Why MPG is a dumb unit for fuel economy

Miles per gallon—mpg—is the default measure of gas mileage in the United States, but it may not be the best one, argues “Engineering Explained” host Jason Fenske. Here’s why he’d rather see a different unit of measurement for fuel economy. Fenske doesn’t have a problem with the individual units—the mile and the gallon—but says something …

Should you use racing oil in your road car?

Every part of a modern race car is optimized to extract maximum performance—including the fluids that go into it. Specialized racing oil is a must in the paddock, but is it a good idea to use that in your road car? “Engineering Explained” host Jason Fenske answers that question in this video, talking to engineers …

What’s the future of the internal-combustion engine?

With stricter emission standards and the rise of electric powertrains, it might seem like the internal-combustion engine’s days are numbered. But Engineering Explained host Jason Fenske believes internal combustion will live on—thanks to new technologies. Fenske is pretty optimistic about the longevity of the internal-combustion engine, both because of the inherent energy-density advantage of gasoline …