Disposing of Used Oil Filters in the Shop
Do used oil filters take up a lot of space at your repair shop? Would you like to turn these used oil filters into recyclable steel? If so, an oil filter crusher may be the perfect piece of equipment for your shop. Oil filter crushers are safe, clean and easy to use. In most cases,
Carley’s Corner: My Advice on Gas-Saving Gadgets
ely, these cars were introduced a few years too soon and were discontinued because of limited range (about 100 miles on a full charge), and the high cost of the batteries (GM’s cost was reportedly $500 for each battery, and each car held 18 batteries!). If GM were to re-introduce the EV1 today, buyers would
Transmission Service: It’s a Dirty Job, But Here’s What You Need to do It
Automatic transmission work has always been considered hard, dirty work. And rightly so. Pulling a transmission, especially on a front-wheel-drive car or minivan, can be a long day’s work. It usually involves supporting the engine while the transmission and subframe are dropped from the vehicle. Consequently, you need some type of engine hoist or engine
How to Unlock the Potential of Your Management and Information Software
Software is a unique tool. Every time it is used, it becomes more valuable to your shop. With every customer profile, parts data and billing information that you input, it will become more valuable to your operation. Also, with every technical service bulletin or bit of repair information found, you become more valuable. For automotive
Waste Not, Want Not
Generating waste is not too difficult for most automotive repair shops. Getting rid of it is what often poses a problem, especially when the waste in question is something that is as environmentally damaging as used automotive fluids. When it comes to disposing of hazardous waste, shop owners need to understand their state’s regulations, establish
Favorite Tools of the Country’s Top Technicians
David E. Link, owner Quality Racing Toledo, OH ALLDATA – I’ve tried the others, but nothing out there is as comprehensive – especially for auto-electrical. Blue-Point Rechargeable UV Leak Detector Light and Dye Injector – A definite must-have for A/C work. Blue-Point EEDM504B Multimeter – I don’t know how I went so long without
The Future Is a Gas
I’ve seen the future and it’s a gas – hydrogen gas, that is. At a recent General Motors press conference at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, Larry Burns, vice president of GM Research & Development, described the future of automotive technology. Today, there are about 750 million cars and trucks on the face of this
Under Pressure: Power Tools
Those two words say a lot when speaking about air tools. The first and most obvious is that air tools need pressure to operate properly. Everyone knows that with enough air pressure you can make any air tool do the job you want it to do, right? Another way of looking at these two words
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. “Oil sludging” has become a serious problem in recent years for a number of reasons. One is that more new car
Top 5 Tools
Brian Courtney Allied Fleet Services of Texas Pasadena, TX Ingersoll-Rand 231c 1/2" Impact Wrench – It never fails to deliver. It’s 16 years old, and I’ve only had to replace the anvil. Saves my money, for sure! Raytek Non-Contact Thermometer Raynger ST2 – I don’t have to wait for a temp reading from
Carley’s Corner: Sorry Charlie, No More Free Auto Repair Advice
As technical editor for Babcox, I frequently receive e-mails and letters from readers who ask me for free auto repair advice. Most of these requests are not from professional automotive technicians, but from motorists who have seen one of our publications while visiting a service facility somewhere. One guy in particular seems to think I’m
Built-In Brains: Engine Analyzers Combine the Capabilities of Many Diagnostic Tools into One
When most people think of an engine analyzer, they think of a big box console with automated test capabilities that can detect a wide variety of faults. There are still some machines like these today, but many of the features of a traditional engine analyzer are now available in top-of-the-line scan tools. An engine analyzer