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The Car Show with Dane Donovan 12/6/2025

The Car Show with Dane Donovan 12/6/2025

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About this episode

Dane Donovan discusses winter vehicle preparedness, emphasizing the importance of checking batteries, tires, and fluids as the season changes. He shares personal anecdotes about holiday parties and the challenges of maintaining cars in cold weather. Listeners call in with questions about specific car issues, including battery maintenance and oil types, while Dane stresses the significance of regular oil changes and vehicle inspections to avoid breakdowns. The episode highlights the need for proactive vehicle care, especially with family traveling during the holidays.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Part

tires

"And those are the times when you're like, man, I think I probably need tires. In fact, a friend of mine was like, hey, you guys put new tires on my truck."

Tires are the rubber parts that go around the wheels of a car. They help the car grip the road and are especially important for safety, especially in bad weather like snow.

Term

batteries

"...we want we need to make sure that we're testing our batteries. And, you know, when I again, when I started in this industry..."

Batteries in cars give power to start the engine and run electrical parts like lights and radios. It's important to check them, especially in winter when they can struggle to work properly.

Part

battery

"I can check your battery today and it's dead tomorrow. I can check your alternator or your starter today and it not work tomorrow."

A battery is like a big rechargeable power source for your car. It helps start the engine and runs things like the lights and radio when the engine isn't running.

Part

alternator

"I can check your alternator or your starter today and it not work tomorrow. And that sometimes frustrates people, right?"

An alternator is a part of the car that makes electricity while the engine is running. It keeps the battery charged and powers the car's electrical parts, like the lights and radio.

Part

starter

"I can check your alternator or your starter today and it not work tomorrow. And that sometimes frustrates people, right?"

The starter is a small motor that helps start the car's engine when you turn the key. If it breaks, the engine won't start at all.

Term

voltage

"It can tell us the voltage and it can tell us whether or not it's low or it's high. It should be at roughly about 14.1, 14.2 volts when the car is running."

Voltage is like the pressure of electricity in the car. It tells us how much electrical power is available to run things like lights and the radio.

Term

coolant

"And again, coolant. We talked about that. You don't have, again, when I got into this industry, you know, every 30,000 miles, you needed to you need to change your coolant."

Coolant is a liquid that helps keep your car's engine from getting too hot. It moves around the engine and radiator to keep everything at the right temperature.

Term

AGM

"And the AG, you know, the new batteries are AGM and they're a lot more expensive and there's no fluid in them. So you they technically are supposed to last longer."

AGM is a special kind of battery that doesn't spill and is made to last longer than regular batteries. It's often used in cars with advanced features like stop-start systems.

Term

stop-start feature

"...especially if you have the stop, if you have the stop, start feature. Now, I personally do not like that feature."

The stop-start feature is a system in some cars that turns off the engine when you're not moving, like at a red light, to save gas. It starts the engine again when you want to go.

Term

start-stop feature

"...if you have that auto start and that start stop feature and you're going from, you know, here to work, but you're in traffic and it starts and stops 15 times on the way there..."

The start-stop feature helps save gas by turning off the engine when you're not moving, like when you're stopped in traffic. It starts the engine again when you want to go, which can help save fuel.

Car

Ford Fusion

"I have a 2018 Ford Fusion. It has about 60,000 miles on the car..."

The Ford Fusion is a type of car that is larger than a compact car but smaller than an SUV. It is designed for everyday use and is known for being comfortable and practical.

Term

5W20

"Ford suggests 5W20 in it."

5W20 is a kind of oil used in cars. The numbers tell you how thick the oil is when it's cold and when it's hot, which helps the engine run smoothly.

Term

5W30

"And they insist on using 5W30. They think that's going to give a little more protection."

5W30 is a type of oil used in cars. The numbers tell you how thick the oil is when it's cold and when it's hot. It's important for keeping the engine running smoothly.

Term

manufacturer recommended oil

"However, we typically will just stick with what the manufacturer recommends simply because of, you know, liability issues."

Manufacturer recommended oil is the type of oil that the car maker says you should use in your vehicle. It's important to use this oil to keep the engine working well and to avoid problems.

Term

15W40

"it was 10W30, 1540, maybe five, you know, I can't remember."

15W40 is a type of oil that helps car engines work well, especially in warmer weather. It keeps the engine safe when it's running hard.

Term

10W30

"it was 10W30, 1540, maybe five, you know, I can't remember."

10W30 is a type of oil that helps keep car engines running smoothly in different temperatures. It works well when it's cold and when it's hot.

Term

0W8

"I mean, now we're down to 0W8. The newer Toyotas are taking 0W."

0W8 is a kind of oil used in cars that helps them run better, especially in cold weather. It's thinner than older oils, which helps save fuel.

Term

white smoke

"...they have the prenotation that, oh, I'm not seeing any white smoke."

If you notice white smoke coming from a car's exhaust, it could mean that something is wrong with the engine, like coolant leaking into it. This is usually a bad sign and should be checked out.

Term

black smoke

"...you see a big puff of black smoke that that's that's carbon and some oil build up and they're kind of."

If you see black smoke coming from a car's exhaust, it means the engine is using too much fuel. This can happen for a few reasons, and it's usually a sign that something might be wrong with the engine.

Company

GM

"...the most of your UPS trucks are GM engines, GM chassis, transmissions engines."

GM stands for General Motors, a big company that makes many different cars and trucks. They are well-known for brands like Chevrolet and GMC.

Car

Ram 1500

"...are you? Good. My, my buddy has a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500. And he's got heat that comes out the passenger ..."
Car

Dodge Ram

"...my buddy has a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500. And he's got heat that comes out the passenger side, but not out of the driver's side..."

The Dodge Ram 1500 is a big truck that people use for work or to carry things. It's known for being strong and comfortable to drive.

Part

blend door actuator

"So the blend or motor or blend or actuator is bad on that vehicle. The problem is sometimes and Dodge is notorious for this."

The blend door actuator is a small part that helps control the temperature inside your car by mixing hot and cold air. If it breaks, you might not be able to get the right temperature in your car.

Car

GMC Safari

"... you know, changing the oil, I've got a 2002 GMC safari. I change your oil every 3,000 miles."

The GMC Safari is a van that can fit a lot of people and cargo, making it great for families or work. It's built to be tough and last a long time, which is why some people still use it today.

Car

Honda Civic

"...hat, you know, I mean, my my I have a 2000 Honda Civic. It still takes conventional oil, right?"
Car

Honda 2000 Honda

"...re people that, you know, I mean, my my I have a 2000 Honda Civic. It still takes conventional oil, right?"

The Honda S2000 is a small sports car that people love for how fun it is to drive. It has a powerful engine that can go really fast and is known for being very responsive on the road.

Term

depreciating asset

"...it's a depreciating asset rate. It's going to go down. You're going to lose value in it."

A depreciating asset is something that loses value as time goes on. For cars, this means that the longer you own it, the less it's worth when you try to sell it later.

Car

GMC Yukon

"...I'm kind of afraid. I've got a five year old GMC Yukon. OK, I've got 73,000 miles on it."

The GMC Yukon is a big SUV that can carry a lot of people and stuff. It's known for being strong and good for families, but some people worry about how it will hold up as it gets older.

Term

main bearing issue

"But right, the new Yukon's, and this is no lie, the newer Yukon's are the engines are failing before they even leave the dealership lot. We had one not too long."

A main bearing issue happens when the part that helps the engine's moving parts turn smoothly fails. This can cause serious problems and might even stop the engine from working.

Brand

Toyota

"...as long as what this one does? Toyota's or are they having trouble with with all all the other cars? Oh, um, no. Toyotas are not. I like toyotas."

Toyota is a car company famous for making reliable cars that last a long time without many problems.

7 cars featured

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