Who is behind AutoWW?
I am Dan Schnau, an automotive hobbyist. I created AutoWW to bring comprehensive basic automotive knowledge together in one website. My goal is to help curious beginners understand how cars work and ask informed questions before buying one.
What this guide is for
Understand mechanisms, read specifications, plan maintenance questions, and prepare for a buying conversation. The articles explain general principles. They are not workshop repair instructions or a diagnosis of any particular vehicle.
How we write and check
We define a technical term before relying on it. We use short examples with stated units. Every article includes buying implications, misunderstandings, related terms, sources, and a review date. References link close to the claims they support; longer references identify the relevant section or page.
Original explanations draw on U.S. government education where possible. We use original manufacturer and engineering references to check specific mechanisms. We do not copy publicly accessible material merely because it is free to read. The source ledger records the evidence and its use.
Review status and limitations
This first release was AI-assisted and source-checked on October 22, 2026. It has not had an independent automotive engineer’s review. “Reviewed” means checked against the cited material for this release; it does not imply professional certification. Manufacturer documents and primary evidence take precedence for a specific car.
Many regulatory references are for the United States. Local buying rules, inspection requirements, units, and vehicle specifications vary. Look for the correct model year, configuration, and market when using a manual or schedule.
When sources simplify or differ
We state the relevant limitation rather than forcing a universal rule. For example, the DOE’s basic four-stroke account describes fuel mixing before intake, while FuelEconomy.gov also describes direct injection into the cylinder. Our explanation explicitly allows both. A belt CVT illustration is not used to describe every hybrid e-CVT.
Educational purpose
AutoWW is a static educational reference. It does not offer a car-finding service, collect purchase inquiries, or generate sales leads. All educational content is freely accessible. This edition has no paid placements or referral relationships. No seller supplied these educational explanations.
Publication, updates, and review dates
?Published? records an article?s first release. ?Updated? records the initial release or the latest substantive change to its explanation. ?Reviewed? records the latest check against cited sources. A review that does not change the explanation does not change its publication or update date. Adding attribution or changing site styling does not imply a fresh technical review.
Corrections and updates
Have a comment, question, or correction? Email Dan Schnau at dsschnau@gmail.com. For a correction, please include the article link, the sentence you think needs changing, and any supporting primary source. For a question, let me know which part of the explanation is unclear.
When a correction changes meaning, update the article, source ledger, modification date, review date, and a visible correction note. Review again when referenced guidance or the article’s scope changes. No automatic future review is claimed.