Carley’s Corner: Hybrid Hazards
Is E85 motor fuel a corny way to reduce American’s dependence on foreign oil? E85 is being touted as an eco-friendly, alternative fuel that can provide a home-grown solution to reducing our need for imported oil. E85 is a mixture of 85% ethanol alcohol and 15% gasoline. The alcohol is made primarily from corn, but
Wheel Alignment,: Advances in Alignment Equipment Increase Productivity and Profit
Having the needed alignment specifications and service information close at hand is key to boosting productivity in today’s automotive service facilities. In the alignment bay, time is money. Combine this with the expense of today’s alignment equipment, and it’s easy to understand why choosing the right piece of alignment equipment is very important to an
Leak Detection: Becoming Your Shop’s Leak Detective
When a customer’s A/C system isn’t cooling well and the refrigerant charge is low, you know the system is leaking. The question is where? Finding refrigerant leaks on today’s vehicles can be a challenge. For one thing, many of the A/C system parts are buried and difficult to reach. Also, most systems today hold much
Safe Shop: Oil Absorbents Promote Safety and Cleanliness in the Shop
Once upon a time, it was common to grab a case of oil, an oil filter and a bag of Kitty Litter when doing an oil change. The idea of course was that spills are inevitable and Kitty Litter is cheap! Well some things never change and some do. The materials that are available to
Top Five Tools
TEDDY REAKA, mechanic Belleville Firestone Belleville, IL Snap-on 1/2” Drive Air Impact Wrench — A lot of power. OTC Genysis Scan Tool — Makes diagnostics simple. Snap-on Flank Drive Wrenches — A lot of grabbing power. Snap-on 2-lb. Dead Blow Hammer — The ultimate take off tool. Craftsman 1/2” Drive Torque Wrench — Very accurate.
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
Top 5 Favorite Tools & Equipment
Rick Moe, owner The Nurburgring, Inc. Saint Bonifacius, MN www.the-nurburgring.com My shop is an independent Porsche repair shop specializing in 356s and early 911s. I’ve been a professional Porsche mechanic for more than 30 years. I established The Nurburgring, Inc. in the Minneapolis area in 1977. I am a factory-trained mechanic with extensive background in
Point of View: Do You Have the Tools You Need to Turn a Profit?
Many times, a shop focuses on having the right part at the right time. This allows your shop to turn a job around quickly. Speed of service can sometimes be as critical a part of the service you perform as the actual repair. We all know how impatient customers can be when it comes to
Back From Vegas
Last month I attended the grandaddy of all automotive trade shows in Las Vegas. “Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week” (AAIW) is a multi-show affair that fills both the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Expo Center with more than 2 million square feet of exhibits and cars. The event is not open to the general
The Right Tools at the Right Time
The toughest part about changing a timing belt on most engines is just getting to the belt. The timing belt is sealed inside a protective cover on the front of the engine. Replacing it typically requires removing everything on the front of the engine that obstructs the timing cover. This includes the serpentine belt and/or
Weather Report
Today’s forecast is hot — damn hot with sprinkled patches of grease, burns, scrapes and fussy service managers. Does this sound like your shop in the summer? The alternative calls for waaaay cold with reports of numb fingers and aching feet and toes from standing on ice-cold concrete for eight hours at a time. The
Top 5 Favorite Tools of the Country’s Top Technicians
Jay Daniels, ASE Master Auto Tech Dublin Auto Superstore Dublin, GA Makita 12V Cordless Drill/Driver, Model 6227DWLE — Mostly used as cordless screwdriver for dash work and installing accessories. Much better than larger cordless drills. My wife now uses my 20-year-old 9.6V Makita around the house. Great products. Power Probe II Circuit Tester