If your shop handles everything from routine inspection to major repairs, you need a broad service reference. If your work is mostly engine performance, you need a deeper single-topic text. Two very different textbooks sit at opposite ends of that choice: Automotive Service and Automotive Engine Performance (7th Edition). Understanding which one matches your day-to-day work in automotive powersports repair makes the decision much simpler.
Quick Verdict
Choose Automotive Service for broad coverage; it is the lower-priced of the two, and the Very Good condition is still fully readable. Choose Automotive Engine Performance when your work is centered on engine performance; the text goes deeper into engine topics. The two sit roughly $22 apart, and that gap lines up with the difference in scope.
Comparison at a Glance
| Automotive Service | Automotive Engine Performance (7th Edition) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $48.21 | $70.00 |
| Format | Hardcover | Trade Paperback |
| Condition | Very Good | Like New |
| Focus | Inspection, maintenance, repair | Engine performance, revised |
| Best for | Broad shop reference | Engine-specific diagnosis |
Where Each Product Wins
- Choose Automotive Service if you want one book that covers the full service cycle. It is the practical pick when you need a general shop reference.
- Choose Automotive Engine Performance if most of your work involves engine driveability and performance problems. The revised format is structured for classroom and shop use, so it supports both learning and hands-on application.
Product Notes
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair by Tim Gilles
This hardcover reference is built around the complete service cycle, which makes it a strong first book for anyone who works across multiple systems in automotive powersports repair. The Very Good condition means the book has been handled but remains intact, with all pages present and legible. Expect minor wear, and be prepared for slight markings or highlighting in the text. That is a fair trade-off for a book that covers inspection, maintenance, and repair in one place. Because it is organized around the service process, you can move from inspection to maintenance to repair without switching references. If you prefer a clean, untouched copy, you will have to weigh that against the convenience of having the whole service process in a single hardcover volume.
Automotive Engine Performance (7th Edition) by Ken Pickerill
This revised trade paperback is designed for classroom and shop use, so it blends theory with practical diagnostic guidance. The Like New condition makes it a fresh-looking addition to a workbench library. Its 1184 pages give it room to cover engine performance topics in depth. The limitation is scope: the title stays centered on engine performance rather than the broader service cycle covered by a general automotive service book. Choose it when engine performance is the core of your job.
Final Choice by Use Case
For a general automotive powersports repair library, Automotive Service gives you the broadest coverage. For an engine-focused shop, Automotive Engine Performance is the deeper reference. Once you know whether your priority is breadth or depth, the decision is straightforward.
