Articles - FigureHowTo

1/5/2026

Why Are Car Trouble Codes Called OBD Codes?

They are called OBD codes because they come from the vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics system, but the actual technical name is Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC).

1/21/2026

What do numbers on bearings mean?

If you’ve ever looked at the side of a rolling-element bearing, you’ve likely seen a string of alphanumeric characters like 6204-2RS or 25BC02. To the untrained eye, these look like random codes. In reality, they are a precise language that describes the bearing’s dimensions, internal design, and sealing. Understanding these codes is crucial correct selection, replacement, and interchange. Whether you are maintaining industrial equipment, designing machinery, or sourcing replacements. However, the complexity increases when you realize that different global standards specifically ABMA and ISO (SKF) use different "languages" to describe the same part. ABMA (American Bearing Manufacturers Association): Historically used more frequently in North American inch-series and specific military/industrial applications. These codes can be long and complex, often looking like 25BC02.

1/28/2026

Antifreeze: Does Your Car Really Need It?

We’ve all seen a car overheating by the side of the road Usually, the first thing a passerby says is, "Looks like he ran out of water."But here’s the reality: Water could actually be the enemy in a modern engine. While water is excellent at transferring heat, it is also a master of destruction. If you ran pure water in your cooling system, your water pump would lose its lubrication, your aluminum cylinder heads would begin to corrode, and most importantly it would boil off far too early. For this reason, coolant in needed to mex with the water. A Coolant.( Ethylene Glycol) mix does three critical jobs that water can't do alone: Boiling Point Elevation: It raises the boiling point of your system to over 123°C(225°F), keeping the liquid from turning into steam under pressure. Chemical Stability: It contains "inhibitors" that coat the inside of your engine, preventing rust and scale buildup. Water Pump Health: It acts as a lubricant for the mechanical seals in your water pump. Yes, your car needs it 365 days a year. But how much is too much? How much coolant or antifreeze your car needs is another mystery .If you ask a most people , they’ll say "just do 50/50." While that is a safe "Goldilocks" zone for most of the world, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule. The ideal ratio depends entirely on where you live and how you drive. 1. The 50/50 Standard (The All-Rounder) - This provides protection down to 1°C (34°F)For most drivers in North America and Europe, this is the perfect balance of freeze protection and cooling efficiency. 2. The 40/60 Summer Mix (The Heat Dissipator) - If you live in hotter parts of the world Arizona, Nigeria, India etc. you might want more water (60% water / 40% antifreeze). Because water transfers heat better than glycol, this mix helps the radiator shed heat faster in 38°C(100°F) weather.