Bumper 2 Bumper

Ever thought about putting dollar store oil in your engine? Are you the type of person who takes risks, or thinks expensive oil is all marketing hype? Well today we are going to put dollar store oil to the test.

Some questions are so important they demand an answer, even if you’re the only one brave enough to try. Questions like: Can you power a Formula 1 car with a weedwhacker? There are rumors that just like weedwhackers, chain saws, and dirt bikes, future F1 engines could be 2-strokes. Today, we’re gonna dig into the changes coming to F1 power units, and figure out if we’ll really be hearing that 2-stroke braap in a Grand Prix someday.

Ever wonder what makes and engine reliable? Why have manufacturers like Toyota and Honda have really reliable engines while some others don't? how come companies like BMW can make some engines that are really reliable and some engines that don't make it 100,000 miles? in this episode of Bumper 2 Bumper we take a look at what engines, that have proven to be reliable, have in common, why not every modern engine is built that way, and happens when you put the most reliable aspects we can find into 1 engine. Is your engine on our list of reliable motors? You'll have to watch to find out.

The Fast and Furious franchise has given us car nerds a lot of enjoyment. These movies help shape the culture of the automotive world we live in, one quarter mile at a time. But on another hand, they also led us astray when it comes to the actual physics in some of their more famous scenes. “Busters” turbo hack, 100mph in reverse, doing a wheel stand WHILE doing a burnout? Today on Bumper2Bumper, we are gonna take a look at some of these feats of impossible physics and break out some engineering truth on some of our favorite Fast and Furious myths. Let go!

You’re probably more than familiar with language like “stage 2 turbo” or “stage 3 tune” but if we really pressed you on the different stages of tuning, would you be able to lay out a definitive set of guidelines for what those stages actually mean? Does bumping up each stage mean I’m going to double my horsepower? Triple? Dare I say it, quadruple?! Well today on B2B, Uncle Jerry is going to get into the stages of tuning, and answer all your questions. Every question you have, he'll answer.

You ever lie awake at night and dream of an indestructible tire, capable of handling whatever rocky terrain that gets in your way? No? You think I have a problem since that's the only thing that keeps me up at night? Who knows, but luckily for me, my nights of restlessness will soon be coming to an end thanks to NASA. They've engineered an airless tire that could save you from spending money on those expensive rubber tires, and also curtail my sleepless nights. The Superelastic Tire. Silly name, I know, but this tire could change tires as we know it. Let's see how.

As of 2020 Tesla has logged over 3 billion miles of autonomous vehicle driving. That’s over 120,000 laps around your momma. Like it or not, we can all agree that autonomous vehicles are the way of the future. Tesla, Cadillac, BMW, they're just a few companies that have cars on the market with autonomous features. But each of them tackle this "autonomous driving" problem in a different way using different technology. So how do they do it, how does it really work, and more importantly, is a computer in a car truly as responsive as the human brain? Well today we are gonna find out. Skynet is here.

Porsche is designing super light pistons which are only possible by means of 3D printing. These light pistons will add a claimed 30 horsepower, but how can something a simple as a piston add that much mo' powah babeh? And why does it require 3D printing?

You know about inline engines, v engines, maybe even a VR engine layout, but do you know the W, the U, or the H engine?

The average RPM range of our boring consumer cars, or heck, even our more performance fueled cars are sub 10,000 rpm. So how does F1 make an engine that revs to 20,000 RPM? And why would they want to? What does a higher revving engine mean for performance?

We all like going fast. DUH! But what about it is so addicting? I think we've all been on the freeway late at night and just wanted to floor it. Why does that feel so good? It has something to do with a chemical you've probably heard of called adrenaline.

What do Bugatti's new hyper car and a golf ball have in common? Well... apparently their aerodynamics. That's right Bugatti designers took inspiration from a design thats over 100 years old! On the roof of the Bolide's hood scoop is a "morphable outer skin" that Bugatti says will help the Bolide reach speeds upwards of 300mph. But if you're like Jerry you might be questioning if this golf ball inspired aero is really all it's cracked up to be. Find out, on todays episode of Bumper to Bumper.

Almost everyone watching our channel has fantasized about being a pro driver. Many of us wonder, what separates someone who enjoys carving the canyons from a professional who does this type of thing for a living? Obviously, they've trained their whole lives, and have a degree of natural aptitude. But once they're in the car, what is the professional doing that an amateur just can't keep up with?

Let's say you want to build a car to go compete. You can't just build the craziest thing you can manage. You’ve got to follow these things called “rules”. But what happens when a professional race team ditches that rulebook and makes the most insane, most powerful, drift car ever to lay down some rubber? Our buddy and pro drifter Chris Forsberg built a drift car so sick, it’s not even allowed in Formula D! And today we not only get to show you this car for the first time, but how this car came to be and why breaking the rules was necessary for its creation.

Sand printing is similar to 3D printing; layers of 0.25mm thick sand are ‘printed’ onto a jobbox with a layer of chemical binder in between allowing for complex 3D shapes to be made, slice by slice, layer by layer. It's so good that F1, LMP1, LMP2, WRC, WRX and Moto GP use this tech to make all sorts of parts. So how does it work and is it the way of the future?

At a topic meeting, someone pitched the idea of electric turbos. But we can't make an episode on those. There isn't any science, they're a classic eBay power-promising scam. Everyone knows that. Mighty Car Mods did a video on them like 10 years ago and proved it. But wait... cleetus made a video and did make power with an electric turbo. And Audi has a car going into production that uses what they call an "e-turbo"? And actually, every car on the F1 grid uses an electrically assisted turbocharger? So, they work? How? And why did this piece of tech go from totally-a-scam to inside every engine in the pinnacle of motorsport?

A lot of people know about the 2007 espionage involving Ferrari and McLaren. It involved spies, sabotaged fuel, stolen blueprints and the biggest fine in sports history. But off to the side another strange story was happening between McLaren and Renault. Renault got their hands on the designs of a unique suspension component from McLaren. Supposedly, Renault's engineering team couldn't figure out the purpose of the device from the drawing they had "acquired." So what is this device? Broadly, it's known as a mechanical inerter, but in the F1 world everyone still uses the codename originally given to it by McLaren, the J-Damper.

Synthetic fuels are fuels made from water and carbon dioxide from the air. You split the water into hydrogen and oxygen, and combine the oxygen with CO2 to create hydrocarbons. Basically what burning fuel does but in reverse. If the energy used to do this comes from a sustainable source (i.e. wind or solar) you will have net zero emissions, and none of the environmental impact of mining the metals used in batteries. This could effectively make ICE engines better for the environment than EVs.

Like every race series, NASCAR periodically updates the rules which define the cars. Unlike most race series, NASCAR's roots go back nearly 100 years, and so does some of the technology. But the 2022 update is huge: independent rear suspension, 6-speed sequential transaxles, 18" wheels with wider, lower profile tires, coil over suspension.

Today we are going to highlight some of the most dominant engines in Formula 1 and dive into the clever bits of engineering that allowed the cars that they powered to dominate the competition.

Top fuel dragsters are the most powerful cars built today. One Top Fuel dragster's 500-cubic-inch Hemi engine makes more horsepower than the first four rows at the Daytona 500. It is said that drivers experience more G's than an astronaut headed to space. They have spark plugs that are strong enough to weld metal. Their flame front's measure in temperatures up to 7000 degree's. Assuming that all of the equipment is paid off, the crew works gratis, and nothing breaks, each run costs an estimated $1000 per second and that crazy cost is because a dragster engine needs to be rebuilt EVERY RUN.

In the 2020 Formula 1 season, Ferrari finished 6th out of 10 in the constructor’s championship, their worst performance in 40 years. According to their own test driver they had the worst engine on the grid. That’s in part because in 2019 they “bent the rules” or as some would call it “cheated”. Unfortunately the FIA struck a confidential deal with Ferrari so no one really knows how they cheated. Well today on B2B, we are gonna break down the science of this scuderia scandal, and look at how Ferrari re-engineered their engine in 2021 to get back to not sucking.

A few weeks ago Wheelhouse made an episode about how Hydrogen cars were supposed to be the future of automobiles. And in that episode Nolan made a pretty good economic argument for why they failed. An argument that everyone’s favorite billionaire, Elon Musket, might agree with. But like all things car related, I get curious about the engineering side of things. Outside of politics, why couldn’t the car of the future be hydrogen powered? Well today on B2B we’re gonna take a look at hydrogen-fueled tech, and explain why Elon Musk might just be wrong about hydrogen cars.

Did you know that Lexus has secretly been sweeping off-roading races in the last year? Yeah, we didn't either. We'll look at how off-roading suspension has changed over the past few decades, and how "luxury off-roading" may well be the next step in its evolution. We'll take a spin in the Lexus J201 off-roading concept vehicle to find out why this once-secret car might be the future of competitive off roading.

By 1993, Formula One had become very much a high-tech arena and the FW15C was at the very forefront, featuring active suspension, anti-lock brakes, traction control, telemetry, drive-by-wire controls, pneumatic engine valve springs, power steering, semi-automatic transmission, a fully-automatic transmission, and also a continuously variable transmission. But Just two weeks after testing the FIA banned Williams' car. Today on B2B we're gonna find out why.

The science of soap. We sample the fluids coming out of a car wash sprayer and look at how it sticks or doesn't stick to your car. Is it there to clean or is it there to protect? Today on B2B, we're going to run a couple experiments to find out the truth for you.

Winning an F1 Championship requires more than clocking the fastest laps; It requires ”race craft,” which includes knowing when the racing line isn’t the key to victory. Today we're going to explain why the racing line isn't necessarily the best way to win a race.

Is it better to rip out your rear seats and throw on carbon fiber body panels, or skip over trying to be light and go straight to making your engine more buff? HP to weight ratio is always talked about when trying to make your ride go faster, but what are the limits to this? Well today, we are going to look at what happens when you get to light, and what happens to you car when you get too buff. Which one is better? Let's go.

If you have been keeping up with the new regulations coming to F1 in 2022, one of the most visually obvious changes is in the wheels. What's with those slim sidewalls? Or that convex hub? And what the hell are those little wings over the tires?

Electronic brakes are popping up everywhere... but are they worth it? Are they even safe? Today on B2B we take an Audi E-Tron for a spin to show you how these new brakes work, and reveal the scary truth behind them.

I love cars, but I really love motorcycles. Driving a fast car can feel like flying a jet. But a fast bike, that feels like flying with a cape. I’ve spent a huge part of my life on two wheels. I’ve sacrificed time, money, friendships, even my own body to bikes. But after all that, I’ve never ridden – or even seen – a diesel motorcycle. And that got me curious: Why aren’t there any diesel motorcycles? Well, we’re about to find out!

We all know and love NOS... but is it possible that Ozone Injection could be better than Nitrous? Does it have the potential to give you mo' powah, or is it just a disaster waiting to happen? Well, today on B2B we're about to find out. Join us while we dive into why Ozone is – or isn't – the NOS of the future!

You’ll sometimes hear enthusiasts describe their car as a “driver’s car,” and it’s tempting to think that’s just an excuse for not having enough power. But what they mean is that the car lets you experience driving. A driver’s car doesn’t isolate you from the road, it amplifies your connection to it. It makes driving engaging. Greatness doesn’t happen by accident, and today we’re going to figure out how to engineer a car to give a great driving experience.

The internal combustion engine is far from being put to rest by its electric rival. Gas engines not only continues to be developed, but they keep getting better. Today we are going to look at what might be the pinnacle of Internal combustion, Koenigsegg's Free Valve Engine.

Some race fans like to compare IndyCar to Formula 1. Both series have been increasing in popularity and, since they’re both single-seat, open-wheel racecars, they even look a bit alike. But it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges, the differences are what make them both cool. So, let’s dig into how IndyCar differs from Formula 1, and what makes it great. Let’s go!

The stereotypical image that pops into the layman's head when they think of Nascar might not illustrate the sophistication on the track. To win in NASCAR, drivers, teams and engineers need to understand race-car physics, especially aerodynamics. Today, we’re gonna breakdown NASCAR drafting, and explain how drivers even use the air itself against their competition.

The Tesla Model Plaid is probably the fastest accelerating car you can buy today, but that’s under a “very specific” set of conditions. So I got curious. about what those very specific sets of conditions are and why are they so important? So today we’re gonna break them down and figure out how you can stack the chips in your favor to beat it in an actual drag race.

The ZYX is an electric vehicle that you can buy online today that costs less than a pair of Jordan 1 breds . Between engineering, development, manufacturing, shipping and a ton of other factors, how can a company make a profit on a sub $1000 car? Today we are gonna dive into the world of cheap cars, and see where companies cut costs in order to make more franklins.

The answer for a fun, reliable, and cheap sports car, has always been the Mazda Miata. But Mazda just announced that they're seeking to electrify the MX-5 Miata in an effort to have all models feature some form of electrification by 2030. Electric Vehicles often have some very "Un-Miata" like characteristics, so will our favorite sports car be gone forever? Today we're gonna figure it out!

In 1962, a rocket engineer named Gene Middlebrooks applied what he’d learned designing ballistic missiles to build and sell turbine-based power-adding equipment for cars. And when we say “turbine-based”, we don’t mean turbochargers. His “turbo drag axle” was a revolutionary invention that used a turbine to drive the axle of a car, which let drivers toggle their car between comfortable street ride and absolutely mind-boggling power. So why aren't we all driving on turbo axles? Today on B2B we'll explore the brilliance and the pitfalls of this by-gone work of genius.

Nothing sounds cooler than a higher revving engine. An s2000 at 9000rpm, or a rotary engine at 10,000 are pretty sweet. But those are push-over numbers compared to what Ducati can do. In the 4cyl Panigale they're making 17,000rpm and they doing with technology from 1950s F1. It's called a Desmodromic Valve system. So how does this tech thats older than the consumer microwave out rev modern 4cyl in cars today? And why does no one else use it? Today on B2B we're gonna find out!

It’s 2021, and we’ve come a long way since Carl Benz patented the first car in 1885. Teslas can hit 60 in just 2s, F1 drivers experience more Gs than an astronaut, and there are road cars - plural - that can go 300 mph. None of those amazing feats would be possible without the one part that actually touches the road: tires. Today, we’re going to figure out the secrets behind tires’ grip, why there’s so much variation in what seems like a pretty simple design.

We all know that the VG30 is an iconic engine – but why? And why are they so freaking durable? Today on B2B we're diving into the clever design behind one of our favorite engines and showing you just how well-built these machines are. You thought you knew the VG30 – today you'll find out you didn't even know the half of it. Let's go!

Why does every get so jacked about forged parts? What's really going on when we look at the molecular level of different metals when they are being made, used and destroyed? Today on B2B, we're going to find out.

Tesla's touting major changes in their autonomous systems as the safer, more reliable way of the future. But are these autonomous systems actually... safe? Today on B2B We'll learn about why these big new changes still aren't the way of the future.

The Tesla Plaid is one of the fastest production EVs ever made and if you wanna beat it in an EV only race, you got two options: You could cheat on a technicality, or you could spend $2.4M dollars on a Rimac Nevera, the only production EV that’s faster. But what if there’s another way? A third option. Instead of buying a car to beat the Plaid, what if you built your own EV – and you did it on the cheap? Homemade EVs have been running faster 1/4-mile times than the Plaid for years, and many of those cost far less to build. So, there you go: the answer is “built not bought!” What’s the catch? Let’s find out!

Formula 1 wrecks like the one at Monza – where Verstappen did a burnout on Hamilton’s head – cost championship points and cold, hard cash. In 2021, those are both more precious than ever. When a big accident happens, that sends teams looking through their couches for change, but also wondering who should pick up the bill. So today, we’re gonna look at the high cost of F1 wrecks, figure out why they’re so expensive, and with special guest Scott Mansell of Driver 61, find out why they happen in the first place

There's a facinating science behind the materials that manufacturers choose for each brake pad. Today on B2B we'll learn the reasoning behind these choices, and learn about how these materials are engineered as we explore Wilwood's fabrication facility. We're about to show you why you should be getting as excited about your brakes as you are about that fancy new turbo you just spent your last paycheck on.

We all know you want to go fast. But have you ever thought that adding horsies might be the wrong move? Today on B2B we're exploring how modifying you suspension can get you moving faster than adding all the power in the world. Mo' powah baby? Not today! Let's go!

What do a $1.8M supercar, a Group-B rally monster, and a tiny, hundred-horsepower hatchback have in common? They’re all twin-charged: They have both a supercharger and a turbo. A true KFC Double Down sandwich of power. And this decades-old design could be making a comeback. On this episode of B2B, we’re gonna figure out why you would double-down on forced induction, and why so few cars have ever been twin-charged. Turns out, mo’ charging might just mean mo’ problems.

Your favorite car companies sell lots of stuff besides cars. You can get Porsche ice cube trays, Audi: The Board Game, or Bluetooth speakers that sort of look like a Lambo. Those’ll set you back $25,870. But for just a little more, Chevy will sell you a 1,000hp, ready-to-run engine, that’s a hell of a lot louder than those speakers. Today is all about the ZZ632: the baddest big block ever. We’re gonna figure out how it makes crazy power, and why an engine with roots in the 1950s won a best new product award at SEMA 2021. Let’s go!