Automotive Fluid Exchange Equipment
Vital fluids – including engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, gear oil, power steering fluid and brake fluid – need to be replaced periodically. Technical Editor Larry Carley discusses the equipment and tools necessary for the preventive maintenance essentials.
Federal-Mogul Continues Aggressive Expansion of MOOG Chassis Parts Line
Federal-Mogul Corporation has continued to aggressively expand its line of MOOG replacement steering and suspension components, with 700 new MOOG part numbers introduced over the past 12 months and 180 new parts rolled out in 2009.
WIX Filters Adds 87 New Product Numbers in First Quarter of 2009
WIX Filters made available to its customers 87 new product numbers across light-duty, heavy-duty and industrial applications in the first quarter of 2009. Filters for foreign nameplate applications led the list, with more than 35 new air, oil, cabin air and fuel filter product numbers for Mazda, Honda, Hyundai, BMW, Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen, among other brands.
ViewPoint: Pass the Salt: Can Anti-Icing Brines Damage Vehicles?
Last month, I received a phone call from a reader wondering if the sales of brake tubing (Bundy tubing) were increasing due to corrosion caused by new road de-icing chemicals. Also, Hyundai this month announced that they are recalling more than 1.7 million 1999-2004 Sonatas and XGs because corrosion is causing the lower control arm
New SKF Hub Unit Part Numbers Available for Wide Range of Vehicles
SKF recently added 21 new part numbers to its comprehensive line of premium quality hub units. These new hub units cover front wheel and rear wheel applications, and are currently available for a wide range of vehicles including Ford, Lincoln, Nissan, Infiniti, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Hyundai, Kia and more.
Tech Tip: Cartridge Wheel Bearing Replacement
While wheel bearing noise is one of the toughest problems for the customer to describe, it’s not unusual for it to come on so gradually that the customer may not even notice it until you mention it after an unrelated road test. Many times, the customer complaint will send you down the wrong path if you let it. We’ve heard complaints from exhaust leaks, to tire balance, to “it just doesn’t sound right,” that have ended up being bad wheel bearings.
Federal-Mogul Announces Dramatic Expansion of Fel-Pro Gaskets Product Line
Federal-Mogul Corporation’s Fel-Pro gaskets product line has been dramatically expanded to increase the brand’s industry-leading coverage of late-model domestic and foreign-nameplate vehicles.
Gearing Up for Timing Belt and Chain Work
Timing belts are a maintenance item on engines that have them, but what about timing chains? On most overhead cam engines that use a timing chain to turn the cams, there’s usually some type of chain tensioner or adjuster to keep the chain tight and to compensate for stretch as the chain ages. But on pushrod V6 and V8 engines, there is no chain tensioner to compensate for chain stretch. Consequently, after tens of thousand of miles, the chain loosens up, starts to make noise as it rattles against the front cover, and causes cam timing to retard. At this point the timing chain needs to be replaced.
A/C Update: The Future of Cool
Editor Ed Sunkin returns from the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide trade show and convention in February, 2009, with details on the possible future of the U.S. refrigerant segment of the industry — HFO-1234yf. This refrigerant provides a very low global warming potential and many new service and sales opportunities.
Tech Tip: Taking Advantage of an On-Car Lathe
Well-maintained bench and on-car lathes can both do an excellent job of machining rotors. However, according to advice from the new Bendix Answerman, Chuck Kennedy, knowing when and how to use an on-car lathe can help eliminate wasted hours and extra work while also providing more accuracy and a better finish ….