About

About Car Care File

Car Care File keeps a working file on car care gear and basic upkeep. We write for US drivers who want a checklist, a spec table and the official source — not a lifestyle story.

How we research

We are upfront about this: we have not bench-tested the products on this site. Our guides rest on three things.

• Manufacturer spec sheets. Every key number is copied from the maker's own product page or data sheet and dated. Each product card links to that page and shows the date we checked it.
• Arithmetic you can check. When we estimate or calculate, we show the formula and the assumptions.
• Public safety guidance. Safety and maintenance steps come from NHTSA, Ready.gov, EPA and FuelEconomy.gov, plus your vehicle's owner's manual.

When a maker's own figure sounds optimistic, we label it as the maker's figure.

How we make money

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Brands do not pay for placement and do not review our articles before publication. Read the full affiliate disclosure.

Corrections and contact

Spot a spec that changed or a mistake in our math? Email [email protected] and we will fix it and note the update date on the page.