Page 32 - Engineering

Back in the good "ol days (aka the infancy) of liquid cooled engines, just about all of the emissions systems would vent chemicals and harmful vapors to the atmosphere. No PCV or CCV lines, no catalytic converters, just dribbling coolant and blow-by all across the roadways. It was great for the cars, but not so great for the world around us (sorry ozone). As environmental restrictions tightened, manufacturers had to develop ways to keep the byproducts of the internal combustion and cooling chemicals inside the car.

Nowadays, just about everything in the engine stays in there and is recycled in some way, including the very liquid that keeps those cylinders at the appropriate temperature. This might take you back to your high school chemistry class, but things expand when they get hot. When it comes to coolant specifically,

When you slide into the cushy leather seats of your Q50 or Q60 you become somewhat of an orchestra conductor. Underneath the hood is an ensemble of working instruments, neatly arranged to play the moment you turn the ignition. The VR30DDTT fires up like a roll on the timpani with that characteristic Nissan V6 rumble. The woodwinds whistle as the turbos push boost through the intake, and the bass drops as hard as your foot, interlacing this classic concerto with the modern thump of EDM. It all sounds perfect. But what happens when the notes are off? What happens when one of the violists overheats and faints mid arpeggio? The whole orchestra stumbles and the audience can sense every jumbled note, which isn't much of a good look for the conductor. Heat can have a similar effect on your intercooling system, causing that splendid harmony created by all those working parts to feel a bit out of tune.

Engineers from Hyundai might have stuffed plenty of smiles-per-mile within their unique take on the hatchback, but as we went over in our first post, the eccentric Veloster suffers from a run-of-the-mill problem with blow-by. While our donor vehicle's owner kept his good times rolling testing our prototype, the fun didn't stop here at Mishimoto as we perfected our blow-by remedy.

As the loaner vehicle was conducting our standard 1000-mile test, we were polishing the final product and ensuring every aspect was up to Mishi standards. When we last left off, we only had the simple metal version of the bracket, but now it's dressed to impress and looks right at home nestled behind the engine cover.

Auto shows, and specifically New York's edition, tend to focus on the big reveals. What's brand new? What haven't the media and public seen before that they want to feast their eyes on? True, as stated in our last post, this year's NYIAS did seem to lean more toward auto brands filling out their trim selections and special editions, but that didn't stop them from bringing 2019's earlier releases along for the ride.

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What auto show would be complete without aimlessly strolling through the displays and peeking in whatever catches your eye? I hope it's not just me. I do get easily distracted by shiny things and, well it's an auto show. Everything's shiny. To be fair, we had some specific destinations

The world is full of attempts at greatness that fell
short for one reason or another. It's no secret that creating something great
takes the right combination of timing, motivation, and vision. Over the past several
months, we've been working to craft our own version of greatness for one of the
most celebrated trucks in the world.

When we last saw our 2011-2014 Ford F-150/2010-2014 Ford Raptor radiator, it was merely the shell of greatness. Our prototype was constructed and test-fit successfully, but we were still a few steps away from our goal of a radiator that lives up to the F-150's reputation. While we've been absent from posting, work was still progressing on our production samples. These samples, and the testing we'll perform with them, will be the milestone that determines if our radiator will be fit for greatness, or fall short along with so many before it.

Nothing says driving quite like New York City. The jams, the honking, the stop and go traffic all add up to one wild experience. Maybe more like a torture test, but you might not have fun doing it. Maybe I was a little off about NYC driving, but the Big Apple is an ideal meeting spot for OEM's and enthusiasts alike to rendezvous and get an up-close look at the fresh new designs manufacturers have to offer. Since the Mishimoto R&D facility is only an hour train ride away, we took advantage of this opportunity to join the hundreds of other journalists descending on the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan.

So, What's New?

To be honest, not too much in the realm of the enthusiast. 2019 is a bit of an "in-between" year when it comes to new releases in New York. There have been some highly anticipated launches this year,

The renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams once said, ""I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." Nearly a century after Adams began exploring the American West, Americans still love to explore, and no vehicle exemplifies the spirit of everyday exploration better than the Jeep Wrangler. Any Wrangler driver knows that embarking on an exploration is a simple matter of turning a key. Take the top off, or pull off the doors, and a drive through your neighborhood becomes something more.

As any explorer knows, a journey requires preparation. We might have moved on from feeding the horses and packing the hardtack but being prepared is still key. Even in a brand new 2.0L turbo Wrangler, the first step in your everyday exploration should be staying prepared. Maintenance is important, of course. You change your oil, use high-quality fuel, check your tire pressure, and a plethora of other essentials most vehicle owners are familiar with.