maintenance Archives : Danny's Engineportal

Close-up of performance engine camshaft and flat-tappet lifters being lubricated with high-zinc engine oil.

Low Zinc Engine Oil Guide: How to Protect Flat Tappet Cams

03/31/2026

The Problem with Modern Low-Zinc Oils: Is Your Engine at Risk? For decades, “zinc” was synonymous with engine health. But if you’ve walked down the oil aisle lately, you might have noticed a shift. Modern […]

New Spark Plugs, Improve Engine Performance And Efficiency

03/17/2026

Spark plugs don’t last forever. If you want to maintain your engine’s health and efficiency, knowing when to swap them out is essential. One common myth is that performance spark plugs ‘create’ horsepower. In reality, […]

Interference Or Non-Interference Engines, Timing Is Everything

Interference vs. Non-Interference Engines: What You Need to Know

03/07/2026

The Hidden Danger: Interference vs. Non-Interference Engines So, every driver should understand their car’s engine design. It can mean the difference between a small bill and a total loss. This guide explains why engine timing […]

Engine Coolant Antifreeze – Engine Cooling and Testing Made Easy

01/26/2026

The job of engine coolant antifreeze is to protect the engine from severe temperature and corrosion. That’s why you should always flush and replace your engine coolant antifreeze at recommended intervals. Otherwise, it will break […]

Mechanical Fuel Pumps – Everything You Need To Know

01/13/2026

The standard mechanical fuel pumps found on classic cars are very reliable. With that said, nothing automotive lasts forever. So at some point mechanical fuel pumps will fail. Most mechanical fuel pumps are used on […]

Valve Lash Setting – Top End Ticking Noise, Usually The First Sign

Valve Lash Setting For Quiet Engine Performance

01/08/2026

Valve lash setting, is something most drivers don’t even think about. First, you need to know if you even have an adjustable valve train for valve lash setting. In most cases, you will not have […]

Repeat Engine Failures From Not Diagnosing The Original Problem

11/09/2025

The installer’s worst nightmare, repeat engine failures from not diagnosing the original problem. So, you have replaced an engine, cylinder head, or crankshaft in your car. But a short time later you have a repeat […]

Cylinder Head Resurfacing – Getting The Correct Surface Finish

11/05/2025

Cylinder head resurfacing is a very common process today, especially with all the leaking head gaskets. Above all, cylinder head resurfacing is the most common machining operation, done in machine shops to date. However, many […]

Timing Belt Basics – Avoid the Unexpected Cost of Engine Damage

10/14/2025

A timing belt is one of those things that’s critical to replace; according to the auto manufacturer’s schedule. Timing belt replacement is most often between every 75,000 and 100,000 miles. So, check your owner’s manual […]

Pushrods On G.M. 3.1-3.4 Engines – This Is Where Length Matters

09/26/2025

Exhaust and Intake Pushrods, on G.M. 3.1 and 3.4 engines are different lengths. So, quite often we still see bent push rods and valves, when they are mixed up. Consequently, Exhaust pushrods on G.M. 3.1 […]