Component Connection: Water Pumps…Why They Fail and When to Replace Them
If you’ve wondered how much work a water pump must do, remember that only about 30% of the heat energy produced by combustion results in mechanical energy. That estimate, of course, is a mathematical comparison between the heat value of the gasoline going into the engine, and the heat value of the mechanical energy coming
Fluid Maintenance Issues
the base oil and additive package of any oil must be compatible with extended service interval requirements. Second, the oil must meet the OEM’s lubrication requirements for highly stressed engine components like camshafts and piston/ring assemblies. Third, the oil filter itself must meet extended interval requirements. Last, and most important, most fluids in a modern
When To Replace Sensors And Why
pressure is low, if the oil needs changing, if the engine has a mechanical problem or if the engine has quit running (unless the fault is related to a key sensor that can also affects emissions). Many motorists simply ignore the Check Engine light, especially if their engine seems to be running normally (no other
Exhaust Leaks and the Stoichiometric Ratio
When I was a kid, I used to watch my dad, who started out as a diesel mechanic, tune up cars and trucks from time to time. He would turn the adjustment screws on the carburetor until the engine smoothed out and started to purr. Then, after listening closely to the rumbling of the motor,
Cylinder Head Repair
Cylinder head gasket failures are one of the most common mechanical issues facing today’s modern import technician. One reason head gasket failures are common is because the cylinder head gasket itself can become a wearing part.
Death by a Thousand Cuts
Is your good nature and the ‘cost of doing business’ doing in your business?
Brake And Bearing Basics
Bearings are the forgotten brake service item. Today’s cars and light trucks don’t require much maintenance. Spark plugs last 100,000 miles, long-life coolants can go five years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first), and some filters have no recommended replacement interval (such as in-tank fuel filters). But sooner or later, one thing all vehicles eventually
Understanding Engine Sensors
While the topic of engine management sensors might seem dark and mysterious, engine sensors share common functions in all modern vehicles. While their individual configurations might be different, the function of any engine sensor is to provide input data which the powertrain control module (PCM) processes to control output functions like the air/fuel mixture ratio,
Oxygen Sensor Inspection And Service
Oxygen sensors have been a part of the automotive maintenance scene since 1976. Since vehicles are being driven much longer today, modern zirconia and AFR sensors most often malfunction because their internal heater circuits fail or because their zirconia-based sensing elements eventually lose their sensitivity to rapid changes in the engine’s air/fuel ratio.
Trials of a Miss-Bent Youth
Microwave and frozen pizza prove as big of a challenge as a misfiring Chevy Impala.