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The Car Show with Dane Donovan 11/22/2025

The Car Show with Dane Donovan 11/22/2025

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About this episode

Dane Donovan tackles a variety of automotive questions and concerns, focusing on winter car readiness, the importance of regular maintenance, and common issues like check engine lights and oil changes. He shares personal anecdotes about his own vehicles, emphasizing the significance of checking heating systems before the cold sets in. Listeners call in with specific queries, including a discussion about oil filter maintenance and the necessity of replacing water pumps. The episode is filled with practical advice for car owners, especially as the holiday travel season approaches.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

air conditioning

"...make sure your air conditioning is working now. When it gets to 90, you're not dying and you're like, I need to get in there right now. Think about it..."

Air conditioning in a car helps keep the inside cool and comfortable when it's hot outside. It's important to check that it works well before summer hits.

Term

check engine light

"...my wife's car is a 2018. It comes on. It's not currently on, but it comes on. And I bought a little car from a customer mine just to toy around with it. It's a little accurate and I'm driving it the other day yesterday and the check engine light comes on that. And then"

The check engine light is a light on your car's dashboard that tells you something might be wrong with the engine. If it comes on, it's a good idea to get it checked out to avoid bigger problems later.

Term

remote starter

"I have a 2024 F-250. And the other day I'd go to hit the remote starter won't start."

A remote starter lets you start your car from far away, so it's ready to go when you get in. It's especially helpful in extreme weather to make the car comfortable before driving.

Car

2024 F-250

"I have a 2024 F-250. And the other day I'd go to hit the remote starter won't start."

The Ford F-250 is a large truck that can carry heavy loads and is often used for work. It's built to be tough and can handle more than regular trucks.

Part

water pump

"...they were recommending that I replace the water pump, which involves, I guess here, a tensioner kit and a drive belt."

The water pump helps keep the engine cool by moving coolant around. If it fails, the engine can overheat, which can cause serious problems.

Part

drive belt

"...which involves, I guess here, a tensioner kit and a drive belt."

The drive belt is a rubber belt that helps run parts of the engine like the alternator. If it wears out, it can cause problems with those parts.

Car

Honda That Honda

".... Okay. Most of them do. I mean, there was years that Honda had V6's that they'd throw them in there. No, I ..."

The Honda That's is a small car designed for city driving, making it easy to park and use in tight spaces. It's popular in Japan for being practical and efficient.

Term

timing belt

"...when you had a belt driven timing belt driven engine, you would want that to, you would, at 105,000 miles, the timing belt needs to be replaced. The water pumps right there, you do it."

The timing belt is like a rubber band inside your car's engine that helps keep everything moving in sync. If it breaks, it can cause serious damage to the engine, so it needs to be replaced regularly.

Term

preventative maintenance

"it might be a preventative maintenance item, but listen, it's going to give you warning signs."

Preventative maintenance means taking care of your car regularly to avoid problems later. It's like getting check-ups to stay healthy.

Term

tune-up

"you want to do in advance or prevent fluids, a tune up filters, you know, things like that."

A tune-up is when you check and fix parts of your car's engine to make sure it runs well. This can include changing spark plugs and other small parts.

Car

Ford Explorer

"...if you call me and said, Hey, I have a, you know, three, five forward explore those when those water pumps fail, the coolant leaks into the engine ruin and then coolant goes into the oil ruins the engine immediately."

The Ford Explorer is a type of SUV that many families use. Some older models have problems with a part called the water pump, which can cause serious engine issues if it breaks.

Term

coolant

"...the coolant leaks into the engine ruin and then coolant goes into the oil ruins the engine immediately."

Coolant is a special liquid that helps keep the engine from getting too hot. It moves around the engine to absorb heat and keep everything running smoothly.

Term

plastic bumper

"...I said, it looks like it's just cosmetic. And he's like, what do you think I should do? I said, it's a plastic bumper. A lot of these cars are all plastic. And I said, I can just heat it up and pop it out."

A plastic bumper is the part of a car that helps protect it in case of a crash. It's made of plastic, which is lighter and cheaper than metal, and can often be fixed easily if it gets damaged.

Car

Buick LaCrosse

"...the car is an O seven Buick lacrosse. Okay. So it's got the three..."

The Buick LaCrosse is a car made by Buick that is known for being comfortable and spacious. The 2007 version has a few different engine choices, including a V6 engine.

Term

3.8-liter V6 engine

"...it's got the three eight engine on it. And a lot of the stuff..."

The 3.8-liter V6 engine is a type of car engine that has six cylinders shaped like a 'V'. It's designed to provide a good mix of power and fuel efficiency.

Term

bulb grease

"about smear and bulb grease on it. And I got a feeling that it's just an oxidized socket for the headland. Yes. Okay. So the bulb."

Bulb grease is a special grease that you put on light bulb connections to keep them from rusting or getting damaged. It helps the light bulbs work better and last longer.

Term

headlight bulb

"So when she left the bulb worked or no. Yes, sir. Yes. But now it's not correct. Okay. Yeah. So typically those bulbs burn really, really hot."

A headlight bulb is the light that helps you see when you're driving at night. It gets really hot when it's on, so you have to be careful when handling it.

Brand

GM

"some reason, and I'm not picking on them. But GM, their sockets always always burn up."

GM stands for General Motors, a big company that makes cars like Chevrolet and Cadillac.

Company

Donovan's Auto and Tire

"...the way we treat our neighbors. At Donovan's Auto and Tire, we built our reputation the same way. One honest car repair at a time."

Donovan's Auto and Tire is a place where you can take your car for repairs. They promise to be honest and do good work on things like oil changes and fixing brakes.

Car

Honda Accord

"...8-liter, 08 Honda Civic and a 2.4-liter, 09 Honda Accord. Been tremendous vehicles as far as reliability ..."
Car

Honda Civic

"...ce December 2022. I've got a 1.8-liter, 08 Honda Civic and a 2.4-liter, 09 Honda Accord. Been tremendous..."

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people like to drive because it's dependable and doesn't use a lot of gas. It's been around for a long time and is popular for everyday use.

Term

oil filter

"...you need to fill the oil filter. And some people say, and then I've even heard some YouTube videos that say, no, you don't need to fill the oil filter because there could be impurities..."

An oil filter is a part of a car's engine that cleans the oil. It catches dirt and debris so that the oil can keep the engine running smoothly and last longer.

Term

7.3 liter diesel

"...when I got into the industry 26 years ago, we had the 7.3 liter diesels. And those filters would literally hold a quart of oil. And again, they spun on from the bottom..."

The 7.3 liter diesel is a type of engine made by Ford that is known for being strong and lasting a long time. It's commonly found in larger trucks and is appreciated by many mechanics and truck owners.

Part

thermostat

"I had to get a thermostat replaced on the Civic because it wouldn't, it would not, it wouldn't, the heating hand would only go up to a quarter."

A thermostat helps keep the engine at the right temperature. If it doesn't work, the engine can get too hot or too cold.

Term

oil change

"...change it every 5,000 miles. Oil, has it gotten better? Have the cars been engineered better? Yes. But every single day I have a car that comes in that has a running issue..."

An oil change is when you replace the old oil in your car's engine with new oil. It's important for keeping the engine running smoothly and preventing damage.

Term

oil level

"...I'm going to make sure that I check the level and I'm going to make sure that I change it regularly..."

The oil level is how much oil is in the car's engine. It's important to have the right amount of oil so the engine can work properly and not get damaged.

Term

quarts

"it takes 3.9, almost four quarts. Okay. So, uh, the Civic, I noticed between oil changes, I have to put in so that, so, so, you know, I get the five quart jugs."

A quart is a way to measure liquids, like oil. It's often used to tell how much oil your car needs.

Part

valve cover gasket

"...the last time I had to put a valve cover gasket on, I'm telling you, you could eat a, you could eat your dinner off of that, that engine. There's no sludge..."

The valve cover gasket is a part that helps keep oil inside the engine and stops it from leaking out. It's important for keeping the engine running smoothly.

Term

gasoline engine

"...if you've got a gas, gasoline engine, you're putting gas in it anyways..."

A gasoline engine is a type of engine that uses gasoline as fuel to make the car run. It's what most cars use to drive around.

Car

Ford F150

"but I'd like to get to your question. That's okay, sir. Can you hear me? Yes, sir. Okay. I have a 2014 Ford F-150. I bought it brand new in 2014. And ever since I've had, when I turned the heat on, I get fumes inside their car. And I've had to, I'm up for shop,"

The Ford F-150 is a big truck that many people use for work or towing things. It's known for being strong and having lots of features that make it useful for different tasks.

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