ASE Study Guide 2026–2027 – Complete Exam
Prep Questions & Answers
An engine makes a knocking noise with the transmission in DRIVE.
The knocking noise is not heard in PARK or NEUTRAL. Which of these
could be the cause?
A)Excessive main bearing clearance
B)Low oil pressure
C)A cracked flexplate
D)A broken piston ring - correct answers -C)A cracked flexplate
An engine is overheating and has white smoke coming from the tail
pipe. The cooling system is pressure tested and will not hold pressure.
This could be caused by:
A) a blown head gasket.
B) a restricted piston oil nozzle.
C) a stuck-open thermostat.
D) an incorrect PCV valve. - correct answers -A) a blown head gasket.
An engine compression test identifies that one cylinder has low
compression. During a leak down test of the cylinder, excessive leakage
is observed and air is heard coming out of the tail pipe. Which of these
could be the cause?
1
,A) Broken piston rings
B) A blown head gasket
C) A leaking exhaust manifold gasket
D) An exhaust valve not seating - correct answers -D) An exhaust valve not seating
A technician is reassembling a cylinder head.
In the illustration shown, which of these is the
technician measuring?
A) Installed stem height
B) Valve spring squareness
C) Installed spring height
D) Valve spring pressure - correct answers -C) Installed spring height
An engine produces blue smoke when accelerating from a stop.
Technician A says that worn exhaust valve guides could be the cause.
Technician B says that worn exhaust valve seats could be the cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answers -D) Neither A nor B
To determine piston-to-cylinder wall clearance, the diameter of the
2
,piston shown should be
measured at:
A)W
B)X
C)Y
D)Z - correct answers -C)Y
Technician A says that the setup shown can be used to check cylinder
taper.
Technician B says that the setup
shown can be used to check cylinder
out-of-round.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answers -C) Both A and B
An engine overheats at higher rpms and returns to normal temperature
at lower rpms. Which of these could be the cause?
A) A stuck-on cooling fan relay
B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
C) A restricted heater core
3
, D) An incorrect coolant concentration - correct answers -B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
A fuel-injected engine has low fuel pressure at the fuel rail test port.
This could be caused by a:
A) restricted fuel filter.
B) restricted fuel injector.
C) stuck-closed fuel pressure regulator.
D) shorted fuel injector. - correct answers -A) restricted fuel filter.
An engine with a variable valve timing (VVT) system has stored a VVT
performance DTC. Any of these could be the cause EXCEPT a:
A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
B) restricted oil control solenoid screen.
C) sticking camshaft actuator/phaser.
D) restricted oil pump pickup screen. - correct answers -A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
An automatic transmission does not hold in PARK.
Technician A says that misadjusted shift linkage could be the cause.
Technician B says that a roller clutch installed backwards could be the
cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
4
Prep Questions & Answers
An engine makes a knocking noise with the transmission in DRIVE.
The knocking noise is not heard in PARK or NEUTRAL. Which of these
could be the cause?
A)Excessive main bearing clearance
B)Low oil pressure
C)A cracked flexplate
D)A broken piston ring - correct answers -C)A cracked flexplate
An engine is overheating and has white smoke coming from the tail
pipe. The cooling system is pressure tested and will not hold pressure.
This could be caused by:
A) a blown head gasket.
B) a restricted piston oil nozzle.
C) a stuck-open thermostat.
D) an incorrect PCV valve. - correct answers -A) a blown head gasket.
An engine compression test identifies that one cylinder has low
compression. During a leak down test of the cylinder, excessive leakage
is observed and air is heard coming out of the tail pipe. Which of these
could be the cause?
1
,A) Broken piston rings
B) A blown head gasket
C) A leaking exhaust manifold gasket
D) An exhaust valve not seating - correct answers -D) An exhaust valve not seating
A technician is reassembling a cylinder head.
In the illustration shown, which of these is the
technician measuring?
A) Installed stem height
B) Valve spring squareness
C) Installed spring height
D) Valve spring pressure - correct answers -C) Installed spring height
An engine produces blue smoke when accelerating from a stop.
Technician A says that worn exhaust valve guides could be the cause.
Technician B says that worn exhaust valve seats could be the cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answers -D) Neither A nor B
To determine piston-to-cylinder wall clearance, the diameter of the
2
,piston shown should be
measured at:
A)W
B)X
C)Y
D)Z - correct answers -C)Y
Technician A says that the setup shown can be used to check cylinder
taper.
Technician B says that the setup
shown can be used to check cylinder
out-of-round.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B - correct answers -C) Both A and B
An engine overheats at higher rpms and returns to normal temperature
at lower rpms. Which of these could be the cause?
A) A stuck-on cooling fan relay
B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
C) A restricted heater core
3
, D) An incorrect coolant concentration - correct answers -B) A worn water pump belt tensioner
A fuel-injected engine has low fuel pressure at the fuel rail test port.
This could be caused by a:
A) restricted fuel filter.
B) restricted fuel injector.
C) stuck-closed fuel pressure regulator.
D) shorted fuel injector. - correct answers -A) restricted fuel filter.
An engine with a variable valve timing (VVT) system has stored a VVT
performance DTC. Any of these could be the cause EXCEPT a:
A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
B) restricted oil control solenoid screen.
C) sticking camshaft actuator/phaser.
D) restricted oil pump pickup screen. - correct answers -A) stuck-open oil filter bypass valve.
An automatic transmission does not hold in PARK.
Technician A says that misadjusted shift linkage could be the cause.
Technician B says that a roller clutch installed backwards could be the
cause.
Who is right?
A) A only
B) B only
4
