Auto Industry

2016 was a strange year, in many respects. The auto industry saw some of the most interesting tech inventions and ideas to date. As a standalone achievement, SEMA 2016 was chock full of product unveilings, which only figures to increase next year. As we look forward to 2017, we’re taking a look at five fresh products and ideas you might have missed. Ford finds its groove with record numbe... Read More

Survival has been around almost as long as human beings have been on the earth. For thousands of years, we were pretty bad at staying alive. We ate twigs and berries. Our fires were too small to stare into and think about stuff. Our tools were basically regular rocks that happened to be pointier than other rocks. Our species was on the verge of total disaster. But suddenly, as if overnight, ... Read More

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a good mechanic. Despite our skills—sometimes—experience is our downfall. We think we can get away with little mistakes here and there, and we hope they don’t catch up to us. It’s called being lucky, and we’re usually lucky more than we’re unlucky. So yes, almost every mechanic has a story about a narrow escape(s). But there are also the costly mistakes, ... Read More

A few years ago, a bunch of DIY'ers were asked about how much they save by doing their own repairs. They told researchers they save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year on regular maintenance and car repairs. Not surprising! While some jobs are best left to professionals, there are certain things you don’t need to lean on the shop to do for you. However, trickier jobs that involve work on... Read More

If you want to skip this article and read the official government code, Title 40, Chapter I, Subchapter I, Part 279, you’ll learn everything there is to know about used oil disposal and recycling. For the rest of us, this article will serve as a brief guide to what you need to know about disposing of used oil and oil filters. The oil change “discount” Maybe you’ve had this happen to you: a ... Read More

You don’t have to be a DIY’er to enjoy the amazing car tech of 2016. In fact, of the eight wish list items featured here, only a couple of them are really geared at the DIY community. Sometimes you need a break from “doing it yourself,” and you just want the tech to do all the work for you. More importantly, it's never too early to think about the holiday season, so this list is just in time to... Read More

One of the most important aspects of owning and/or operating a car lift is performing periodic maintenance. We pride ourselves on making our lifts (two-post, four-post, etc.) as low-maintenance as possible, but there are still a few chores you’ll need to complete from time to time. All of this is listed in your owner’s manual, of course, but we’d like to offer a fresh reminder. Required ... Read More

Smart buyers look for value when they shop, and value comes in different ways: price, quality, durability, etc. But how should you balance those things out? Will savings now cost you more in repairs down the road? What does that word "quality" really mean, anyway, and how should you look for it? This list will help you be a smarter car lift buyer. Good or bad, look for lots of reviews T... Read More

Dash cams serve two purposes. BendPak doesn't make dash cams, but the more we hear about them, the more vital we think they are. Dash cams are a good investment: they're cost-effective and give you peace of mind. Dash cam footage will back you up in court when it captures crimes and other illegal acts. Because they keep recording, they reveal incredible moments that end before you can say “Snap... Read More

This blog has discussed the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid and electric vehicles, but self-driving cars may be the biggest auto tech we have yet to cover. In some ways, it's hard to imagine this is even real. Well, we can all pinch ourselves. It is real—maybe a little too real—and it feels like completely different territory than anything we’ve seen thus far from the auto industry. With in... Read More