The Automotive Doctor - D. Sichi II

15/04/2026

15/04/2026

Shout out to our newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Marvelous Mwiza Nanundwe, Judascarlos Ntsure

10/04/2026

Whatever fault your car has or check light showing on your dashboard, we do this service at an affordable price and can come to your location given you provide transport.

10/04/2026

There’s a long-standing belief in the automotive world that pouring a thicker, heavier oil into your engine automatically provides better protection, especially in hot climates or high-mileage vehicles. However, when it comes to modern engineering, applying this old-school logic can actually do more harm than good.

​Pro Tip: Oil as a Hydraulic Fluid
​Today’s engines are built with incredibly tight micro-tolerances between moving parts. More importantly, modern Variable Valve Timing (VVT) systems rely on engine oil to act as a hydraulic fluid. If you use a thick oil (like switching from a 5W-20 to a 20W-50), the oil flows too slowly through the microscopic passages and VVT solenoid screens. This leads to severe oil starvation at startup and prevents the camshaft timing from adjusting quickly and accurately.

​Common Troubleshooting & Solutions
>​Problem: Loud metallic ticking or clattering noises from the engine during cold morning starts (known as a dry start).

​Solution: This is a classic symptom of oil that is too thick when cold (indicated by the 'W' or winter rating). Because it's thick like syrup, the oil pump struggles to push it to the top of the engine quickly. Switching back to the manufacturer’s recommended lighter viscosity ensures instant lubrication upon ignition.
​
>Problem: The Check Engine Light illuminates with VVT-related codes (like P0011), accompanied by a sluggish throttle response.
​Solution: Thick oil cannot pass quickly through the fine mesh screens of the VVT solenoids, starving the phasers of the required hydraulic pressure to adjust timing.

The proper fix involves draining the heavy oil, cleaning the clogged VVT screens, and refilling with the factory-spec viscosity.
​Respecting the precise engineering behind your engine and sticking to the right specifications is the ultimate key to longevity, and that's the level of care we uphold at The Automotive Doctor - D. Sichi II

09/04/2026

Starter motor

09/04/2026

Construction and basic operation of a starter motor

09/04/2026

SUMMARIZED HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM
A vehicle brake system converts kinetic energy into thermal energy (heat) through friction to slow or stop the car. When the brake pedal is pressed, a master cylinder creates hydraulic pressure, pushing brake pads against a rotor (disc brakes) or shoes against a drum (drum brakes) at the wheels, typically aided by a brake booster.

Key Components of a Hydraulic Brake System
-Brake Pedal & Booster: The driver initiates braking; the booster uses vacuum to amplify pedal force.

-Master Cylinder: Converts mechanical pedal force into hydraulic pressure.

-Brake Fluid & Lines: Incompressible fluid transmits pressure from the master cylinder to the wheels.

-Brake Calipers/Pistons: Use hydraulic pressure to squeeze pads against the rotor.

-Brake Pads & Rotors: The friction surfaces that generate heat to slow the wheel.

-Anti-lock Braking System (ABS): Regulates pressure to prevent wheel lockup during hard braking.

Types of Braking Systems
-Disc Brakes: Commonly used on the front (or all four) wheels, featuring a rotor and caliper, which are efficient at dissipating heat.

-Drum Brakes: Found on the rear of some vehicles, utilizing brake shoes that expand against a drum.

-Regenerative Braking: Used in electric/hybrid vehicles to convert kinetic energy back into battery power.

Common Signs of Brake Failure
-Squealing or Grinding Noises: Often indicates worn pads.

-Soft or Spongy Pedal: Could indicate air in the hydraulic lines or low brake fluid.

-Vibrating Pedal: May suggest warped rotors.

-Vehicle Pulling to One Side: Can indicate a malfunctioning caliper.

>>Routine maintenance, including checking fluid levels and replacing brake pads, is essential for safety.

09/04/2026

>> Let the young man, in his desperation, go out and hunt. If he kïlls an elephant, his poverty ends. If an elephant kìlls him, his poverty ends... √™

15/10/2025

HYDROPLANING

The rain season is around the corner, as you check/ change wiper blades also think about one very important part of your vehicle; TYRES.
Yes Tyres... Finding the right tyre size/type for terrain and conditions is very important. That said let's talk about HYDROPLANING.

Hydroplaning is one of the most dangerous driving situations you can encounter. It's also surprisingly common. Thus, knowing what hydroplaning is and how to prevent it is essential. Let’s dive into it.



What is Hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning occurs when a thin layer of water forms a barrier between the road and your tyre, preventing the tread from gripping it effectively.

Your tyre loses traction and you can slip and spin dangerously out of control.

It usually takes place when driving through roads with standing water due to rain or other reasons. That is why when the road is wet; it tends to be “slippery.”



Why is Hydroplaning dangerous?
Hydroplaning decreases the grip between your tires and the road. With less grip, you will lose steering control, either spinning or sliding that can result in an accident.



What causes hydroplaning:

Wet roads increase your chances of aquaplaning exponentially, especially when water on road surfaces exceeds 1/10th of an inch deep.



Tread Depth and Design

Tyre tread patterns are usually designed to have the optimal combination of grooves and blocks to quickly drain water out from its surface. If your tyre tread is worn down, your tyre will stay wet longer, and the higher the chances of hydroplaning.



Vehicle speed

Your tyre tread needs time to void water. The faster you go, the less time you have to drain water out. Hydroplaning occurs even at speeds as low as 25 mph, so when the road is wet, slow down.



5 Ways To Avoid Hydroplaning
Driving in the rain is challenging. Your vision is hampered, traffic backs up, or worse, your vehicle can hydroplane. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent it:



1. Rotate your tyres regularly and replace them when necessary.
This will prevent uneven tread wear which could indirectly cause hydroplaning if your tyre's tread can no longer flush water out effectively.


2. Ensure your tyres are properly inflated and that you have the correct tire pressure.
Over and underinflated tyres mean your tyre's contact patch is not touching the road at the optimal level as it would on a properly inflated tyre. This increases your risk of hydroplaning.



3. Check that you have the proper tire tread depth. Use the coin test!
As we mentioned earlier, the less tyre tread, the higher the chances of hydroplaning. Make sure your tyre tread is way above the legal limit of 1.5 mm for a safer ride all around.


4. Stay away from the side of the road where water tends to accumulate.
Avoid big puddles of standing water that tend to pool on the left or right side of the road. As much as possible, stick to the dry, paved sections to stay safe.


5. Turn off your cruise control to stay aware of road conditions.
You need to be 100% focused on the road when driving in the rain. Switching to manual control will help you stay aware of the road conditions.



What To Do When Your Car Is Hydroplaning?

Sometimes, even when you take every precautionary measure, hydroplaning will occur no matter what. If your vehicle hydroplanes, the following steps will get you to safety:

DON'T PANIC!!

Dont slam on the brakes

Stay calm until you regain traction. Be ready to ride it out because sometimes, that's all you can do until your car moves into a dry spot on the road.
Ease off the accelerator, pump the brakes slowly vs braking hard until you get control of your car.

Slowly steer into your slide.

When you feel your car sliding, don't turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction. For example, you start to slide to the left, don't turn your steering wheel to the right in an attempt to compensate for the slide. When your car starts to skid, turn your steering wheel into the same direction of your skid, while slowly pumping the brakes to regain control.



Choosing Proper Tyres
Hydroplaning is a major safety concern, particularly within the tyre industry.

Tyre manufacturers and their engineers continue to experiment with various materials and tread pattern designs in their search for a way to permanently stop it from ever happening again.

But the best tyre to resist hydroplaning is one with proper and adequate tread depth - and not one that is almost worn out.



Key Takeaways
Hydroplaning is a significant safety concern for vehicles and it can be challenging for drivers to avoid. So make sure your tyres are properly maintained, and if you need a new set of tyres, choose them carefully.

Email:
[email protected]

Follow us on
Tyroola on LinkedIn
Tyroola on Facebook
Tyroola on Instagram
NZBN: 9429046263308
© Copyright Tyroola Ltd 2025

05/11/2024

Following are the Types of Catalytic Converters:

1. 2-way Catalytic Converter

The two-way catalytic converter was present on vehicles in the United States until 1981. They only have oxidation catalysts, which help change carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Hydrocarbons (which are unburned and partially burned fuel) are changed to carbon dioxide and water.

2. 3-way Catalytic Converter

The three-way catalytic converter currently permits the most efficient, safest, and most reliable form of emission control in petrol engines. As the name implies, the three-way catalytic converter converts three pollutants: hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into less harmful gases.

3. Diesel Oxidation Catalytic Converter

A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) is an after-treatment component that is designed to convert carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. The device is used on all our EU Stage IV/U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final products – from the 400F through to the 1206F.

4. EGR System

EGR system and catalytic converter are used to reduce the exhaust emission from an IC engine. The catalytic converter reduces efficiently the emission of HC, CO, PM, etc. whereas the EGR system is a very effective technique for reducing NOX emission. The formation of NOx is almost absent at temperatures below 2000K.

5. DPF

A DPF is simply a large filter made from heat-proof materials that trap particles of soot to prevent them from escaping from the exhaust. It has periodic automated cleaning cycles where it self-cleans. A catalytic convertor uses a chemical reaction to turn toxic gasses into less toxic gasses.

6. SCR

Selective catalytic reduction means of converting nitrogen oxides, also referred to as NO ₓ with the aid of a catalyst into diatomic nitrogen, and water. A reductant, typically anhydrous ammonia, aqueous ammonia, or a urea solution, is added to a stream of flue or exhaust gas and is reacted onto a catalyst.