Advances in Piston Ring Technology
Piston rings have one of the toughest jobs inside an engine. They’re slammed up and down between the ring lands thousands of times a minute, they’re subjected to searing temperatures and extreme pressures, and they’re constantly scraping back and forth against the cylinder walls. In spite of all of this, the rings are expected to
Tech Tip: Belts & Tensioners
Many engines today have two or more belts that will need to be replaced at some point. One is the timing belt, if the engine has an overhead cam design and uses a belt rather than a chain to drive the cam(s). The other is one or more serpentine belts on the front of the engine that drive the engine’s accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump and A/C compressor.
Nissan Tech Tip: Worn A/T Differential Pinion Shaft
Debris from a worn differential pinion mate shaft can cause the following: slipping on acceleration; hesitation and/or stalling when cold; and abnormal noise coming from the transmission while driving. A countermeasure transmission differential case, with improved lubrication to the differential pinion mate shaft, has been developed to resolve these types of transmission incidents.
Tech Tip: Flushing Away Engine Problems
When motor oil isn’t changed often enough, varnish deposits and sludge begin to form inside the engine. If the oil is neglected long enough, it will eventually turn into goo and ruin the engine.
Tech Tip: Timing Belt Replacement – Safeguarding Your Customers’ Vehicles From Major Engine Damage
Although better materials and manufacturing technology have extended the timing belt replacement intervals on many nameplates, timing belt replacements remain one of the most profitable scheduled maintenance services.
A/C Update: Diagnosing Rodent Damage
DuPont Announces the Development of Next Generation Refrigerants
Visteon A/C Tech Bulletin: Prevent Repeat Compressor Problems by Performing a Complete Repair
Automotive service shops often can avoid repeat repairs of air conditioning (A/C) compressors by replacing the compressor, condenser and other affected parts during the initial service occasion, according to Visteon Corporation, a manufacturer of original equipment-quality replacement A/C components.
Tech Tip: How Engine Oil Becomes Engine Sludge
Fresh engine oil is a clear, free-flowing liquid blend of base stock and additives that contains no fuel, water, coolant, dirt or other contaminants. In engines that have failed prematurely, the oil has very often been transformed into a high viscosity deposit of brown or black goo, commonly referred to as "sludge."
Wheel Bearing Failure Diagnostics
On a typical passenger vehicle weighing around 3,400 pounds, each pair of front-wheel bearings, as well as the rear-wheel or axle bearings, support saround 850 pounds, depending on the weight balance and driveline configuration. If it’s a 6,000-pound SUV, each bearing might carry about 1,500 pounds. This load is concentrated on the relatively small bearing
Preventive Maintenance Keeps Air Compressors Running Smoothly
Few pieces of shop equipment are used as regularly as air compressors. However, when is the last time you performed any type of maintenance on this vital piece of equipment? If your answer isn’t “within the past 24 hours,” take a moment and think about what life would be like without the compressor to power