Tech Feature: Ford Hybrid Braking
A hybrid vehicle is a different animal than many of us are used to seeing. After all, if the engine of a typical vehicle were to stall out at a traffic light, the driver of that vehicle would know something was wrong with it. If that same vehicle still drove with the engine off, then that would mean they were probably going down hill. But in the hybrid world, that is all normal. Several systems around the vehicle are impacted by two key elements.
Tech Feature: Cooler ‘Heads’ Prevail – Pouring Over GM’s LT1 Engine and Reverse-Flow Technology
The LT1 engine was used in a variety of General Motors models, including 1992-’96 Corvette (Y-body), 1993-’97 Camaro and Firebird (F-body), and 1994-’96 Chevy Caprice and Impala (B-body), Buick Roadmaster and Cadillac Fleetwood (D-body).
Tech Feature: Spark Plug Replacement is a ‘Big Deal’ in Today’s Market
While changing spark plugs used to be “no big deal,” today’s long-life spark plugs often require more extensive disassembly and more precise installation.
Carley’s Corner: Changing Automotive Technology Makes ‘Right To Repair’ Act a Must for Independent Repair Shops To Survive
The past few years have seen rapid change in automotive technology. More and more hybrid models are being introduced, with nearly 1.5 million already being sold to date. Direct gasoline fuel injection is replacing port fuel injection on more and more engines. Many late-model engines are also equipped with variable valve timing (VVT) to improve
President Obama Announces Federal Fuel Efficiency Policy
President Barack Obama has announced his national policy for new U.S. vehicle emission standards. California, 13 other states and Washington, D.C., have moved for stricter standards, but this is the first federal standard on greenhouse gas emissions. The Bush administration had rejected California’s request for a waiver to implement its own limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
DENSO Develops World’s First Passenger Vehicle Air Conditioning System Using an Ejector
DENSO Corp. said this week it has developed the world’s first passenger vehicle air conditioning system that uses ejector technology. The ejector, which is a small refrigerant injector, contributes to an overall reduction in power consumption. The system will be installed on the new Prius, introduced by Toyota this month.
Tech Tip: Wave Dynamics for Headers and Pipes
Depending upon the market to which an import shop might be catering, the term “performance exhaust” can have two different meanings. The first market actively seeks out the throaty rumble and chrome-plated look as part of the street-driving scene. The second market installs an exhaust system that produces the most horsepower for a performance application. Sometimes the two markets are identical and sometimes they’re not.
Tech Feature: Servicing Diesels in Your Shop
Is there a diesel in your service bay? Maybe not now, but there definitely will be in your future. You’re going to see trucks as well as SUVs and passenger cars. Mercedes-Benz produced a 3.0L V6 diesel-powered SUV for the 2008 model year and Volkswagen has a Twinturbo 5.0L V10 diesel engine in its Touareg. As the automakers focus on better fuel economy, you might say the diesels are coming again.
Second Generation Repairs: Servicing the GM 3800 Series II Engine
The GM 3800 Series II engine, introduced in 1995, is quite a different engine from its predecessor, the Series I engine. While the stroke for the 3.8L engine remained at 3.4″ (86 mm), and the bore remained at 3.8″ (97 mm), the engine architecture changed dramatically.
Penray Now on Facebook
Penray has added social networking as a way to interact with customers and provide a venue for “fans” to interact with each other. The new Penray page on Facebook will become the “go to” place for motorists, truckers and others to share their tales from the road and learn how Penray can keep them rolling.