Engineering Explained - great videos

[sillawydna]

I came across this guy by accident, but he’s great. He uses science and engineering to explain and show the value of, or debunk, automotive issues such as catch cans, cold air intake, value of electric cars, etc, etc, etc, a lot of things I see discussed on this forum.

It’s all automotive and he’s got a great take on things. Give it a look:

https://m.youtube.com/user/EngineeringExplained#menu

 

[jjfred2112]

I enjoy this guy. He's why I bought the oil catch can.

 

[oops]

Good one for this crowd:

 

[MoKan]

Meh.

Never saw anything presented that thousands of engineers in powertrain development doesn't already know.

But, I see where a layman to the academic engineering world would benefit.

 

[oops]

 

[TJ Carr]

Good one for this crowd:

What are you saying?

 

[Vee8Thunder]

Meh.

Never saw anything presented that thousands of engineers in powertrain development doesn't already know.

But, I see where a layman to the academic engineering world would benefit.

Well, I'll say that as a degree'd engineer (and therefore not a layman to the genre), nothing he does is beyond my capability to calculate or research myself. However, the fact that he does all the legwork in an entertaining way for topics that I'm interested in makes it a great series to watch and quite the time-saver for answering a lot of "what about...." questions that pop into my head in a fraction of the time that it would take for me to do it independently. But if it's not your cup of tea...nothing wrong with that, either.

I enjoy watching "everyday astronaut" for the same reason. I have a degree in aerospace engineering and I know most of the raw information presented there from my university training, work experience, and life-long fandom of the space program, but the packaging of the topics presented along with contextual narrative tied to current events makes it entertaining. I would certainly never say "well, it's great for laymen but I'm too smart to learn anything here" about his channel since there's always something new to pick up even if it's just another angle to look at something you felt you had a solid bead on.

 

[Vecman]

Good one for this crowd:

So….. diesel?

 

[MoKan]

Well, I'll say that as a degree'd engineer (and therefore not a layman to the genre), nothing he does is beyond my capability to calculate or research myself. However, the fact that he does all the legwork in an entertaining way for topics that I'm interested in makes it a great series to watch and quite the time-saver for answering a lot of "what about...." questions that pop into my head in a fraction of the time that it would take for me to do it independently. But if it's not your cup of tea...nothing wrong with that, either.

I enjoy watching "everyday astronaut" for the same reason. I have a degree in aerospace engineering and I know most of the raw information presented there from my university training, work experience, and life-long fandom of the space program, but the packaging of the topics presented along with contextual narrative tied to current events makes it entertaining. I would certainly never say "well, it's great for laymen but I'm too smart to learn anything here" about his channel since there's always something new to pick up even if it's just another angle to look at something you felt you had a solid bead on.

By layman, I meant those NOT in engine research and development.

That was my focus of grad school and first decade of professional work.

But, to your point, I like geology, and my reading about it that is likely on the level of a freshman in college, so I see the point.

 

[Modman]

I like this guy - he is very good at explaining things in a relatable way for someone who is not an engineer. A few things the engineer in me would have liked for him to have included in this video:
1) The equation Hp=Torque(lbft) x engine speed (rpm)/5252. I mention this because I have been asked numerous times about the crossover point on a plot of power and torque and there is nothing magic about it - just a product of the units used.
2) He eludes to this by stating that his two example vehicles were equal weight, but he didn't drive the point home by extending to the normalized metric - Hp/weight if they are unequal. Certainly there are other factors that could come into play, but the point is torque/weight is not an equivalent metric for that type of comparison.

I remember this graphic from an early physics class and it has always stuck with me:

1Hp is equivalent to moving 550lbs 1ft in 1 second.

 

[Modman]

@soop I have always loved this quote! My own corollary to this is that no one person is an expert in everything. Those that position themselves as such will quickly trip my internal BS indicator...

 

[MoKan]

@soop I have always loved this quote! My own corollary to this is that no one person is an expert in everything. Those that position themselves as such will quickly trip my internal BS indicator...

I agree. There is always someone smarter, faster, richer, better.

My comment was that as someone who is experienced (again, not the smartest) in this realm his vids are not This means if you intrinsically know what BMEP and IMEP are and how they are related and are influenced by engine design changes, you won't be overwhelmed.

And, when his vids started being cinstantly shilled on Jalopnik and The Drive, it made my BS meter say someone is paying kickbacks.

Much like some folks here starting a thread and doing nothing but posting their youtube vid. They are trolling for views.

 

[Modman]

This means if you intrinsically know what BMEP and IMEP are and how they are related and are influenced by engine design changes, you won't be overwhelmed.

@MoKan I am aligned with you and agree with your perspective. Certainly this guy has other motives than just education for the non-engineer. From my understanding he does this as his sole source of income now.