Explore every episode of the podcast AutoExpert

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactThis is a report on the recent Hyundai Palisade recall in North America, following a fatal incident involving the powered rear-seat system in certain 2026 Palisade and Palisade Hybrid vehicles.The key point here is not cheap outrage.A child has died. The defect is real. The recall is legitimate.But the facts also suggest Hyundai was already investigating the seat issue before the Ohio tragedy occurred — which makes this a more nuanced story than the usual media template of “they knew and did nothing”.In this report, I unpack:what Hyundai says the defect actually iswhich Palisade models are affectedthe investigation timeline leading up to the recallwhy modern convenience tech can introduce new failure modeswhy complexity is often the enemy of reliabilityand why parents should not outsource vigilance to automation, sensors and product marketingI also put this story in context using child road trauma and drowning data from Australia — because vivid, shocking incidents often dominate headlines, while more mundane (but also more real) risks to children attract far less attention.This is not a defence of Hyundai. They're not off the hook on this.It is an attempt to look at a horrible event clearly, fairly and usefully - constructively, with clarity..#Hyundai #Palisade #Recall #CarSafety #SUV #HyundaiPalisade #AutoSafety #JohnCadogan #AutoExpert

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactThis is a real oil shock.But it is not the end of oil.And it is not yet the kind of consumer fuel crisis Australia lived through in the 1970s and early 1980s.That’s the point of this report.Right now, a lot of the coverage is blurring two different things:A genuine global supply shockanda full-blown consumer crisisThose are not the same thing.Yes, global oil supply has taken a serious hit.Yes, prices have jumped.Yes, there have been scattered shortages.But no — this is not yet the biggest fuel price spike in history.And no — for most Australians, this is not ration-books, odd/even number plate days, 20-litre caps and queues down the block.That happened in the old oil shocks.This is different.In this report:how big the current oil supply shock actually iswhy a shortage does not mean “the world has run out of oil”how this compares with the Arab oil embargo and the second oil shockwhy the current pain is real, but still not the same as a proper old-school consumer fuel crisiswhy media hype and political overclaim are obscuring the economicsFor most Australians, the real story right now is:fuel is dearer, inflation risk is real, some shortages are real, but this is still a stressed market that is functioning — not Mad Max.If you remember the 1970s or the 1979 shock, I’d be interested in your recollection of what it was actually like on the ground.

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactBuying a car from an unknown brand is not just about the car.It’s about who backs it locally when things go wrong.Importer. Distributor. Warranty. Parts. Service. Financial stability.And when one part of that ecosystem starts falling over, owners can end up badly exposed.In this video I break down the growing trouble around XPeng’s Australian importer, what it could mean for customers, and why this is a warning sign for anyone considering a new, unfamiliar brand in Australia’s brutally crowded car market.Because shiny launches are easy.Supporting owners when the business underneath starts coughing up blood is the real test.#Xpeng #EV #Australia #CarIndustry #ConsumerAdvice #AutoExpert

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactA recent Mercedes-AMG E53 consumer law case is a warning for every car owner.A NSW tribunal dismissed the claim after accepting evidence that the car had been left idle for long periods and had not been serviced for about 3.5 years. In other words: low kilometres did not save the owner. The fine print in the owner’s manual, and the conditions attached to ownership, mattered.That’s the broader point in this report.Most people think “harsh” or “severe” service means towing a bulldozer across the Pilbara. But many owner’s manuals define it much more broadly: short trips, cold starts, heavy traffic, idling, hills, stop-start commuting, and similar everyday use.So this is not just a Mercedes story.It’s a story about the hidden trap in your owner’s manual:the caveats, conditions and maintenance obligations most owners never read until something expensive breaks.If you buy a car, you don’t just buy transport.You also buy the attached terms and conditions.Website: https://autoexpert.com.au#Mercedes #ConsumerLaw #Warranty #CarAdvice #CarOwnership #Servicing #AMG #AutoExpert

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactAustralia’s fuel panic is real. But the so-called “dirty diesel apocalypse” all over social media? Not so much.In this video I break down what’s actually changed in Australia’s temporary fuel standards response to the current supply crunch — and what hasn’t.Because there are two completely different stories getting mashed together online:petrol sulfur has been temporarily relaxeddiesel sulfur has notThere has been a minor temporary change to diesel, but it’s about flash point — not sulfur — and that is not the same thing as “bad fuel destroying modern engines”.So if you drive a modern diesel with AdBlue, a DPF, SCR, or common-rail injection, should you be panicking?No.I explain:whether Australia has relaxed sulfur limits for dieselwhy Facebook “experts” are getting this badly wrongwhat flash point actually meanswhy petrol and diesel are being confusedwhat the practical implications are for ordinary vehicle ownerswhether modern diesels are really at riskIf you’ve been hearing that “dirty diesel” is about to kill your car, this is the reality check.Got industry insight from fuel distribution, refining, workshops, fleet maintenance, or dealership service? Drop it in the comments.Subscribe for more no-BS analysis on cars, policy, EVs, towing, engineering, and the ways governments and manufacturers try to spin the facts.#Diesel #FuelCrisis #DirtyDiesel #AdBlue #FuelPrices #Australia #BMWX5 #AutoExpert

A Brisbane vehicle remanufacturing company called BossCap has collapsed — and up to 100 jobs now appear to be at risk.BossCap’s AusEV division built its business around converting the Ford F-150 Lightning to right-hand drive for Australia. But when Ford ended production of the current-generation Lightning, that supply pipeline appears to have fallen apart — and with it, the foundation of the business.This video is about more than one company going under.It’s about what happens when a niche Australian manufacturer builds its future on top of a global EV product that never stacked up commercially in the real world.Ford sold the Lightning as the future. But affordability blew out, the economics never worked, and Ford itself eventually admitted large EVs had “no path to profitability”. Now the casualties are showing up far from Detroit — in Brisbane.In this report:• why BossCap/AusEV collapsed• how dependent it was on F-150 Lightning supply• what Ford has really said about killing the current Lightning• whether the promised “range-extender” replacement is real, or just spin• and why reality always wins when ideology outruns engineering, economics and the marketThe workers deserve your sympathy.The decision-makers deserve scrutiny.#Ford #F150Lightning #EV #ElectricVehicles #Bosscap #AusEV #AutoExpert

This is what “the future” looks like when governments, green lobbyists and EV true believers get together with your wallet.At Sierra in Hawthorn, Melbourne, taxpayers helped fund a $1.5 million EV charging retrofit for an upscale apartment complex. The headline sounds impressive. The reality? A ceiling full of ordinary power points, a load-management system, and a setup that can only trickle charge a limited number of EVs at a time in rotating 10-minute intervals when demand is high.In other words: not proper charging infrastructure. More like a taxpayer-funded rationing system for rich apartment owners.In this report, I break down:• what was actually installed• why Level 1 charging is glacially slow• why this kind of system is no substitute for real infrastructure• what it says about the fantasy of large-scale apartment EV charging• and why the emissions argument is a lot shakier than the activists pretendBecause when you strip away the press releases, the ministerial spin and the EV-suck media coverage, this looks a lot less like progress and a lot more like greenwashed theatre.If you like facts, engineering, and calling out public-policy idiocy when you see it, you’re in the right place.

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactThe new Hyundai Elexio is the first Hyundai designed and engineered in China to be sold in Australia. That alone is a big deal — but the real story is what I saw when I went to China to look behind the scenes.In this video I take you inside Hyundai’s massive R&D centre in Yantai and the Beijing Hyundai factory where the Elexio is built. What’s happening there will probably challenge a lot of assumptions Australians still have about Chinese engineering and manufacturing.The Yantai R&D centre is enormous: full vehicle design capability, 35km of test tracks with 17 different surfaces, climate chambers, and a crash-test centre running hundreds of crash tests every year to global standards including Euro NCAP and ANCAP.Then there’s the factory — one of Hyundai’s most modern plants anywhere in the world. Massive press lines stamp body panels from coils of high-strength steel. Hundreds of robots weld and assemble the body. Every vehicle is digitally verified for dimensional accuracy, waterproofing, and calibration of systems like the head-up display and 360-degree cameras.The point is simple: the idea that Chinese engineering and manufacturing are somehow second-rate is badly out of date. China has spent the last decade building world-class automotive capability — and most Australians simply haven’t noticed.Hyundai has spent 40 years building its reputation in Australia. They would not risk that reputation by importing a vehicle that didn’t meet their global standards.From what I saw up close in China, there’s no evidence that a Hyundai engineered and built there is inferior to one developed anywhere else.In fact, quite the opposite.Chapters0:00 The first Chinese Hyundai in Australia1:04 Inside Hyundai’s Yantai R&D centre3:40 The crash-test facility7:05 How crash tests actually happen9:30 Beijing Hyundai factory tour11:10 Robots, automation and quality control13:45 What this means for Australian car buyersAbout the ElexioThe Hyundai Elexio is a new mid-size electric SUV designed in China and built by Beijing Hyundai, Hyundai’s joint venture with BAIC. It marks a major shift in Hyundai’s global development strategy — and reflects China’s rapid rise as a powerhouse in automotive engineering and manufacturing.Subscribe for more independent car analysisAutoExpert — real engineering analysis of the automotive industry, EVs, hybrids, and the forces reshaping the global car market.

I will get you a great deal on home solar (or add a quality battery to your existing setup): https://autoexpert.com.au/solarI can also save you thousands on a new car: https://autoexpert.com.au/contactHyundai has just launched the Elexio — a new electric SUV designed in China and built in China. And it’s coming to Australia.That alone marks a pretty big shift in the global car industry.For decades, Australian buyers associated Hyundai with Korea. But the company is now the world’s third-largest carmaker, and it has spent years building major engineering and manufacturing capability in China. The Elexio is one of the first products of that strategy.In this video I take a close look at the Hyundai Elexio, what it represents for the future of the brand, and why this Chinese-developed Hyundai is arriving in Australia right now.Because this isn’t just another EV launch.China has overtaken Japan as Australia’s largest source of vehicle imports — a huge shift in the car market after nearly three decades. And vehicles like the Elexio are part of that change.Hyundai developed this EV as part of its “In China, For China, To Global” strategy, using its EV-dedicated E-GMP platform and integrating Chinese technologies and suppliers.The result is a family-sized electric SUV designed primarily for the Chinese market but now destined for export — including Australia.So the real question is:What does this mean for Australian buyers… and for the global car industry?In this videoWhat the Hyundai Elexio actually isWhy Hyundai built it in ChinaHow China became a global automotive powerhouseWhat this means for the Australian car marketThe Elexio at a glanceElectric mid-size SUVBuilt on Hyundai’s E-GMP EV platformBattery up to 88.1 kWhRange up to 722 km (CLTC)Produced by Beijing Hyundai, Hyundai’s joint venture with BAIC in China

Chery has officially revealed the KP31 concept ute for Australia — and the headline is a 2.5L turbo-diesel PHEV with a claimed 47% thermal efficiency.That’s not just another me-too dual-cab. If Chery executes this properly, it could be a genuinely disruptive ute: diesel torque + towing credibility + hybrid assist for better urban efficiency.In this video I break down:why this is probably a diesel-led hybrid (not a Shark 6-style setup)the most likely powertrain layoutwhat the 47% thermal efficiency claim actually meansand whether KP31 is a real threat to Ranger and HiLuxIf you’re thinking about your next dual-cab, this is one to watch.#Chery #KP31 #Ute #PHEV #DieselHybrid #Ranger #Hilux #Shark6 #CannonAlpha #AutoExpert

If you’ve ever wanted to give low-carbon steel a tougher, darker, more interesting finish in the home workshop, this video shows you how to hot-blue steel with a blowtorch and linseed oil.

This is a simple, old-school workshop finish that can look fantastic when done properly. It’s not magic, and it’s not the same as a factory gun-bluing process — but for the right project it can give mild steel a dark, rich, characterful finish with minimal equipment.

In this video I cover:

• how to hot-blue low-carbon steel
• using a blowtorch to heat the steel
• using linseed oil as part of the finishing process
• what the steel is doing as it heats and colours
• how to get a more even result
• what kind of finish you can realistically expect
• and the limitations of this method in the real world

This is practical DIY workshop finishing — not showroom nonsense.

So if you’re working with mild steel, making a project at home, restoring a part, experimenting with steel finishes, or just want a simple way to make fabricated steel look more deliberate and less raw, this report should help.

Topics covered include:

• hot bluing steel
• bluing mild steel
• blowtorch bluing
• linseed oil steel finish
• DIY steel bluing
• how to blacken steel
• how to colour steel with heat
• mild steel finishing
• workshop metal finishing
• home shed steel projects

As always, this is about practical results, realistic expectations, and doing better work in a real shed.

#bluing #steel #metalfinishing #mildsteel #blowtorch #linseedoil #diy #workshop #fabrication #welding #howto #homeworkshop #autoexpert #johncadogan

If you want to understand how blow torches actually work, this video is a technical deep-dive into the combustion chemistry and physics of torch design — including the differences between butane, propane, Trade MAP / MAP-Pro, and the role of air vs oxygen as the oxidiser.

This is not just a product comparison.

It’s an explanation of what is actually going on in the flame:
how different fuel gases burn, why flame temperature changes, what oxygen really does, how torch design affects performance, and why some setups are dramatically better for heating, brazing, soldering or cutting.

In this video I cover:

• blow torch combustion chemistry
• how propane burns
• how butane burns
• how MAP-Pro / Trade MAP burns
• air-fuel vs oxy-fuel torch design
• flame temperature and heat transfer
• how oxidiser choice affects torch performance
• why oxygen changes everything
• how torch design affects efficiency and usable heat
• why hotter is not the whole story

If you’ve ever searched for:

• propane vs butane torch
• MAP-Pro vs propane
• oxy propane vs air propane
• how blow torches work
• torch flame temperature
• combustion chemistry of propane
• how oxygen affects flame temperature
• best gas for a blow torch
• torch design explained
• brazing torch science

…this report should help.

The aim here is to explain the underlying science clearly enough that you can make better decisions about torch selection, performance, safety and real-world use in the workshop.

#blowtorch #propane #butane #mappro #mapgas #oxytorch #combustion #chemistry #physics #brazing #plumbing #welding #homeworkshop #tools #autoexpert

Trying to choose the right blow torch for your shed?

In this video, I compare butane, propane, Trade MAP / MAP-Pro, and the difference between using air or oxygen as the oxidiser — because the “best” torch depends entirely on what you’re actually trying to do.

If you just want to heat something up, loosen a stubborn bolt, do some light plumbing, braze properly, or avoid buying an overhyped setup you don’t need, this report will help.

I cover:

• butane vs propane vs MAP-Pro
• air-fuel vs oxy-fuel
• which torch burns hotter
• which setups are actually useful in a home workshop
• what’s good value
• what’s overkill
• and which torch is the right tool for different jobs

There’s a lot of confusion in this space, and plenty of marketing nonsense. Some torches are cheap but limited. Some are hotter but cost more to run. Some sound impressive, but make no practical sense in a normal home shed.

This is a practical guide to help you choose the right torch once — based on what you actually do, not what the packaging claims.

So if you’ve ever asked:

Which blow torch is best?
Is MAP-Pro better than propane?
Is butane enough?
Does oxygen make a big difference?
Which torch should I buy for a home workshop?

…this one’s for you.

#blowtorch #propane #butane #mappro #mapgas #oxytorch #brazing #plumbing #diy #workshop #tools #homeworkshop #welding #autoexpert #johncadogan

Are you over- or under-welding your DIY projects? Here's how to know for real.

In this episode: Applied physics and engineering versus nutbag net zero apologists

Greenwashing doesn't get more blatant than hooking an electric bus to a diesel generator on a mine site in the Pilbara...

Another victory for net zero integrity.

A huge proportion of people who tow 2 tonnes+ are doing so illegally - unwittingly, perhaps, but still illegally. I suspect the percentage of illegality grows considerably with the weight of the trailer, too.

This has obvious legal and safety implications. And of course manufacturers are in an 'arms race' where 3.5-tonne tow capacity is not just the 'gold standard' - they know they're not selling as many cars as they could if they don't offer that.

Compliance is not as straightforward as it sounds - so here's how you crunch the numbers to stay 'roadside weigh station ready'.

The '$75,000: Do the "right" thing' problem: You can buy a Tesla Model Y, or a RAV4 Hybrid + rooftop solar.

One of these options will leave you 4 tonnes of CO2 better off.

And it's not the option many people want it to be.

A viewer asked me recently an innocent, and seemingly simple, question: Why are EV fires in the news all the time, and yet power tool batteries (which use the same fundamental tech) are so ubiquitous and seemingly safe? The answer opens a wormhole into the non-linearity of complex systems and failure mechanisms.

Prepare to bleed from the ears.

Volvo is recalling almost 35,000 EX-30 battery EVs globally (almost 3000 here in Australia) because the batteries mught just catch fire without warning.

All you have to do to enter this lottery is charge to 100%, and see what happens.

They don't actually have a fix. The 'fix' (if you can call it that) is to refrain from charging beyond 70%, indefinitely.

But that's OK because ... net zero. Obviously.

We all paid $600 million in 2025 for EV sales to remain, essentially, stagnant. (Up 1.1 per cent over two years.)

Unincentivised hybrids are selling their ta-tas off, however, and likewise unincentivised PHEVs are 'boom town'...

Kia's sales apocalypse with the Tasman continues - which is awesome news for you if you want a massive discount.

Brass hammers are A) more dense than steel, B) don't damage steel parts you're working on, C) don't spark (in combustible environments) and D) have excellent impact kinematics.

They're a superpower in the home workshop, basically.

Proving a point here: I made one in under a day, for under $100, without using special tools, and you can, too. So just get started.

Toyota has a reputation for never putting a foot wrong on mechanical design. Unfortunately that's a total myth - and here's just one glaring example...

Kia recently unveiled the new Seltos, which we'll see later this year. Decent little SUV - like its predecessor, only more modern. But the hype surrounding it: reputation-destroying trash (personal opinion).

Basically I think you should have a crack at metalwork - so satisfying. Plus, it's not that hard, or dangerous - provided you observe a few simple guidelines.

In the previous episode, my web editor, Scott Murray, uncovered the fact that the Tasman's bump stops seemed engaged during heavy towing he did (2.3 tonnes, with a download of 270kg - well within the towing envelope of the vehicle).

I checked the setup in person, and the bump stops were, seemingly, engaged, and I confirmed the download by direct measurement.

So I reached out to Kia Oz, and enquired. In this video I detail their response, which seems pretty legitimate.

Auto Expert web editor Scott Murray recently towed 2.3 tonnes from his place in Melbourne to my workshop in Sydney, return. (He was towing his Shitbox Rally Falcon up here so we could do some work on it.)

One of the really interesting things about it was that with a towball download of less than 300kg (max is 350) the car was sitting on the rear bump stops.

A totally surreal, WTF moment...

With the EVCX installed the hi-tech thief can get in and spoof your car ... and the throttle will not work. Bonus.

Huge bonus.

He won't be expecting that.

This Oricom smart leveller for caravans and motor homes gets the job done fast and easily - and it might even save your marriage, dude.

Ford would say the Ranger Super Duty is the ultimate Ranger. I would agree, except for the price, the additional mass and the fact that they've taken 30kW away from the 3.0V6's maximum power...

Most DIYers over-weld their projects, and all that additional heat tends to warp the job - sometimes catastrophically. It's better if a balance is drawn so that adequate strength is achieved without excess distortion.

In this video, I give you some rules of thumb and perspective into how strong your welds are likely to be, so you can draw that balance better.

WARNING: If you want to build jack stands, gantries, cranes, platforms - or anything else where 'failure' = 'death/injury': go to university, become an engineer, and get trained as a welder. If you don't want to do that, just build fun, practical stuff, such as work benches and rocket stoves (the world's still your oyster, and you probably won't die).

Kei trucks are compact, cheap and fun - but they can do things (including carry things) conventional dual-cab utes cannot.

I took Brett Davis from Driving Enthusiast for a drive in my new Daihatsu Hijet to pick up a welding table that wouldn't fit into my dual-cab.

Nissan bangs on about Navara's rich heritage, but they've really just killed it. The 2026 model is actually just a rebadged Mitsubishi Triton. (Nissan is in the dumps financially - it's their only option.)

Have you ever spilled cutting fluid in an open container, all over the workshop floor? Make this spill-proof container today, and it'll never happen again.

KGM - the South Korean carmaker formerly known as Ssangyong - will launch a new battery-electric Musso in Australia. Here are the details.

After more than eight weeks of doing nothing, the 'death trap' MG gets officially recalled - with more than 10,000 people at risk, owing to a glaring design deficiency.

Mitsubishi's implementation of so-called 'driver assistance' technology is among the worst - in the latest models - and there is STIFF competition.

I'm talking about ADAS - 'Advanced Driver Assistance Systems'. Although the first 'A' should more rightly be changed to 'annoying'.

This is what happens when ANCAP pretends it's the dog, and carmakers act like the tail - driving is just about ruined as a satisfying experience.

I recently had the chance to catch up with the top engineer at Nulon (which used to be wholly Australian but is now owned by German chemical giant, Fuchs). What I learned at their headquarters in south-western Sydney basically inverted everything I thought I knew about additives - I even started using two particular kinds, with a view to heading off two particular modern engine problems.

Polestar erected a glorified plywood box inside the Volvo dealership in Penrith the other day. (Next to a floodway and snake swamp.) Apparently it's all part of saving the planet, of course. And - obviously - s-o-o-o-o incredibly newsworthy.

Vested interest is a conflict of interest, right? When a publisher is in bed with a carmaker, their review does (at best) quite a poor job serving the interests of you, the potential car buyer, in the audience. Thus, trust evaporates (but the publisher cops a big, fat earn).

Kia Tasman drives really well, has great powertrain integration, a classy interior, a great rear seat, a big tray, and heaps of cabin space.

Unfortunately, that's insufficient to overcome its rampant ugliness, its mediocre engine and its sky-high pricetag, so people aren't buying it.

Good news, if you want a big discount.

Hyundai cannot (seemingly) successfully sell, in particular the IONIQ 6 - so they've slashed the price. This is good for you if you're in the market for one, but of course it's bad for you if you already paid the full price for one.

Kia Tasman is - let's be kind - one of the most distinctive utes launched in 2025. Its aesthetics are contentious, the price is high, and the engine is ... mediocre.

But in this video I take a look at how it's actually screwed, bolted and welded together. Did they do a decent job sticking the Tasman together?

Here's how you clean out your chassis and underbody components generally - after a thrash through the salt and mud.

The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) has a 'net zero' fire truck. Predictably enough, it's prohibitively expensive, and it doesn't work. Therefore, it lives up to its name, offering net-zero capability.

Apart from that, though - it's all good.

Ford has released price and specs for the Ranger Super Duty - but it's not all good news.

The government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard has forced Isuzu to up it's game ... a little

It really is pretty simple - get you car serviced on time, or when it clocks the distance, whichever occurs first - but some people continue to wilfully misunderstand...

During a recent crash test, the driver's seat in the MG3 just started to snap off - the first such failure in decades of crash testing.

This basically answers every conceivable question about quality with respect to that car, and also all the questions regarding whether or not buying one is a good idea.