When driving along, if you rest your foot on the clutch pedal, you are riding the clutch. This practice causes excess wear on the clutch and the clutch throw-out bearing.
Category: Glossary of Car Terms
What is Radiator Cap?
The radiator cap maintains a specific pressure in the cooling system so it operates efficiently.
What is RWD?
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD). Rear wheel drive cars transmit power to the ground through the rear wheels.
What is Rust-converting primer?
Rust-converting primer is a special type of primer that stops the progress of surface rust.
What is Reservoir?
Reservoir is a generic term that refers to any container for a fluid. For instance, most vehicles have a windshield washer fluid reservoir and a brake fluid reservoir.
What is Rheostat?
Rheostat refers to a control which varies the intensity of the lights and speed of certain accessories that it is connected to. For instance, an instrument lighting rheostat controls the brightness of the instrument lighting.
What is Rocker Arms?
Rocker arms are used in overhead valve (OHV) engines. They are operated by pushrods and open and close the valves.
What is Running rich?
This is a condition that occurs when too much gas and too little air is being fed to the engine. A sign of rich running is black, sooty exhaust.
What is Revving The Engine?
When your car is in park or neutral and you press on the gas without the intention of making the car move, you are revving the engine.
What is Radiator?
The radiator is the central component of the cooling system. It takes the heat from the engine and coolant and passes it to the surrounding air, which then cools the engine.
What is Rotary Engine?
A rotary engine does not have pistons or cylinders; instead, it has triangular shaped rotors that move in an elliptical path within chambers to create power. The only companies that have offered rotary cars for sale are Mazda, NSU, and Citroen.
What is Rubbing Compound?
A rubbing compound is a type of paint polish that contains extremely fine abrasive particles. These particles remove the top layer of paint, revealing the shiny layer underneath.
What is Shift Linkage?
This is a series of rods and/or cables that connect the gearshift lever or gear selector to the transmission.
What is Spark Plug Wires?
Spark plug wires are the thick cables that bring spark from the distributor cap to the spark plugs.
What is Steering System?
The steering system allows you to control the direction of your vehicle. Most modern cars have a rack and pinion steering system with a power assist. Components in your steering system include the steering rack, tie rods, tie rod ends, ball joints, power steering pump, power steering hoses, and the pump drive belt.
What is Spark Plug Electrode?
The electrode is the curved piece(s) of metal (ground electrode) that reaches over the center electrode. The spark is created between the electrodes.
What is Starter Motor Starter?
This is the electric motor that turns your engine over when you turn the key in the ignition switch.
What is Springs?
Springs absorb road imperfections and vibration, help hold the suspension up, and help vehicles handle better.
What is Sway Bar?
The sway bar is a suspension system component that helps a vehicle to stay flat and not lean excessively when cornering. Also called a stabilizer bar or anti-roll bar.
What is Speedometer?
An instrument that indicates a vehicle’s speed.