ThrottleHolic

Why Take Your Car to the Mechanic When You Can Simpy DIY?

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Why I Chose the Ancel AD410: 11 Good (& Honest) Reasons

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If you've been reading my work here on ThrottleHolic (and elsewhere), you'd have noticed something by now: I venerate the Ancel AD410 code reader. I also recommend it widely for anyone looking for a reliable code reader that won't disappoint them. The important first question? Why I chose the An...

Astro AI Digital Clamp Meter Review: Crap or DIY Must Have?

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When mechanics started taking me for a ride, I discovered the ultra-beautiful world of auto DIY. However, a subsequent problem, similar to the initial 'mechanical' challenge, presented itself: the challenge of finding DIY-friendly tools. The challenge of getting good, reliable auto DIY grade co...

Passive vs Active vs Forced DPF Regeneration Explained Simply

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I've you're an owner of a modern vehicle with a diesel-powered engine, then you must have heard the term 'DPF reset'. What you may not have heard (or don't understand) is the passive vs active vs forced DPF regeneration jargon.  While extremely simple and easy to understand, these terms all...

DPF Regeneration: What It Is, Why It Matters & How to Perform It

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Diesel engines (DPF regeneration/reset can wait a bit, I need to pay deserved homage first), especially examples powering heavy-duty trucks, are quite powerful, torquey, and capable of taking on an insane amount of work (with little or no appreciable wear). They are also known to last forever (think...

ANCEL HD3600 Review: The Scanner That INSTANTLY Saves Money

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ANCEL HD3600 Review: The Heavy-Duty Equipment Scanner That INSTANTLY Saves Money... Many new vehicle buyers in the US, given the option, shy away from diesel-powered vehicles, citing the massive soot these engines produce as an excuse. Fortunately, this is an issue that the Ancel HD3600 revi...

Should You Buy an OBD II Code Reader or a Pro Scanner?

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There's a worry that weighs heavily on the minds of vehicle owners who are interested in knowing more about their vehicles or taking the all-important step of fixing them directly when an issue arises: it's the matter of whether they should get a code reader or a pro scanner instead. You se...

Best Car Code Reader (One Clear Winner, 5 Good Reasons)

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Recently, I stumbled upon my stock of always-adding OBD II code readers and scanners. Naturally, I smiled at them (and half expected them to smile back). But, as I made to leave, something struck me deep: what's the best car code reader there is today? As simple as this question is, many years a...

5 Ignored Vehicle Maintenance You Should Take Very Seriously

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When vehicle maintenance is mentioned, most car owners imagine elaborate car repair procedures and complex auto DIY procedures. For some, maintenance equals changing engine oil and filter once every five thousand miles (or whatever mileage set by the manufacturer). While there's an element of tr...

Tested: The Best OBD II Scanners for 2026 (DIYers Edition)

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When I first answered the auto DIY call, there were a few questions I needed answers to; answers I believed would define my very existence as a vehicle owner interested in directly fixing my car. At the top of that list were the best OBD II scanners I could get as a mechanic, riding solo. I star...

Foxwell NT201 vs Ancel AD410: Which is a Superior Option?

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A good glove box-friendly code reader is a compulsory, non-negotiable addition to the things you need as a vehicle owner. However, the sheer number of options begging for your attention can be overwhelming.  This is where debates like the Foxwell NT201 vs Ancel AD410: which is the superior opti...