the exhaust pipe and you can actually, you know, your hand will be sticky. Yeah."

The exhaust pipe is the part of your car that lets out the gases produced by the engine. It helps keep the car running smoothly and quietly by directing those gases away from the engine.

Term

engine rebuild

"...the only thing they can do is rebuild or replace that engine."

An engine rebuild means taking apart the engine to fix or replace parts that are worn out. This helps the engine run better again instead of replacing it completely.

Term

burn oil

"...but they all burn oil. And it's something that we have to have a conversation about..."

When a car 'burns oil', it means the engine is using up its oil faster than normal, which can be a problem if not checked regularly.

Car

Ford Mustang Gt

"...way, how can I help you? I've got a 1998. It's a Ford Mustang GT. It's got the 4.6 liter in it. It's pretty much s..."

The Ford Mustang GTD is a super-fast version of the popular Mustang car. It's built for people who love speed and want a thrilling driving experience.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"... it. It had four of them on there. And I put the Corvette mufflers on it and redone all the exhaust and ev..."

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that people love to drive. It's famous for being powerful and has a unique look that makes it stand out on the road.

Car

Mercury Comet

"...ple maintenance of just, you know, three Mercury Comet that has inline six in it. But that thing was an ..."

The Mercury Comet is an older, smaller car that people used to drive a lot. It's known for being easy to fix and is often remembered fondly by those who like classic cars.

Car

Chevrolet Silverado

"...rvice. Thank you, sir. I've got a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4.3. It's a lot of style to work truck, what..."

The Chevrolet Silverado is a big truck that can carry heavy loads and is great for work or outdoor activities. Many people like it because it can handle tough jobs while still being comfortable to drive.

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