The two-stroke engine is mostly a piece of history today, but there was a time when some of the coolest developments in engine technology were two-cycle engines. Here’s how two-stroke technology rose ...

Rotary engines have an aura of cool. In games of Top Trumps, the V12 might have been king, but a rotary was a joker, a wild card. A lack of mainstream success no doubt contributes; there are reasons ...

When I went to school for engine repair in the 1980s, we studied the differences between two- and four-stroke engine cycles extensively. If you're not familiar with engine strokes, understanding the ...

For more than a decade the name Wankel has popped up whenever car enthusiasts start talking about advanced-design automotive powerplants. The theory of the Wankel engine goes back to 1954 when Dr.

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night worried that you have never, ever changed the oil on your two-stroke lawnmower? Well, you can relax. A two-stroke oil change is like a left-handed ...

When I was just married and I bought a golden yellow Chevrolet station wagon, I realized that I was headed for a pattern of life that was best expressed by Thoreau, who said, “Most men live life of ...

NOTE: With this issue of HOT ROD, your Shop Series begins a slightly different and more comprehensive approach to the discussion of engine and vehicle basics. In the coming months, you'll find a frank ...