Author: Clive Naidoo

Most South African drivers only hear about concentric slave cylinders (CSCs) when the clutch pedal suddenly sinks to the floor or the gearbox has to come out for the second time in a month. The reality is simple: CSC failure is one of the most common and most preventable clutch-related failures. A CSC sits inside the bellhousing and acts as a hydraulic release bearing. It pushes against the pressure plate fingers to disengage the clutch. Unlike older external clutch slave cylinders, a CSC is...

Dual Mass Flywheels (DMF) are one of the most misunderstood parts in a modern vehicle. When it fails, drivers usually blame the clutch, the mechanic or “cheap parts”. But in South Africa, the real reasons run deeper: heat, constant hills, heavy towing, and punishing stop-start traffic that was never part of the original design assumptions. This article cuts through the noise. You’ll learn exactly why DMFs fail here, including early warning signs, why replacing the clutch kit alone often leads...

In South Africa, overheating is not a rare breakdown. It is one of the most common ways engines are destroyed long before their time. Summer heat, slow traffic, overloaded vehicles, steep climbs and delayed servicing all combine to push cooling systems to their limit. By the time the temperature gauge moves up or steam appears from the bonnet, a lot of damage has already started. This guide explains why engines overheat so frequently in South Africa, what happens inside the engine when oil...

South Africans woke up to a wall of weather alerts this week as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) upgraded several regions to Level 5, Level 6 and even Level 9 impact-based warnings. With Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape experiencing heavy downpours, strong winds and localised flooding, millions of people have turned to Google searching for “weather”, “Gauteng weather warning”, “level 9 warning” and “severe weather South Africa”. This article breaks down...

Every South African driver knows the feeling: a pothole you did not see, a speed bump that catches you by surprise, or the car suddenly feeling unsettled after a hard brake. Most people shrug it off. The car still moves. The wheels still turn. No warning lights. No drama. So life continues. But here is the truth that almost nobody talks about. Worn shock absorbers do not fail loudly. They fail slowly and silently. And by the time the symptoms become obvious, the suspension is already in...

Every Audi owner knows the feeling, that planted, calm front end at 120 km/h and the way the car turns without drama. That confidence comes from a multi-link suspension that keeps the tyre upright and the steering geometry consistent as the wheel moves. It is clever, but it is not magic. Each extra link brings a bushing and ball joint, and every one of those components ages with heat, time and impact. In South Africa, where roads are hot, patched and sometimes punishing, those wear rates...

The Hilux is South Africa’s default answer to everything from school runs to site work. So when Toyota shows an electric version, the whole country leans in. The question isn’t “is it cool?” It’s whether it fits the realities of our roads, power situation, distances, and towing needs. Right now, South Africans are split — some see a quiet, torquey future, others see a niche city runabout wearing a workhorse badge.

A MUST Read before you buy a used BMW N63 4.4.L V8 known as a 5.0L, 550i 650i 750i. The BMW N63 is a twin-turbo V8 that delivers serious power and smoothness. It also runs hot, lives a hard life in its engine bay, and punishes neglect. South African owners love the performance, but many learn the hard way about oil usage, turbo wear, valve stem seal failures and timing chain stretch. This advisory explains the pattern of issues, the real-world warning signs, and how to prevent expensive...

Every modern engine depends on one thing above all else — a strong, clean spark. Without it, even the most advanced engines stumble, misfire, or die altogether. Yet thousands of South African drivers delay their ignition maintenance until the day their car coughs, idles rough, or refuses to start. This article explains why performing a full ignition service — replacing spark plugs, ignition coils, and ignition leads together — is the smartest way to protect your engine, restore performance,...

In South Africa’s brutal driving environment—Highveld traffic jams, coastal humidity in Durban, dusty gravel roads of the Karoo—downsized turbo engines face extreme stress. Many workshops install the new turbo and hand you the keys. The part may fit, but what often fails is everything around it. That’s the step most skip, the one that costs thousands and hours of agony.

Your car’s turbocharger spins faster than a jet engine at over 200 000 RPM, forcing air into the engine to squeeze more power out of every drop of fuel. It is a masterpiece of engineering but also one of the most abused components in South African vehicles. Many drivers only notice it when the first plume of smoke appears or the power drops without warning.

Modern engines are smaller, faster, and more complex. Turbochargers push more heat into the coolant, emissions systems add thermal load, and efficiency targets demand tight temperature control. At the centre of it all sits a part most drivers never see: the thermostat — often integrated into a precision housing that routes coolant, houses sensors, and manages the warm-up strategy that keeps engines clean, efficient, and alive.