Counterman, August 2014

Selling Brake Drum Parts ● Understanding Bearings ● Become An ‘RPO Pro’

August 2014

AnnualTechnical Forum

AnnualTechnical ForumGet the lowdown on 10 partscategories to help boost salesGet the lowdown on 10 partscategories to help boost sales

22nd Annual Technical Forum............31By Larry CarleyIncrease your understanding of 10 need-to-know parts categories to help drive sales.

Brake friction.....................................32Suspension ........................................34Motor oil ............................................36Gaskets ..............................................38Fuel pumps........................................42Filters .................................................44Spark plugs .......................................46Wipers ...............................................48Sealants..............................................50Fuel additives....................................52

Mechanic ConnectionBy Gary GomsUnderstanding roller bearing terminology, technology. .............................54Selling brake drum parts. ............................56

COUNTERMAN (ISSN 0739-3695) (August 2014 Volume 32, Number 8): Copyright 2014 Babcox Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved: Published monthly by Babcox, 3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333U.S.A. Phone (330) 670-1234, Fax (330) 670-0874. Periodical postage paid at Akron, OH 44333 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COUNTERMAN, 3550 EmbassyParkway, Akron, OH 44333-8318. A limited number of complimentary subscriptions are available to individuals who meet the qualification requirements. Call (330) 670-1234, Ext. 275, to speak to a subscription ser-vices representative or FAX us at (330) 670-5335. Paid Subscriptions are available for non-qualified subscribers at the following rates: U.S.: $69. Samples and back issues - Domestic - $10, International/via air mail -$15. Canada: $89 for one year, $149 for two years. Canadian rates include GST. Ohio residents add 5.75% sales tax. Other foreign rates/via air mail: $129 for one year. Payable in advance in U.S. funds. Mailpayment to COUNTERMAN, P.O. Box 75692, Cleveland, OH 44101-4755. Visa, MasterCard or American Express accepted.

Editor’s Ink By Mark Phillips.........................................6Making a connection.

From The Publisher By S. Scott Shriber ...........68Where is the trust today?

By The Numbers By Tom Dayton........................69Becoming an “RPO Pro.”

Counter-tech By Mandy Aguilar ............................70Think about your generations of customers.

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AugustVolume 32, No. 8

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/// Hot Shot Delivery. Just one more extra mile we go for guys like David.

departmentsAftermarket News ...........................................................................................7Aftermarket News presents news, views and analysis of currenttrends and events in aftermarket distribution

Tech Tip...............................................................................................................60Executive Interview ..................................................................................63PayPal Senior PR Manager Chris Morse

NASCAR Performance ...........................................................................64This monthly special section takes you behind the scenes of thisfast-growing sport.

MarketPlace......................................................................................66,67Every month, MarketPlace showcases the newest automotive prod-uct and service innovations your customers are asking about

Classifieds ........................................................................................................74

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C O N T R I B U T I N G E D I T O R SMandy Aguilar, ColumnistGary Goms, Commercial AccountsGerald Wheelus, ColumnistJerry King, CartoonistThomas Dayton, Columnist

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28

’m a creature of habit like anyone else. When I travel and stay a few days any-

where, I tend to put down a well-wornpath. A little over a year ago, I went to visit a

parts manufacturer in Japan. I stayed inTokyo and quickly found the Starbucksnear my hotel. Being that it’s familiar, Igrabbed breakfast one morning. The nextmorning at breakfast, guess what? Istopped there again. The employee whowaited on me the first day saw me walk inthe door on day two.

She immediately smiled and asked ifwanted what I had yesterday. Again, crea-ture of habit that I am, I ordered the samething. Day three, same thing.

You might dismiss this employee’s abili-ty to remember me and my order for a few

reasons. First, I’m a redhead and inJapan, redheads stick out amid a

sea of black hair like a proverbialsore thumb. Two, I’m kind of tall(6-foot, 1 inch). Three, I’m Ameri-can. Put that all together and ifyou’re used to seeing Japanese

people all day, I’m probablyeasy to spot.

But that gets meto thinking.

Tokyo is thelargest metro-politan area inthe worldwith a little

EDITOR’S INKBy Mark Phillips

Making A Connectionmore than 36 million people. I knowenough Japanese from studying it over theyears to know that the employee I dealtwith was asking the same of nearly everyperson she encountered. In the time I or-dered and waited for my food, she helpedat least six people, and she seemed knowtheir preferences and ordering habits. Shemust have some system for rememberingpeople and what they like to order,whether she’s aware of it or not.

I meet a lot of people at trade shows.Whenever I meet them, I tend to naturallydiscuss anything about business and thenmove on to other topics to see what makesthem tick, what they like, what hobbiesthey might have. I do it because I’m natu-rally interested in people.

For some reason, I remember it all —whose son or daughter just graduated col-lege, what trip they recently took, if some-one in their family has endured an illnessor other hardship. It helps remind me thatin this business, it’s really all about people.I know that sounds like a cliché. But youout there in parts distribution are solvingproblems every day and enabling people toget on with their lives by getting their vehi-cles back on the road.

So what do you do? What’s your system for making customers feel wel-come in your store or warehouse? Howdo you connect with your customers? I’dlove to hear about it. Drop me a line [email protected]. CM

■ ■ ■

For more information: www.counterman.comTwitter: @CountermanMag

What’s yoursystem formakingcustomers feelwelcome in yourstore orwarehouse?

counterman.com 7

STAUNTON, Va. – Longtime Fed-erated member S&W Supply,based in Hays, Kan., is celebratingits 80th anniversary.

“We want to congratulate every-one at S&W Supply on 80 years ofgreat success,” said Rusty Bishop,CEO of Federated Auto Parts.“S&W Supply has been a valuedFederated member for almost 30years and we want to thank theBickle family for their commitmentto our group. They have been in-volved leaders since the outset,making Federated the success it istoday.”

In recognition of its 80th an-

niversary, S&W Supply will con-duct special racing events at RPMSpeedway in Hays this summer aswell as offer sales promotions forits customers throughout the year.S&W Supply will wrap up its mile-

stone year by once again organiz-ing a special community-basedToys for Tots drive.

Established by Claude Sutterand his wife Helen (Bickle) Sutterduring the years of the Great De-pression and the Dust Bowl, theoriginal company started outsmall, selling a limited number ofautomotive parts. After movingto Hays, the Sutters were joinedby Don Wells and his wife Lyle(Bickle) Wells.

The current company, S&WSupply, is named for the partner-ship between the Sutter and WellsFamilies.

AFTERMARKET NEWS

Federated Member S&W Supply Celebrates 80th Anniversary


AFTERMARKET NEWS

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec – Aspart of its annual golf tournament,Uni-Select raised $115,000 for theMira Foundation. This year’s eventtook place on July 2 at the GolfClub La Vallée du Richelieu andwas again huge success thanks tothe contribution and generosity ofits main sponsors, RaymondChabot Grant Thornton, TotalCanada and RBC Capital Markets,as well as the participation of itsbusiness partners and 170 golfers.

“It is with great pride that werallied our business partners tosupport the activities of the MiraFoundation. For seven years now,we have been collaborating withthe Foundation to develop thedog assistance program for chil-

dren with PDD (pervasive developmental disorder). We are pleased to con-tribute to the well-being of children,” said Denis Mathieu, executive vicepresident, corporate services and CFO of Uni-Select and vice president of theboard of directors of the Mira Foundation. “The support of Uni-Select and itspartners enables us to continue our mission and make a real difference inpeople’s lives,” said Nicolas St-Pierre, assistant general manager and chiefinstructor of the Mira Foundation.

Uni-Select Awards More Than $100,000 To The Mira Foundation

ZF Services LLC Adds ZFLenksysteme SteeringComponents To AftermarketProduct RangeVERNON HILLS, Ill. – ZF Services, thestrategic aftermarket business unit ofZF Friedrichshafen AG announcedthat effective Aug. 1, the company'sAmerican location in Vernon Hills, Ill.– ZF Services LLC – will assume re-sponsibility for the independent after-market sales and distribution of ZFLenksysteme passenger car productsin North America.

ZF Services and ZF LenksystemeGmbH – a 50/50 joint venture be-tween ZF and Robert Bosch GmbH –have restructured their collaborativeefforts on a global basis. ZF Servicesassumes the responsibility for theinternational IAM business for steer-ing gears, steering pumps and steer-ing columns. ZF Lenksysteme GmbHwill focus on its core competenciesof production and remanufacturing.

ZF Lenksysteme passenger carproducts were previously sold by ZFSteering Systems LLC in Florence,Ky. As a result of the restructuredcollaboration, ZF Lenksysteme willbecome the fifth product brandavailable from ZF Services.

(from left to right) Ben Michaud, Uni-Select,Denis Mathieu, Uni-Select, Philippe Landry,Total Canada, Richard G. Roy, Uni-Select,Martin Deschênes, Raymond Chabot GrandThornton, Khalil Ben Achour, RBC CapitalMarkets, Nicolas St-Pierre, MiraFoundation.

STAUNTON, Va. – For the thirdconsecutive year, Federated willsponsor the Federated Auto Parts400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Seriesrace at the Richmond InternationalRaceway (RIR). This year’s Feder-ated 400, the “One Last Race toMake the Chase,” is scheduled forSaturday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. EDT.The race will be televised national-ly on ABC-TV.

Last year, more than 2,000 Feder-ated members and customersjoined a near capacity crowd at RIRto witness Carl Edwards capturethe checkered flag at the Federated400. In addition, more than 5 mil-lion television viewers watched therace on ABC.

“Not only is it an exciting week-end of racing and hospitality, but thefeedback we have received from ourmembers and suppliers is that a lotof business gets done during raceweekend,” said J.R. Bishop, directorof motorsports and event marketingfor Federated Auto Parts.

“Our vendor expo held at the

track on race day is a big hit and thisyear, several of our vendors are con-ducting their own ‘Suite Deal’ pro-motions, where winners will get achance to watch the Federated 400from a luxury suite at the track.”


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Federated 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Set ForSept. 6 At Richmond International Raceway

CAWA Announces 2014-’15Scholarship WinnersSACRAMENTO, Calif. – CAWA,representing the automotive parts in-dustry, has announced the recipientsof its 2014-’15 scholarship awards.CAWA provided $10,000 in scholar-ships this year to 11 individuals.

“Once again, CAWA is proud toassist these young people in pursu-ing their careers in the automotiveaftermarket,” said Rodney Pierini,CAWA president and CEO, in an-nouncing the awards. “We haveawardees from the three states werepresent.”

Recipients of the scholarships include:

● $1,500 – Ashley Strunk, TheMort Schwartz Award – UniversalTechnical Institute

● $1,000 – Christian Luna –Chabot College

● $1,000 – Emily Lowdermilk –De Anza College

● $1,000 – Kein Thay – PasadenaCity College

● $1,000 – Stephanie Yim –Chabot College

● $750 – Jacob Calvillo – WeberState University

● $750 – Jesse Phillips – SkylineCollege

● $750 – Jonas Banuelos – RioHondo College

● $750 – Matthew Walsh – Gate-way Community College

● $750 – Sandra Albarran Santos– Gateway Community College

● $750 – Tonantzin Nordwall –Universal Technical Institute

GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — TheAutomotive Distribution Net-work’s National Jobber and ServiceDealer Advisory Councils (NJACand NSDAC) recently met at theMarriott in Lancaster, Pa., to evalu-ate the group’s programs and totour East Penn’s nearby batterymanufacturing facility.

According to Mike Lambert,president of the Network, theNJAC and NDSAC frequently par-ticipate in a joint meeting alongwith representatives of the Net-work headquarters staff to help en-sure the association’s programscontinue to meet the needs of its af-filiates at the street level. “Thecouncils represent a cross-sectionof the group’s jobbers and service

dealers, offering unique insightinto local markets,” Lambert said.

The councils also exchangedideas on how to better work withtheir respective businesses, accord-ing to Frank Drellishak, owner ofDrellishak’s Service in Rocky River,Ohio. “I believe the jobbers and theNetwork staff walk away with amuch better perspective on theneeds of an independent servicedealer in today’s business climate,”he said. “Likewise, we leave with agreater understanding of issuesfacing the Network’s jobbers. It’s awin-win.”

The council members and Net-work staff also gained an apprecia-tion of the best practices on displayby East Penn, the world’s largest

Unipiezas AlfredoCelebrates First PartsPlus Store Opening InPuerto RicoGERMANTOWN, Tenn. – UniP-iezas Alfredo has commemoratedthe opening of the first Parts Plus-branded store in Puerto Rico withan open house event and vintage carshow that attracted more than 1,000attendees and local TV coverage.

“The first Parts Plus store on theisland looks fantastic, and the re-sponse from consumers on-hand forthe event was tremendous,” saidMike Lambert, president of the Au-tomotive Distribution Network.“The Network anticipates 11 PartsPlus-identified stores and a distribu-tion center in Puerto Rico over thenext three to six months, from Baya-mon to San Juan to Lajas.”

As part of the first jobber group inPuerto Rico to fly the Parts Plus ban-ner, UniPiezas Alfredo hosted theevent to showcase its more polished,professional image on a big stage,said Tony Rivera, president of UniP-iezas Alfredo. “I’m so excited aboutbecoming a part of the Parts Plusfamily that I wanted our customerbase to feel the same enthusiasm,”he explained. “Joining Parts Pluschanges everything for UniPiezasAlfredo — our store experience ismuch more inviting. The Networkand Parts Plus are one of the bestteams I’ve ever worked with. This isonly the beginning for UniPiezasand Parts Plus.”


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Network National Jobber, Service Dealer Councils Meet To Provide Program Feedback

single-site, lead-acid battery manu-facturing facility.

“From environmental responsi-bility to employee safety to qualitycontrol, East Penn is a first-rate,family owned operation,” addedDrellishak.

AUSTIN, Texas – Epicor Soft-ware Corp. is celebrating the30th anniversary of electroniccataloging for the automotive af-termarket. The company intro-duced the industry’s firstelectronic catalog (eCatalog) inAugust 1984.

Today, Epicor eCatalog prod-ucts and related data solutionsare used by tens of thousands ofparts professionals, more than100,000 vehicle service providersand millions of consumersthroughout North America andaround the world. The first-gen-eration Epicor eCatalog of themid-1980s was limited only tothe supplier lines and catalogscarried by each auto parts store.Still, many replacement parts dis-tributors and jobbers quickly re-alized that their counterpeoplewere often twice as productiveand far more accurate when theyrelied on the eCatalog rather thanprint volumes, according to Epi-cor. Also fueling early adoptionwas the rapidly acceleratinggrowth of vehicle platforms andcorresponding part number pro-liferation. The new eCatalog alsohelped users eliminate pricingmistakes, reduce returns and im-prove inventory control and buy-ing practices, Epicor noted.

“Our first eCatalog opened thedoor to countless opportunitiesto improve efficiency and accura-cy at the parts counter, which re-mains the nexus of virtuallyevery vehicle repair,” said ScottThompson, vice president, auto-motive, retail distribution solu-tions for Epicor. “Epicor eCatalogproducts are even more impor-tant and prevalent today, con-necting tens of thousands ofwholesalers with serviceproviders, and driving an ever-

growing number of business-to-consumer e-commerce websites.”

In stark contrast to the compa-ny’s first eCatalog, the currentEpicor PartExpert eCatalog suiteincludes more than 10 millionparts, 7,800 manufacturer prod-uct lines and 27 million inter-changes and covers virtuallyevery vehicle make and modelmarketed within North Americaover the past 40 years. The com-pany’s data and eCatalog solu-tions are now referenced in morethan 70 percent of aftermarketparts sales in North America.Epicor replacement parts dataalso is used by leading global online retailers such asAmazon.com and eBay.

The Epicor PartExpert productsuite includes the Cover-to-Covergraphical eCatalog module, fea-turing part images and specifica-tions; an integrated VIN decoder;BuyerAssist electronic buyer’sguide; InterChange OE and com-petitive interchange module; “AllLines” instant access to morethan 7,800 manufacturer productlines; the comprehensive ItemEx-pert non-application item data-base; PartExpert OE originalequipment parts eCatalog; andEpicor OE for Parts Not Found, anew module that enables users toidentify the OE part number forapplications for which no equiva-lent aftermarket part is available.Epicor combines these value-added tools with a completeservice product suite includingthe LaborExpert labor estimatingtool, ServicePlus OE scheduledmaintenance services and parts,TireExpert tire fitment and re-placement guide and RepairEx-pert repair information databaseto help users increase sales andcustomer loyalty.

counterman.com 13

AFTERMARKET NEWS

Epicor Marks 30th Anniversary Of

The Automotive Aftermarket eCatalog


VIPAR Heavy Duty Celebrates 25 Years Serving Independent Aftermarket Distributors

MT. PROSPECT, Ill. – NTN has an-nounced the results of a joint raidthat it participated in with theNaval Criminal InvestigativeService (NCIS). The raid was con-ducted June 25 on bearing storagelocation near Charleston, S.C., af-ter NCIS agents concluded thatthe warehouse was illegally dis-tributing low-quality, counterfeit-ed bearings directly to consumers.According to NTN, the search re-sulted in the seizure of hundredsof fake NTN products, as well as

AFTERMARKET NEWS

counterfeited merchandise of sev-eral other major Japan- and U.S.-based manufacturers.

The investigation was coordi-nated by NCIS and included en-gineers from major bearingcorporations that volunteered toaid in the identification of thecounterfeit parts. NTN applica-tion engineers supported U.S.Naval agents in detecting suspectproduct and packaging bearingfake NTN company logos. All ofthe suspicious products wereconfiscated and cataloged to as-sist in future prosecution and in-vestigation of illegal bearingcounterfeiting.

NTN says it is committed toleading the fight against counter-feit bearings. The company is anactive member of the World Bear-ing Association, an assembly ofbearing manufacturers that seek toensure the safety of worldwideconsumers. For more informationabout stopping fake bearing sales,visit the World Bearing Associa-tion’s website stopfakebearings.com.

NCIS, NTN Conduct Counterfeiting Raid In Charleston, S.C.

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – VIPARHeavy Duty celebrates its 25th anniversary during 2014. In 1989,17 like-minded independent after-market truck parts distributorscame together to form VIPARHeavy Duty. Through the contribu-tions of the founding distributors,and of the many distributors sincethen, the organization has nowgrown to 125 distributors that op-erate more than 500 locationsthroughout the U.S., Canada, Puer-to Rico and Mexico.

A 25th anniversary celebrationwill culminate at the VIPAR HeavyDuty Annual Conference, sched-uled for Oct. 19-24 at the Marco Is-land Marriott in Marco Island, Fla.The theme is “Embracing the En-trepreneurial Spirit.”

“The growth and success ofVIPAR Heavy Duty is a testamentto the original vision and inspira-tion of these entrepreneurialfounding distributors, as well asthe contributions of all of our otherdistributors since then,” said SteveCrowley, president of VIPARHeavy Duty. “VIPAR Heavy Dutyhas succeeded by helping our dis-tributors be more competitive intheir local market and by provid-ing resources, such as technology,

marketing, communications andmany other value-added solutions,to make them more profitable.”

With the recent addition of Pow-er Heavy Duty, the VIPAR HeavyDuty family of companies is now

composed of two heavy-duty truckparts marketing/buying groupswith more than 260 companies andmore than 700 locations through-out North America. The organiza-tion also has grown with theaddition of the VHD EquipmentNetwork, the first buying group inthe truck mounted equipment in-dustry. The organization has alsobeen strengthened through the ad-dition of a technology group, twobrake remanufacturing centers,two parts distribution centers andrelationships with 180 plus manu-facturers and parts suppliers.

Federated Adds CanadianTire To MembershipSTAUNTON, Va. – Canadian Tire has announced its membership in theFederated Auto Parts group, one of North America’s largest and leadingauto parts distributors. Effective July 9, the relationship is anticipated toprovide strong benefits to both organizations, including Canadian Tire’srobust customer and dealer network across Canada.

With more than 580 Canadian Tire retail and PartSource locationsacross Canada serving more than 180 million customers a year, CanadianTire’s family of companies is one of Canada’s most recognizable brandsand is a leading destination for automotive parts and service.

“At Canadian Tire, we’re continuously focused on providing excellentservice – both to our customers and our network of vendors and partnersacross the country,” said Michael Broderick, senior vice president of auto-motive, Canadian Tire. “Federated shares our dedication and providesnot only high-quality parts and service, but additional support in criticalareas such as training, information technology, market trends and supplychain efficiency.”

“Federated is extremely proud to be associated with a company thathas demonstrated a long-term commitment to outstanding product selec-tion and service in the Canadian market,” said Rusty Bishop, CEO of Fed-erated. “We look forward to supporting their efforts in the ever-changingvehicle repair segment.”

counterman.com 15

AFTERMARKET NEWS

Federated T-Shirt Tuesdays Return To FacebookSTAUNTON, Va. – If you are looking for a new T-shirt for your summerwardrobe, look to Federated. Every Tuesday through August, Federatedwill announce 10 winners of NASCAR Sprint Cup Federated Auto Parts400 t-shirts. To enter, visitFederated on Facebook andclick on the T-Shirt Tuesdayscontest.

“Our Facebook contestshave become very popularwith Federated fans and weknow the return of T-ShirtTuesdays will be a big hit,”said Phil Moore, senior vice president of Federated Auto Parts. “With theFederated Auto Parts 400 set for Sept. 6, we thought it would be fun togive away Federated 400 T-shirts to 50 fans to generate a little excitementfor Federated and NASCAR leading up to the ‘One Last Race to Make theChase.’” Starting July 29 and running through August, Federated will an-nounce 10 winners of Federated T-shirts every Tuesday on its FederatedAuto Parts and Federated Car Care Facebook pages. To be eligible, visitFederated on Facebook and click on the T-Shirt Tuesdays contest to enter.Federated fans also can get extra entries by sharing the contest with theirfriends. Federated T-Shirt Tuesdays ends Aug. 26.

The Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the “One LastRace to Make the Chase,” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday,Sept. 6 at the Richmond International Raceway (RIR) and will be tele-vised nationally on ABC-TV.

Red Kap, a manufacturer and distributor of comfort-able, durable work-related clothing and outerwear,has joined WIX Filters in sponsoring two BabcoxMedia automotive excellence awards in 2014.

“Red Kap manufactures work apparel specific tothe automotive market, making our brand the per-fect addition to award programs recognizing work-place excellence in the aftermarket industry,” saidLeslie Hunt, marketing manager for Red Kap. “Weare proud to align the Red Kap brand with WIX Fil-ters in support of those who represent the best in theindustry.”

As part of the sponsorship, Red Kap will provideuniforms and merchandise to winners of the follow-ing awards:

● School of the Year – Open to all high schools orpost-secondary schools that have a subscription toTomorrow’s Tech magazine. Red Kap will provide hatsor shirts to the four finalists, as well as a uniform for

every student of the winning school. For more infor-mation, visit www.ttschooloftheyear.com.

“Red Kap’s participation enhances the nationalscope of the School of the Year program,” said EdSunkin, editor of Tomorrow’s Tech. “It also adds aprize that is the hallmark of any technical school –comfortable, durable work wear.”

● WIX Driving Performance – Recognizes theskills and professionalism of today’s automotivetechnicians, from demonstrating excellence in the au-tomotive service industry to raising the bar in cus-tomer service. Red Kap will provide a customuniform program for the winning shop. For more in-formation, visit www.wixdrivingperformanceaward.com.

“The Driving Performance Award is a new awardfor 2014 recognizing game changers in automotiveservice,” said Jim Merle, Babcox TechGroup publish-er. “By providing a custom uniform to the winningshop, Red Kap’s partnership will further elevate thescope and significance of our new award.”

Recipients of each award will be announced at theAutomotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) inNovember.


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Red Kap Joins WIX FiltersTo Sponsor Two Automotive Excellence Awards

Audax Group Acquires Wheel ProsBOSTON – Private equity firm Audax Group has ac-quired Wheel Pros LLC from Platinum Equity. Head-quartered in Denver, Colo., Wheel Pros is adesigner, marketer and distributor of branded after-market wheels. The company also distributes per-formance tires and accessories. Founded in 1995with two distribution centers, the company todaycarries proprietary, leading brands that are recog-nized across all major vehicle segments and aresold through a national footprint of 25 distributioncenters and internationally.

Geoffrey Rehnert, co-CEO of Audax Group, said,“Wheel Pros is a market leader in the automotiveaftermarket industry. We look forward to partneringwith Randy White, Jody Groce and the Wheel Prosteam to grow the business organically and throughstrategic add-on acquisitions.”

Randy White, CEO of Wheel Pros, added, “We areexcited to continue growing the business organical-ly and by leveraging Audax’ expertise in identifyingand integrating add-ons. I look forward to workingwith our new partner and creating a larger strategicenterprise.”

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Effective July 1, National Pronto Association hasannounced the addition Of Cal-State Auto Parts Inc. to the Prontomembership.

Cal-State operates 11 locations that service the Southern California; LasVegas, Nev.; Salem and Portland, Ore., markets. The company was found-ed in 1971 and is a leading distributor of ACDelco and Motorcraft auto-motive parts. Cal-State’s corporate office is located in Anaheim, Calif.Richard DeBlasi and Steve Brooker are the owners of Cal-State Auto PartsInc., and David Orlaska is the marketing manager and Pronto contact.


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Pronto Adds Cal-State AutoPartsTo Membership

The Gates Corp. Announces New Micro-V Aramid BeltDENVER, Colo. – The Automotive Aftermarket division of the GatesCorp., a leading manufacturer of industrial and automotive products ispleased to announce the introduction of the new Micro-V Aramid belt.The new Gates Micro-V Aramid belt is a high-strength, high-performing,OE equivalent for accessory drive belt drives on specific vehicles with de-manding engines.

The new Micro-V Aramid belt features stronger-than-steel aramid cordin place of the more common polyester cord, the company says. Thistechnology increases stability and rigidity in the belt, which reduces beltelongation and system vibrations. The belt is made of a patented EPDM(ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber compound that resistscracking and keeps the entire system running at optimal functionality.

“Gates prides itself on evolving with the latest OE materials and con-struction,” said Tom Trojan, aftermarket product category manager. “Thenew Aramid belt utilizes the most recent OE technology to offer the mostadvanced serpentine belt on the market for our customers.”

Today’s engines are more demanding than older engines. Diesel andhigh-revving gasoline turbo engines utilize complicated accessory beltdrive systems, requiring more tension and creating vibration throughoutthe system. This vibration, if not addressed with proper belt construction,will cause belt fluttering and tensioner oscillation resulting in belt noise,vibration throughout the vehicle and poor belt performance.

The Micro-V Aramid belt addresses these concerns and eliminates beltnoise, vibration, and harshness because of the improved OE quality con-struction and materials.

The new belts are now available. Customers can contact their localGates Sales Representative for more information.

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ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. &CLEVELAND – Trico ProductsCorp. has announced the signingof a definitive agreement underwhich Crowne Group LLC will ac-quire the company from fundsmanaged by Kohlberg & Co. LLC.TRICO will maintain its headquar-ters in Rochester Hills, Mich., andthe current management team, ledby Lou Braga, president and CEO.Terms of the transaction were notdisclosed.

TRICO is a global manufacturer,marketer and distributor of wind-shield wiper blades, systems andcomponents. The company oper-ates as a fully integrated businessin both the aftermarket and OEMsegments. The company employs

approximately 2,450 peoplethroughout the United States,Mexico, Asia, Europe, Australiaand South America.

“TRICO represents an excellentstrategic fit for Crowne due to itsbalanced mix of business betweenaftermarket and OEM, potentialfor manufacturing and distribu-tion synergies, a great infrastruc-ture and management team,” saidStephen Graham, CFO of Crowne.“We are excited to enter into anew phase of our own evolution,and we look forward to workingwith our new partners as we con-tinue to successfully execute ourstrategy.”

“We are pleased with the out-come of our investment in TRICO

and believe that the company hasa bright future,” added Evan Wild-stein, partner at Kohlberg & Co.“We are confident that the compa-ny will continue on its trajectory ofsuccess under Crowne Group’sownership.”

Crowne Group also recently ac-quired the Carter Fuel Systemsbusiness from Federal-Mogul.

The acquisition is subject to cus-tomary regulatory approvals andis expected to close in the comingmonths. Sawaya Segalas & Co.LLC acted as financial adviser toTRICO and Ropes & Gray LLP act-ed as its legal counsel. 3S AdvisorsLLC acted as financial adviser toCrowne and Jones Day served asits legal counsel.


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Crowne Group To Acquire Trico

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Hon-eywell has completed the sale of itsFriction Materials (FM) business toFederal-Mogul in a cash transac-tion valued at approximately $155million. The transaction does notinclude the Bendix name or line ofproducts or business in the UnitedStates. In addition, joint venturesthat operate in Australia, Thailandand Malaysia will be retained aswill Honeywell’s ownership of thenon-operating sites in Conde,France and Guangzhou, China.

The company announced that italso will realign its TransportationSystems business segment with itsAerospace business segment to bet-ter take advantage of the engineer-

ing and technology similarities andthe shared business models betweenthese two business segments. Underthe realigned segment reportingstructure, the company will havethree business segments: Aerospace,Automation and Control Solutionsand Performance Materials andTechnologies.

“The sale of the Friction Materi-als business is a significant step inour effort to fully align the Honey-well portfolio around ‘Great Posi-tions in Good Industries,’” saidHoneywell Chairman and CEODave Cote. “Honeywell is a globaltechnology leader and our Turbobusiness is one of our innovationcrown jewels.”


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Honeywell Completes Sale Of FrictionMaterials Business To Federal-Mogul

Alliance Selects Michael Ritchie As Category Manager

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Aftermarket AutoParts Alliance Inc. has announced the additionof Michael Ritchie as category manager. He joinsthe group’s headquarters staff in San Antonio.Most recently, Ritchie served as a category man-ager with AutoZone. His previous experiencealso includes time in outside sales, store man-agement and as a service writer.

“Mike was chosen for this position because ofhis extensive experience working in the autocare industry, including category managementexperience with a very large automotive parts

retailer, extensive work in stores and experience calling on commer-cial customers,” said Dan Rader, vice president of product and catego-ry management. “Moreover, Mike is an experienced ‘do it yourselfer,’and the time he spends under the car gives him an understandingand perspective on the needs of our customers. With more than 20years of experience and an obvious passion for the auto parts busi-ness, we are very excited to have Mike join our team.”

Initially, Mike will focus on managing the activities of the undercarproduct lines within the Alliance, which will enable his counterpartJustin Hebert to focus his efforts on underhood product lines.

Michael Ritchie

MONROE, Mich. – From the countless smiles and“thumbs-up” signals from pedestrians and motorists tomillions of views via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram andother digital media, the Monroe “Shockmobile” tookthe Northeastern U.S. by storm in June and is preparingto do the same throughout the Midwest as it brings theMonroe brand’s “Everything Gets Old. Even YourShocks” message to consumers this summer and fall.

The Shockmobile is a 25-foot-long, 10-foot-high,translucent Monroe OESpectrum shock absorber that isvisiting more than 50 North American cities in its initialyear of operation. The custom-built, LED-illuminatedshock is towed by a specially equipped sport-utility ve-hicle featuring matching yellow-and-black graphicsalong with information on how consumers can learnmore about the importance of inspecting shocks andstruts at 50,000 miles/80,000 kilometers.

The Shockmobile began its Midwest tour in mid-July,with visits to Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and dozens ofother cities. Consumers can track the tour via the Mon-roe brand’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Mon-roeShocks) and Twitter feed (@MonroeShocks) as well asthe www.Monroe.com website.

Among the highlights of the first half of the Shock-mobile’s summer tour were:

● Visiting New York’s Yankee Stadium as thousandsof fans arrived for a game against the arch-rival BostonRed Sox;

● Participating in the Towson, Md., July 4th parade,seen by an estimated 60,000 people;

● Circling the Washington Monument, Lincoln andJefferson memorials and other historic sites in Washing-ton, D.C., during July 4th weekend;

● Navigating New York City’s busy Times Squareand Herald Square, circling Central Park and evenstopping for fan pictures in front of Tom’s Restaurant,made famous in the television sitcom “Seinfeld;”

● Pausing for fan photos at Niagara Falls; in Augusta,Maine; near Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass.; inOcean City, Md.; and outside of Citizens Bank Park,home of the Philadelphia Phillies.


AFTERMARKET NEWS

Monroe ‘Shockmobile’ Rolls IntoSecond Half Of Summer-Long‘Everything Gets Old’ Mobile Tour


MIRAMAR, Fla. – Steven Kruss,president of Auto 7, which sup-plies Korean-made, OEM-qualityautomotive parts to distributorsacross North America, announcedthat Auto 7 has been named an ap-proved vendor of AutomotiveParts Associates (APA), one of thenation’s largest auto parts distribu-tor groups.

APA is a member-owned organi-zation of more than 110 independ-ent shareholders that distributesauto parts from more than 350warehouses and company store lo-cations throughout the UnitedStates and Canada.

According to Kruss, APA’s deci-sion to partner with Auto 7 makessense. Auto 7 offers a world-classcatalog with more than 70,000 ap-plications, and represents thefastest-growing fleet in NorthAmerica – Korean-made cars likeHyundai and Kia.

“It’s a great opportunity forAuto 7,” said Kruss. “But more im-portantly, it’s a great opportunity

for APA members to better servetheir customers. We can help themmeet the growing demand forhigh-quality OEM parts forHyundai and Kia.”

Gary Martin, APA’s president andCEO, added that it’s important forAPA to have vendors like Auto 7that offer a valuable alternative tothe dealer. “Auto 7 gives APA mem-bers, their distributors and installersan option in the rapidly expanding

import parts segment of this grow-ing vehicle car parc,” said Martin.

Auto 7, located in Miramar, Fla.,is part of an international companythat has been in business for morethan 60 years. It supplies a wide ar-ray of Korean-made, OEM-qualityautomotive parts that are ISO-14000, QS-9000 or ISO/TS-16949certified, and many of which arenot typically available in the tradi-tional aftermarket supply chain.

AFTERMARKET NEWS

What vehicle does this picturerepresent? If you think youknow the answer, go towww.counterman.com andclick “Guess the Car” on thenav bar. Submit your answerand contact information. Awinner will be randomlyselected by the Countermanstaff from all correct answers.The deadline to enter is Sept. 1.The winner’s name will appearin the next issue. Stay tuned!

Saturn Ion

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Last Month’s Correct Answer:This Month’s Puzzle

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AUTO 7 Named Approved Vendor For Automotive Parts Associates

Akebono Brake Corp. Receives 2013 Altrom GroupSupplier Of The Year AwardFARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Akebono Brake Corp. has been awardedthe Altrom Group 2013 Supplier of the Year Award. The Altrom Group, adivision of Genuine Parts Co. (GPC), presents this award to its most ac-complished vendor based on performance measurements, includingsales growth, fill rate, marketing, sales support, product quality and cov-erage. This is the second time in three years that Akebono has receivedthis honor. The award was presented to Mike Eldard, district sales man-ager; Borise Cota, Western regional sales manager; and Ken Selinger, di-rector, aftermarket sales and marketing, on behalf of Akebono at Altrom’s2014 North American Sales Summit held June 18-20 in Tulalip, Wash. Thisthree-day event was attended by Altrom’s and GPC’s management team,sales professionals and key vendor partners from around the world.


Advance Auto Parts Enters DallasMarket With First Store In GarlandGARLAND, Texas – Advance Auto Parts has enteredthe Dallas market with its first store in Garland,Texas, at 103 S. First St. The new location openedJuly 17. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held onTuesday, July 22, with senior management from Ad-vance Auto Parts, Garland Mayor Douglas Athasand Garland Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul May-er participating in the ceremony.

Company officials said they chose this locationfor the store because it is where their customers liveand shop, as well as where they take their vehiclesfor repair. Dan Deignan is the new general managerand works with 22 other team members at the newGarland location. A 16-year veteran of the automo-tive and retail sales industries, Deignan recentlyjoined the Advance Auto Parts Team. He is ASE-certified.

SMYRNA, Tenn. – Beck/Arnleyhas launched a new brake pad se-ries using the same type of materi-al recommended by the vehicle’smanufacturer. TRUE|Friction padsare specifically designed to matchthe most current OE friction typeby application, according to thecompany.

“We are very excited to bringthis unique program to the mar-ket,” said Tom Fritsche, directorof product management. “Wetook feedback we received fromthe marketplace and revampedour brake pad offering. Our cus-tomers requested that we reducethe confusion of offering multiplematerials and simply offer thematerial that the car manufacturerrecommends. The result isTRUE|Friction.”

AFTERMARKET NEWS

Over the Counter By Jerry King

Beck/Arnley Launches TRUE|Friction Brake Pad Series

According to Beck/Arnley,TRUE|Friction streamlines the de-cision-making process of determin-ing what material to use. No moresorting through lists of differentmaterials and features trying to de-termine what is actually needed.Beck/Arnley says it provides onlythe latest OE application-specificmaterial, supplied with the fea-tures you have come to expect forgreat performance and extendedservice life, including:

● All pads supplied with chemi-cally and mechanically bondedshims to minimize noise.

● All backing plates have preci-sion cut edges to ensure proper fitand installation.

● All friction material is formu-lated to minimize dusting.

● All pads are chamfered andslotted to maximize braking per-formance.

● All pads are integrally moldedand post cured for maximum life.

● Where integrated, sensors areincluded.

The TRUE|Friction series is partof Beck/Arnley’s new True|Brakingfamily. This collection also includesTrue|Calipers, True|Shoes andTrue|Metal. To learn more, visithttp://www.beckarnley.com/products/brakes chassis/truebrakingseries/.

Garrett Performance Products Announces NewTurbo Distribution Partner For The US Market


AFTERMARKET NEWS

TORRANCE, Calif. – Garrett byHoneywell has formed a distribu-tion partnership with Automotor-sport Inc. (AMS) for its Garrett

Performance Products aftermarketline of turbos in the United States.

Established in 2001 and based inChicago, Ill., AMS has built a repu-tation as a leading performanceand tuner aftermarket shop in theUnited States by developing itsown rigorous testing as well as re-search and development programs.The company is also known for delivering personalized customerservice.

Garrett is a recognized aftermar-ket technology leader as the Hon-eywell global brand forperformance turbochargers. Gar-rett leverages Honeywell’s globalengineering resources to developinnovative performance turbos andproducts specific for the racing,

tuning and enthusiast markets.Garrett turbochargers can supportengine displacements from 100ccup to 12 liters – the widest range inthe industry – providing more than2,000hp in race conditions.

“We are excited to fill a need inour distribution channel in the U.S.with a pioneer in the aftermarketperformance industry,” said Olivi-er Rabiller, vice president and gen-eral manager of HoneywellTransportation Systems Aftermar-ket. “AMS is a partner that pridesitself on customer service and de-livering quality experience withoutcutting corners. It is a partner Gar-rett is proud to have representingits line of industry-leading after-market turbos.”

Increase your understanding of 10 need-to-know partscategories to help drive sales

Brake Friction ...................................32Suspension ........................................34Motor Oil...........................................36Gaskets ..............................................38Fuel Pumps .......................................42Filters .................................................44Spark Plugs .......................................46Wipers................................................48Sealants..............................................50Fuel Additives ..................................52

AnnualTechnical Forum

AnnualTechnical ForumIncrease your understanding of 10 need-to-know partscategories to help drive sales

By Larry Carley


Friction

A. Copper is being reduced or eliminated from brake pads be-cause brake dust has been identified as a source of water con-tamination. Every time a vehicle’s brakes are applied, a smallamount of brake dust is generated. Brake dust from roads andhighways can be washed into lakes and streams by rainfall. Cop-per and other heavy metals that may present in brake dust pollutethe water and are toxic to aquatic life. Because of this, environmen-talists want copper and other heavy metals reduced or removedentirely from all brake friction materials.

In 2010, Washington was the first state to pass a law requiringthe phase-out of hazardous materials such as copper, cadmium,chromium, lead and mercury from brake pads. The phase outstarts this year (2014), and allows no more than 5 percent copperby 2021.

On Sept. 27, 2010, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggersigned a similar bill into law. The California law also requires re-ducing the copper content in brake pads to 5 percent or less by2020, and reducing it even further to 0.5 percent by 2025.

Other states also are looking at similar legislation to reduce oreliminate copper from brake pads.

In response to the new laws, the Brake Manufacturers Council(BMC) of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association(AASA) issued a statement regarding the negative impact of cop-per in brake friction materials as it affects U.S. waterways. In themid-1990s, the AASA BMC said it commissioned watershed stud-ies in California. The studies were conducted in cooperation withscientists and environmental groups. The studies identified manysources of copper in waterways including plumbing pipes, boatpaint and other products, but the conclusions showed that brakedust was a contributor.

The BMC says its members are working to reduce copper, andthat the amount of copper is generally less than 10 percent in mostfriction materials. Many brake suppliers also have developed next-generation friction materials that have little or no copper content.Some brake suppliers have been using low-copper or copper-freefriction formulas all along, so the new rules didn’t affect them.

Copper was added to brake friction products when asbestos fric-tion materials were replaced with Nonasbestos Organic (NAO)materials. Adding small strands of copper improved heat transferand cooling, which helped improve pedal feel and fade resistance.

The new generation of low-copper and no-copper friction mate-rials that have been recently introduced actually perform better

Annual Technical Forum

QWhy are brake manufacturers re-moving copper from brake pads?


Continued on page 62


Suspension

A. None of the parts should cause any tire wear as long as all ofthe parts are in good condition. Tire wear occurs when certainchassis and steering parts become worn.

Worn tie rod ends usually have the greatest impact on tire wear.The tie rod ends connect the steering linkage to the knuckles, so ifthe tie rod ends are loose, they will allow unwanted movementthat changes the toe alignment of the wheels. This, in turn, cancause increased scrubbing and rapid tire wear. Toe misalignmenttypically produces increased shoulder wear on the outer edges ofthe tread, and/or a feathered wear pattern across the tread. Thegreater the play in the tie rod ends, the greater the misalignmentand the faster the tires wear.

Worn or damaged control arm bushings, or bushings that aretoo soft (too compliant) also can cause tire wear problems. Thebushings hold the control arms in position, so if the bushings aredeformed, loose or overly soft, the control arms tend to push backwhile the vehicle is being driven. This causes the tires to toe-out,scrub and wear. On vehicles with independent rear suspensions,worn, loose or overly soft bushings on the rear control arms typi-cally produce a diagonal or sawtooth wear pattern across the treadon the rear tires. If the problem is the front bushings, the wear pat-tern will be similar to that produced by worn tie rod ends.

Ball joints that have too much play can change the camber align-ment of the wheels. This usually causes the wheels to lean in to-ward the top, producing accelerated shoulder wear on the inneredges of the tire tread.

Weak, sagging springs can have a similar effect on tire wear asworn ball joints. The change in ride height that occurs will affectcamber alignment and increase inner shoulder wear on the tires.

Worn shocks or struts can also affect tire wear. If theshocks/struts are weak, the tires will bounce excessively as theyroll resulting in a cupped wear pattern on the tread.

Q. What is “Memory Steer?”

A Memory steer is when the steering wheel is slow to return tocenter after making a turn. This may cause a steering pull or driftto one side after turning. Possible causes include:

● Binding in the upper strut mounts due to wear, corrosion ordamage. If the upper strut mount is binding or loose, the strut willhave to be removed and disassembled so a new upper bearingplate can be installed, or the entire strut can be replaced with anew preassembled strut (which is much faster and easier).

QWhich chassis or steering partscause the most tire wear?

Annual Technical ForumAnnual Technical Forum



Motor Oil

A. Yes it can. Always follow the viscosity recommendations in thevehicle owner’s manual or the markings on the oil filler cap on theengine (or the dipstick). Modern engines are designed to use a spe-cific viscosity of motor oil such as 5W-20, 5W-30, 0W-20. It is espe-cially important to follow the vehicle manufacturer’s viscosityrecommendations if an engine has Variable Valve Timing (VVT).

If the wrong viscosity of oil is used (too thick, for example) in aVVT engine, the cam phaser(s) may not react quickly enoughwhen the engine computer commands cam advance or retard. Thecam phasers rotate the position of the camshaft forward or back-ward a certain number of degrees to advance or retard relativecam timing. The cam phasers use oil pressure to change the timing,so if the oil is too thick it flows more slowly through the meteringorifices into the phaser causing a delay in the timing change.

The cam position sensor that monitors the relative position ofeach camshaft tells the computer that the cam is not advancing orretarding as quickly as it should, causing the computer to set afault code and turn on the Check Engine light. This may lead to amisdiagnosis of the problem, resulting in a cam phaser and/orcam position sensor being replaced unnecessarily when the realproblem is simply the wrong viscosity motor oil. The fix would beto drain the crankcase, refill the engine with the correct viscositymotor oil, and clear the code.

Q. Is it safe to use a modern motor oil in an older engine?

A. It depends on the engine and the application. The current gen-eration of motor oils that meet API “SN” or ILSAC GF-5 specifica-tions contain reduced levels of the anti-wear additive ZDDP (zincdialkyl dithiophosphate), which is often referred to as “zinc.” Thelevels of this particular anti-wear additive have been reduced tohelp extend the life of the catalytic converter, and because mostmodern engines don’t need as much anti-wear additive as olderengines. The highest point of friction inside an engine is the con-tact point between the cam lobes and lifters (or cam followers in anOHC engine). Since most modern engines use roller rockers or fol-lowers, there is much less friction and less need for anti-wear addi-tive. Consequently, the amount of ZDDP additive in the oil hasbeen reduced from 1,500 parts per million (PPM) to around 800PPM or less. CM

QCan the wrong viscosity motor oilcause a Check Engine light to come on?



Gaskets

A. When a gasket leaks, it may or may not be the gasket’s fault.Gaskets are designed to be long-lived, but over time heat, corro-sion, abrasion and chemical attack may cause some gaskets to fail.

Valve cover and oil pan gaskets may develop oil leaks if the gas-ket material loses its elasticity. On older vehicles, cork gasketswere typically used because they were relatively inexpensive com-pared to molded rubber gaskets. Cork takes a compression setonce the gasket has been clamped in place. Over time, heat canalso make a cork gasket hard and brittle, causing the gasket toeventually lose its ability to maintain a leak-free seal. Molded rub-ber gaskets are much better because they retain their elasticity bet-ter over time.

If somebody attempts to “fix” a leaky valve cover or pan gasketby overtightening the pan or cover bolts, they’ll usually crush thegasket and make the leak even worse. The only solution for a leakyvalve cover or pan gasket is to replace it with a new gasket. Thenew gasket can be the same as the original (cork or molded rub-ber), or you can recommend upgrading from cork to molded rub-ber or a premium plastic carrier-style gasket that features raisedsilicon or synthetic rubber sealing beads.

If a customer wants to stick with a more economical cork gasketfor an older vehicle, it’s important to know that the quality of thegasket can vary significantly depending on the materials used inthe gasket. The higher the quality of the raw materials that go intothe gasket, the longer it will retain its elasticity and maintain aleak-free seal. Some of the cheaply made cork/rubber gaskets useinferior materials that won’t last. They may seem like a bargain atthe time of purchase, but when they start to leak six months or ayear down the road, your customer will realize they were no bar-gain at all. Better to recommend a quality replacement gasket youknow will stand up.

Some cork/rubber pan and cover gaskets have “extra” featuresthat make them easier to install and improve their long-term dura-bility. These may include a metal carrier that provides stiffness andreinforcement. This also makes the gasket easier to handle and in-stall without damaging it. Some cork/rubber gaskets also havegrommets in the bolt holes that prevent the gasket from beingovertightened. The thickness of the grommets limit the amount ofcrush on the gasket so it will provide the optimum seal.

Though sealers and adhesives are not always required for corkgaskets, they can make installation easier and provide added seal-ing insurance. Some cork pan and cover gaskets come with an ad-

QWhat causes valve cover and pan gaskets to leak?




Fuel Pumps

A. Yes. Pickups with dual tanks have atransfer pump to move fuel from one tankto another. Some performance cars like theMustang Shelby and new Dodge ChallengerHellcat use two fuel pumps to quench the

thirst of their high-pow-ered engines. Late-modelcars with Direct GasolineInjection (GDI) have anelectric pump in the tankto send fuel to the engine,and a secondary mechan-ical high-pressure fuelpump to boost the pres-sure that goes to the injec-tors. A similar setup isused in vehicles diesel en-gines. Some vehicles may

also have a low-pressure in-tank pump thatsupplies fuel to a high-pressure, in-linepump outside the tank.

Q. Does the design of the fuel system af-

fect the life of the fuel pump?

A. Yes. Engines with electronic fuel injec-tion (EFI) use a high-pressure electricpump mounted inside or near the fueltank. EFI fuel pumps operate continuouslyand generate 35 to 85 psi depending on theapplication. In 15,000 miles of driving, anEFI pump in a return-style system will cir-culate thousands of gallons of fuel from thetank to the injector rail and back again be-cause the fuel that is not needed is recircu-lated back to the tank. This actuallyincreases the temperature of the fuel in thetank, which over time can shorten the lifeof the pump — especially if the tank ismaintained at less than one quarter full (afuller tank runs cooler).

On some vehicles, the engine computerreduces pump speed when extra fuel is not

needed, and increases pump speed whenmore fuel is needed. This reduces wear and tear on the pump and helps extend itsservice life.

On late-model vehicles that have a “re-turnless” constant pressure EFI system,there is no return line from the engine to thefuel tank because the pressure regulator ismounted on top of the fuel module assem-bly inside the fuel tank, and fuel is returneddirectly in the tank. This keeps the fuel inthe tank cooler and helps prolong the life ofthe pump. If the engine computer alsovaries the speed of the pump, that helps ex-tend pump life too.

EFI fuel pumps rely on fuel for both cool-ing and lubrication. Running the fuel tankempty can damage the fuel pump, so thatshould never be allowed to happen.

Contaminants inside the fuel tank such asrust or plastic flakes also can increase pumpwear. Outside contaminants such as dirt ormoisture can also damage the pump if theyare introduced while refueling the vehicle.

The fuel filter will trap dirt particles andother solid contaminants that exit the pumpbefore they can reach the injectors, but thepump itself runs on unfiltered fuel. Themesh filter sock on the fuel pump inlet isnot fine enough to stop smaller particlesthat can damaged the pump.

If a fuel pump has failed due to unusualwear, the inside of the fuel tank should beinspected and cleaned. If the tank is an oldrusty steel tank, it should be replaced other-wise the new pump will likely suffer thesame fate. Aging plastic tanks can also flakeinternally and should be replaced if theyshow signs of deterioration. Removing andcutting open the fuel filter will usually re-veal what kind of contaminants were pres-ent in the fuel. CM


QDo some vehicles have more than one fuel pump?



Oil Filters

A. There is, but filter manufacturers don’t make it easy for theaverage consumer to do so. Filter efficiency, the average size ofthe particles it traps, the filter’s dirt-holding storage capacity,maximum service life and quality of construction can vary quitea bit from one filter to another. Rather than list a lot of specificnumbers and performance details on their packaging, most filtermanufacturers typically market their products as “good, betterand best” or as “economy grade, standard grade and premiumgrade (and maybe ultra-premium grade).” It’s easier for con-sumers to understand.

Some filter manufacturers promote their filters as lasting two ormore times longer than a “standard” filter. Others promote the facttheir filters are better at trapping particles as small as 5 microns.Many oil filters are best at trapping particles 30 to 50 microns insize and larger, and are less efficient at trapping smaller particles.

How well a filter performs in a given application depends onthe type of media that is used to trap contaminants, how muchsurface area or depth the media provides and the design of the fil-ter itself. Filter media runs the gambit from cellulose (paper) tosynthetic fibers to mixtures of cellulose and synthetic fibers toscreens. A good, quality filter will provide high filtering efficiency,extended dirt holding capacity and minimal resistance to flow.

Filtering efficiency will vary depending on the size of the parti-cles the media is designed to trap. One filter may be 98 to 99 per-cent efficient at trapping particles 30 microns and larger, but muchless efficient (say 25 percent) at trapping smaller particles as smallas 5 microns.

Decreasing the average pore size of the filter media improves fil-tering efficiency for smaller particles and results in cleaner oil. Butthe trade-off is that it can also increase resistance to oil flowthrough the filter. If the average pore size is too small, the filtermay restrict oil flow and cause a drop in oil pressure on the outputside. Consequently, filter manufacturers have to balance filteringefficiency (and particle size) with storage capacity and flow.

A filter’s “Beta rating” is one way to compare one filter to anoth-er. The Beta rating is based on an ISO 16889 laboratory test proce-dure that circulates a test fluid containing particles of a known sizethrough a filter. The Beta rating will vary depending on the size ofparticles used, so there will be one beta rating for 5 micron sizedparticles, another for 10 micron sized particles, another for 30 mi-cron sized particles and so on.

Beta ratings are often used to compare industrial filters but are

QIs there a way to accurately compare one oil filter to another?




Spark Plugs

A. Most platinum and iridium spark plugswill continue firing for another 10,000,20,000, 30,000 miles or even longer. Buteventually electrode wear will cause themto misfire — and once a plug starts to mis-fire, fuel economy and performance plum-met. Emissions also increase dramatically.This will usually trip the OBD II misfire

monitor, set a misfire fault codefor the cylinder(s) that are mis-firing and turn on the Check En-gine light. A vehicle will notpass an emissions test if theCheck Engine light is on.

Another consequence of notchanging spark plugs at the rec-ommended service interval isthat the plugs may be even moredifficult to remove. Most (butnot all) long-life platinum andiridium spark plugs have a nick-el or other anti-corrosion coatingon the plug shell that is sup-posed to prevent corrosion andmicro-welding between thethreads on the spark plug and

those in the cylinder head. Steel plugs inaluminum heads are much more of a prob-lem than steel plugs in cast iron heads be-cause dissimilar metals react more thansimilar metals. Consequently, spark plugsthat have been left in aluminum heads for along, long time often stick and can be trou-blesome to remove.

Spark plugs that have been in place for100,000 miles or longer should be removedcarefully to minimize the risk of damagingthe threads in the head. In addition to cor-rosion between the threads, carbon build-up can jam the threads making the plugdifficult to remove. Alternately looseningand retightening the plug, and/or using

penetrating oil around the base of the plugcan help ease it out without damaging thethreads in the cylinder head.

If the threads in the spark plug hole aredamaged, some type of thread-repair willbe necessary before new plugs can be in-stalled. This can often be done without hav-ing to remove the cylinder head (but notalways). Threads should also be cleaned be-fore new plugs are installed.

Although some technicians apply a smalldab of anti-seize compound to the threadswhen new plugs are installed (to make re-moval easier in the future), most spark plugmanufacturers do not recommend thispractice. Why? Because anti-seize acts like alubricant. This may result in overtighteningthe plug and damaging the threads in alu-minum heads.

Q. Do new spark plugs have to be

gapped?

A. Most spark plugs come pre-gapped andare ready to install, but the gap that fitsmost applications may not be correct forevery application a particular spark plugfits. Consolidation is always a compromise,so there may be instances where the gapneeds to be adjusted slightly to meet the ve-hicle specifications. With J-gap spark plugs(any type), the gap between the center elec-trode and side electrode can be checkedwith a feeler gauge, wire gauge or coin-style spark plug gauge. If the gap is not thesame as what is required for a particularapplication, the outer electrode can be care-fully bent closer or further from the centerelectrode to adjust the gap.

Some spark plugs such as those withmultiple side electrodes are not adjustableand should be installed “as is” with the fac-tory gap. CM


QWhat happens if 100,000-mile spark plugs arenot changed at 100,000 miles?



Wipers

A. That’s like asking how often a baby’s dia-pers should be changed. It depends on usage.Standard recommendations like “change yourwipers twice a year” or “replace your wipersevery year” are usually appropriate for the av-erage motorist, but blade life really dependson frequency of use and environmental factorssuch as dirt, dust, road splash, temperature,ozone and sun exposure.

In a relatively dry climate, a seldom usedset of wiper blades might last several years

provided the vehicle doesnot spend a lot of timeparked in direct sunlight(which ages blades quickly)and the temperature is nottoo hot (heat is hard onblades too).

In a relatively wet climatewhere the blades are usedfrequently, changing theblades twice a year mightnot be often enough tomaintain optimum visibility.

Once the blades start to streak and smear,they need to be replaced.

Environmental factors such as road grimeand grit that splash on the windshield alsocan abrade the wiping edge on the blades,causing them to wear quickly. A customermay need to replace their wipers bladesmore often if they spend a lot of time driv-ing on gravel roads (dirt abrasion) or oper-ating their vehicle in a polluted urbanenvironment (ozone shortens blade life).

Unfortunately, many motorists don’t fol-low the advice to replace their blades yearlyor twice yearly because they don’t want tospend the money. Many wait to change theirblades until their old blades are barely wipingat all or are literally falling apart. That’s NOTa good idea because poor wet weather visibil-

ity is a major cause of accidents. For safe driv-ing, the blades should be in like-new condi-tion and replaced as often as necessary tomaintain good visibility.

If a customer does not want to replace theirblades on a regular basis, recommend up-grading to premium wiper blades that aremade of better materials and generally pro-vide longer service life. Premium blades costa little more but they also last two to threetimes longer and usually outperform mosteconomy and standard wiper blades. Premi-um options include conventional frame bladeconfigurations, frameless beam-style bladesand “hybrid” blades. Beam-style blades andhybrid blades are a good choice for winterdriving because they resist ice buildup andjamming like a covered frame-style winterblade.

Q. A customer bought a new set of

blades, but complained the blades were

not wiping very well. Were the new

blades no good?

A. Wiper blades do have a limited shelflife. Rubber can harden with age and loseelasticity, making a blade chatter and streakwhen it is installed. Dust-covered old stockthat has been hanging on a rack or sitting ona shelf for years may be expired if the bladesare made of natural rubber (synthetic rub-ber has an indefinite shelf life). If the stock isless than a couple of years old, the bladesshould be fine — so if the blades are notperforming well the problem is likely weakwiper arms.

If the springs inside the wiper arms haveweakened over time (which they do), thearms may not exert enough downforce onthe blades. This may prevent a new set ofblades from wiping cleanly, and allow un-wanted wind lift at highway speeds. CM


QHow often should wiper blades be replaced?



Sealants

A. Chances are your customer has acoolant leak inside his engine, probably aleaky head gasket or a hairline crack inthe cylinder head. Pressure-testing thecooling system will reveal whether or notthe system can hold pressure. If it can’t, itconfirms the engine has an internal coolantleak that needs to be fixed.

Replacing a head gasket is an expensiverepair. Replacing or repairing a damagedcylinder head is even more expensive. Afaster, easier and much more economicalsolution that often works is to add a bottleof block sealer to the cooling system.

Block sealer is not the same as ordinarycooling system sealer. It is designed to sealtougher leaks than the small pinhole leaksand seepage problems that can often bestopped with ordinary sealer. Block sealerscontain ceramic microfibers that can filllarger cracks to create a permanent repair.It works well on leaky head gaskets, hair-line cracks in heads and blocks, freezeplugs, radiators and heater cores. Theproduct is compatible with all types of an-tifreeze and will not clog heater cores orother cooling system components.

To get a long-lasting seal, follow the di-rections on the product. This usually in-

cludes shaking the bottle to make sure theingredients are thoroughly mixed, addingthe product to the radiator or coolant reser-voir, then running the engine to operatingtemperature so the product can circulateand find the leak. If the sealer does not sealthe leak, further repairs will be required.But in many instances, block sealer will dothe trick and save your customers a big re-pair bill.

Q. Are there leaks that block sealer or

other sealers can’t fix?

A. Yes. A leaky water pump shaft sealwon’t respond to block sealer or othersealers because of the constant motion be-tween the shaft and seal. The only way tostop this type of leak is to replace the waterpump. Also, leaks in hoses can be difficultto seal because of the flexible nature of therubber hose material. Replacing a leakyhose with a new hose is the recommendedfix (and new clamps, too).

Q. What are the symptoms of a leaky

head gasket?

A. White smoke (coolant vapor) may bevisible in the exhaust when the engine isrunning, and the engine will be usingcoolant with no external leaks visible. Ifcoolant is getting into the crankcase andmixing with the oil (which can be verydamaging to the engine’s bearings), the oilwill appear milky or foamy. Spark plugfouling also may occur if coolant is enter-ing a cylinder. In a wors-case scenario,coolant may fill a cylinder causing the en-gine to hydrolock so that it won’t crankover or start. Coolant that gets into thecombustion chamber and passes into theexhaust also may foul the oxygen sensorsand/or catalytic converter. CM


QMy customer’s engine is losing coolant andoverheating but he can’t find a leak anywhere.What should I recommend?



Fuel Additives

A. Yes. Gasoline retailers are required by law to include mini-mal amounts of detergent in pump gas, but the amounts maynot be high enough to keep fuel injectors, intake valves, throt-tle bodies and combustion chambers clean. Varnish buildup inthe injectors can restrict fuel flow and hurt performance, fueleconomy and emissions. A buildup of varnish deposits as little as5 microns thick in the critical valve/nozzle area can restrict fueldelivery as much as 10 percent.

Carbon buildup in the combustion chamber can increase com-pression to the point where detonation becomes a problem whenthe engine is working hard under load. The knock sensor will de-tect detonation (spark knock) and cause the engine computer toretard timing. This makes the knock go away temporarily but italso reduces fuel economy and performance.

Carbon deposits on the intake valves can also restrict airflow,causing hesitation and performance problems. The problem ismade worse in older high-mileage engines because the valveguides and seals may be worn, allowing oil to leak down the in-take valve stems and add to deposit formation. Newer engineswith gasoline direct injection can also experience rapid carbonbuildup on the intake valves because the intake valves run dry.Fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber rather thanthe intake port, so there is no fuel spray to wash the valves andkeep them clean.

The remedy for all of these conditions is to (1) buy a “Top Tier”gasoline that contains higher levels of detergents and cleaners toprevent varnish and carbon buildup in the fuel system and en-gine, (2) use a general purpose fuel system cleaner regularly(every 3,000 miles is typically recommended) to help keep the in-jectors and fuel system clean, and (3) use a stronger fuel systemcleaner if the first two steps are not keeping the fuel system andengine clean.

Although most fuel system cleaners are added to the fuel tank(always follow usage directions), some products like throttlecleaner are sprayed directly into the throttle body. A dirty throt-tle body can cause hesitation and idle problems. Other productscan be fed into the intake manifold through a vacuum hose con-nection to clean the intake runners and valves.

As a last resort, it may be necessary to have the fuel systemand injectors professionally cleaned on or off the vehicle if fueladditives or aerosol sprays alone can’t remove stubborn deposits.

QDo today’s engines really need fuelinjection cleaner additives?




By Gary Goms, commercial accounts editorMECHANIC CONNECTION

Understanding Tapered Roller Bearing Terminology, Issues

When your professionalrepair shop replaceswheel bearings orrebuilds a drive axle

assembly, he’s likely to be calling fornew tapered roller bearings. For thatreason, it’s essential that you under-stand tapered roller bearing termi-nology and issues. Tapered rollerbearings are designed to hold arotating component in an exact per-pendicular relationship with its axis,which is why tapered roller bearingsare found in many wheel bearing,manual transmission, and drive axleapplications. The bearing assemblyor “cone” consists of the inner bear-ing race, the tapered rollers, and thecage that holds the rollers in place.

The “cup” or bearing race in whichthe cone resides can be made in var-ious thicknesses and depths for vari-ous applications. Regardless ofbrand, bearings are stamped with auniversal code number indicatingvarious design features. If you expe-rience a cataloging error, the easyway out is to use the old bearingnumbers to determine their correctreplacements. In the following text,I’ll cover more about installationand warranty issues that you’relikely to encounter when sellingtapered roller bearings.

Wheel Bearings

When installing tapered rollerwheel bearings, the most common

amateur mistake is to mate a newtapered roller bearing cone assem-bly against a used cup. Althoughthe bearing cup looks good to theuntrained eye, it’s not going to lastvery long because the cup has grad-ually worn from a flat to a convexsurface that drastically reduces theload-carrying ability of the bearing.Front wheel bearings are alsopacked with a grease formulated to“track” with the tapered rollers asthe wheel rotates. Tapered rollerwheel bearings require a high-tem-perature molybdenum-based greasewhile tapered roller wheel bearingsused on boat trailers might requirea water-resistant synthetic bearinggrease. For maximum wheel bear-ing life, the bearing must be adjust-ed to zero end play by tighteningthe adjusting nut to align the ta-pered rollers, then releasing thepressure and gradually re-adjustingthe bearing until the end play is re-duced to zero.

Drive Axle Bearings

Tapered roller bearings used indrive axle assemblies are usuallypreloaded, which means that pres-sure is mechanically applied to thebearings to help them maintaincorrect gear contact patterns. Sincedrive axles can use shims or col-lapsible “crush” sleeves to adjustpreload on tapered roller bearings,it’s important to follow manufac-turer’s instructions. New rear axlepinion bearings must be tightened,for example, until about 30 inch-pounds of rotating torque is re-quired to rotate the pinion gear.Carrier bearings are preloaded byusing a special tool to spread thegear case about .010 inches.

As illustrated here, this opposed pair of drive axle pinion gear bearings consist of asmaller and larger bearing, which is a common configuration on wheel and driveaxle bearings.



By Gary Goms, commercial accounts editorMECHANIC CONNECTION

Selling Drum Brake Parts

Although four-wheel drumbrakes disappeared fromproduction during theearly 1970s, you’re proba-

bly still selling brake shoes andhard parts for many newer vehiclesequipped with rear drum brakes.Since drum brakes are obsoletetechnology, more than a few ques-tions might arise when a wholesaleor retail customer places an order.For example, what is the differencebetween the primary and second-ary shoes and why should thewheel cylinders be replaced? In thefollowing text, I’ll try to answerthese and other questions.

Primary And Secondary

Brake Shoes

As seen in the photo, the primarybrake shoe with the shorter liningis located at the front of the brakeassembly. Many amateur mechan-ics occasionally mount the primaryshoes on one side and the second-ary shoes on the other, which caus-es a severe brake pull. Or theyinstall them in the wrong locations,which causes a similar complaint.Mixing brake shoes from box-to-box also can cause a pulling com-plaint because, while the partnumber is the same, the composi-tion of the lining might differ. Sincethe front brakes do most of thework of stopping the vehicle, thefront brake linings are usuallywider than the rear.

Brake Drums

For maximum braking power, thebrake drum surface must be per-fectly concentric with the brakeshoes. Most brake drums under 11inches inside diameter can beturned a maximum of .060 inchesas indicated by the 45-degree

chamfer machined at the edge ofthe drum surface. It’s also particu-larly important to know that brakedrums can easily be knocked out-of-round if abused or mishandled.

Brake Spring Kits

As illustrated, each brake returnspring has a different color and be-longs in a specific location. The topfront spring controls the engage-ment of the primary brake shoewhile the top rear spring controlsthe application of the self-adjustingmechanism. The bottom springpulls against the brake adjustingpawl to adjust the brakes. The smallround retaining springs at the centerof the shoe hold the brake shoes se-curely to the backing plate and helpdampen brake squeal. Since brakereturn springs tend to weaken orbreak, installing new spring kits ishighly recommended.

Self Adjustors

The cable adjustor illustrated in thephoto on page 58 is the most com-mon design. The cable must not befrayed and must hold the adjustingpawl at about mid-point on the ad-justor “star wheel.” The ear-shapedcable guide located near the top ofthe secondary is held in place bythe top brake return spring. Aswith return springs, new self-ad-justor kits are recommended tomaintain brake shoe adjustment.

Wheel Cylinders

A wheel cylinder contains two metalpistons, two rubber cup seals, an ex-pansion spring and two rubber endcap boots designed to seal againstmoisture. The front wheel cylindersare usually larger diameters and aremade in left and right-hand sides.Brake fluid leaking from internally

On this rear drum brake, the park brake lever is located on the secondary shoe andthe adjusting wheel is located between the lever and primary shoe.



Warranty Issues

Metallic contamination in thegear oil is the most common reasonfor new pinion gear and carrierbearings to prematurely fail in adrive axle. Since petroleum sol-vents won’t remove small metallicparticles, the only sure way to re-move these particles is to use hotsoap and water from a pressurewasher or steam cleaner. Hammer-ing a bearing into place is the sec-ond most-common reason forpremature failure because, in mostcases, the race or bearing cage willbe damaged. Using an incorrect lu-bricant also will ensure prematurefailure. To ensure maximum bear-ing life, always sell the specifiedbearing grease or oil with the newbearing assembly and, whileyou’re at it, remind your profes-sional customer to install new oilseals as well. CM

MECHANIC CONNECTION

corroded wheel cylinders will causethe individual brake to pull andgrab. To prevent brake fluid andaxle grease from contaminatingbrake shoes, most veteran braketechnicians prefer to install newwheel cylinders and axle seals witheach brake shoe replacement.To prevent mixing parts from side-to-side, replace the old brake shoesone side at a time. To prevent brakepull, clean the brake lining anddrum surfaces with aerosol brakecleaner and a clean shop rag. Atthe minimum, a professional set ofbrake spring pliers are required toremove and replace the brake re-turn springs. After replacing thewheel cylinders, follow the manu-facturer’s recommendations forbleeding air from brake hydraulics.The drum-to-shoe clearance mustbe initially adjusted with a suitablebrake-adjusting tool. Always re-ad-just the parking brake last. CM

To avoid damaging the bearing cage, this rear pinion gear support bearing is beingpressed onto the shaft or gear with an old bearing race.

Gently lifting the end cap boot will reveal a leaking wheel cylinder. Any cylinderthat appears “moist” should be replaced.

Bearings continued from 54

Brakes continued from 56


TECH TIPS

The fuel pump is an integralpart of any car or truck,given it is responsible forpumping the right amount

of a vehicle’s fuel from its tank tothe engine in order to keep the fuelvolume and pressure within speci-fications, and the vehicle operatingas it should. Too little pressure can

overlooked can save hours of diag-nostic time and trouble.

Check the condition of the fuel.Some contaminants are visible;problems such as the wrong fueltype (e.g. ethanol) are not. Waterin the fuel system leaves steel fuellines susceptible to internal rust.If a pump or module is contami-nated with rust, check the insideof the lines and replace if you seeany evidence.

Inspect fuel system componentsfor bent hoses and pipes, damagedelectrical connectors and dented orcollapsed fuel tank which may bepreventing the fuel pump modulefrom operating properly. Check theground wire leading to the pumpor module and in the harness forconnection integrity — and test forground continuity. Also, inspect forrodent damage, vehicles parked forextended periods often fall prey tomice and other animals that maychew on the wiring.

When customers come in forservice and you notice they’re driv-ing on “E,” make sure they knowthat operating with little or no fuelcan contribute to premature fail-ures and other malfunctions.

Fuel cools the pump motor, sowhen drivers are running on littleto no fuel, overheating can result.Besides heat damage, running a ve-hicle on low fuel causes the pumpto pull the dirtiest fuel from thebottom of the tank and possiblycause increased wear. This can de-stroy or shorten the life of an elec-tric pump.

For more tech tips, check out the Delphi website at

delphiautoparts.com.

Delphi’s new fuel how-to videoseries, coming soon to the Delphi-AutoParts YouTube channel, showsstep-by-step instructions on how toperform key operations associatedwith fuel pump repair, includinghow to perform a pressure andflow test, voltage drop test, fuelpump installation, wiring harness

replacement,float arm con-nection, fueltank removaland cleaning,testing alcoholcontent of gaso-line and helpidentifying flexfuel vehicles.

A malfunc-tioning fuelsystem can pre-

Fuel Pump FailureAnd Replacement

starve the engine of fuel, causing itto run lean, misfire, hesitate orstall. Too much fuel pressure cancause the engine to run rough,waste fuel and pollute.

Even the most experienced techni-cian can experience issues from timeto time when servicing and in-stalling fuel pumps or modules.Those particular situations requirelooking beyond what at first may ap-pear obvious to help ensure the jobis completed efficiently and the cus-tomer is back on the road quickly.

A technician opening a rear accesspanel to reach the fuel tank in order toremove and replace the vehicle’sdamaged fuel sending unit.

Fuel pressure gauge installed to read thevehicle’s fuel pressure. Pressure readingsthat are too low or too high could indicatea problem somewhere in the fuel deliverysystem.

vent an engine from starting, but socan other problems such as lack ofspark, a blocked air intake, or a bro-ken timing belt and no fuel in thefuel tank. Be sure to rule out thesepossibilities before continuing to di-agnose the fuel system. Making thisquick inspection for issues often


than the last generation frictionmaterials they replace. Improve-ments include better stoppingpower (up to 40 percent better faderesistance), improved wear resist-ance, reduced dusting and noise(up to 35 percent quieter).

Q. How can you tell if a set of

brake pads are low-copper?

A. Pads that meet the new lowcopper requirements are beingcertified by the Automotive Man-ufacturers Equipment Compli-ance Agency (AMECA). Ratingsinclude “A”, “B” and “N” edgecodes. Each edge code represents a

different level of compliance forvarious contaminants in the fric-tion material. These include cop-per (Cu), asbestos, chromium (Cr),lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cad-mium (Cd). Those that meet thehighest rating “N” contain lessthan 0.50 percent copper and no as-bestos, chromium, lead, mercury,cadmium or antimony.

New “Leaf Marks” started ap-pearing on some brake pad pack-aging in January 2014 to indicatethe compliancy level of the prod-uct. This mark gives consumersand technicians the ability to tell ata glance if the pads are environ-mentally compliant. CM

22nd Annual Technical Forum

Friction continued from page 32

● Binding in the steering gear or linkage. Corrosion or damage in theouter rid rod ends may be causing a bind. On vehicles that do not haverack & pinion steering, binding in the idler arm bushing can make thesteering feel stiff and slow to return to center. On vehicles with rack &pinion steering, binding in the rack or improper rack adjustment cancause binding.

● Binding in the ball joints due to corrosion or damage. Ball jointsshould be inspected, and replaced as needed. On vehicles where the balljoint is an integral part of a “unitized” control arm assembly, the wholecontrol arm will have to be replaced unless there is an aftermarket balljoint that allows the joint to be replaced separately.

● Unbalanced power steering assist. Wear inside the steering rackand/or leaky seals may be causing the problem. Replacing the steeringrack should fix the problem. Note: your customer should also flush thePS system when the rack is replaced and refill it with fresh PS fluid.Hoses should also be inspected and replaced as needed. CM

Suspension continued from page 34

hesive already applied on one sideso the gasket can be positioned onthe cover for easy installation. Ad-ditional sealer should not be neces-sary with this type of gasket.

Sealer should never be used wheninstalling a molded rubber gasket ora plastic carrier-style gasket.

Sometimes a pan or valve covergasket will leak because excessivepressure is building up inside thecrankcase. This often happens witholder, high-mileage engines thathave a lot of blowby due to ring

and cylinder wear, but it can alsohappen in performance enginesthat are revved at high RPM. A re-inforced-style replacement gasketwould provide the best longevityin both of these applications.

A pan or cover gasket or thecrankshaft end seals may leak if aplugged PCV valve or PCV hoseallows blowby vapors to build uppressure inside the engine. If theproblem isn’t diagnosed and re-paired, chances are the replace-ment gaskets won’t be able to holda seal for long. CM

Gaskets continued from page 38

counterman.com 63

Chris Morse, senior PR managerand head of merchant communi-cations for PayPal, explains

why PayPal is ready to expand its suc-cessful consumer business in the com-mercial arena and explains the myriadoptions PayPal has for merchants andconsumers alike.

PayPal is well-known in the con-sumer retail arena and is now mak-ing an effort to grow in thecommercial space as well, particular-ly in the auto parts business. Tell us alittle about this. What is it about theauto parts business that appeals toPayPal?Chris Morse (CM): PayPal has a net-work of more than 148 million ac-tive global customers and millionsof businesses of all types and sizesthat trust us to make safe and se-cure payments. The auto partsbusiness is an ideal market to usePayPal as we can scale for busi-nesses of all sizes, services andproducts; for example, we have di-rect integration with Advance AutoParts nationwide and millions ofmerchants have committed to ac-cepting PayPal in store.

What segments of the auto parts in-dustry can you serve – parts retail-ers, repair shops, or both?CM: All parts of the auto industryas well as their customers can ben-efit from using PayPal. No matterthe size of an auto parts merchant,we have a way for them to acceptPayPal and other forms of pay-ment, whether in store, online oron a mobile device:● Sole proprietors: PayPal Here● Small and mid-sized: We have

partnerships with mobile POS

systems like ShopKeep, Revel,Vend, etc.

● Large: We have struck deals withfolks like NCR and Micros

● Online/mobile: You can acceptPayPal online

What are some of the business toolsyou provide to parts retailers/serviceproviders?CM: We have several tools, but hereis a quick snapshot of just a few:● Bill Me Later: Our ability to en-

able merchants of all sizes to of-fer credit to their customers –online or in store.

● Invoicing: Create, send and man-age invoices all from within Ex-cel.

● PayPal Working Capital: A wayto offer small merchants access tocapital quickly to grow theirbusiness.

Describe the various payment options PayPal offers and the bene-fits they can provide to businessowners.CM: Here is a list of the options weoffer:● PayPal Mobile App (in store):

Use our app like a wallet to payat the counter, from the table, orfrom around the corner; your or-der is in your hands. Or simplyselect PayPal at the register to login and pay, just like online.

● PayPal Express Checkout (on-line): If you already offer creditcards, add PayPal to your check-out. Express Checkout is opti-mized for any device and istrusted by more than 148 millionPayPal users. The button can beadded to any site within minutesand can benefit any business.

● PayPal Here (on the go): Start ac-cepting payments on youriPhone, iPad or most Androidphones with our app and cardreader. With no long-term com-mitments and live customer sup-port, it’s quick and easy to startgetting paid.

Security is of utmost importance ine-commerce. Talk a little bit aboutthe measures PayPal takes to keep acustomer’s data secure.CM: PayPal has built industry-leading security, anti-fraud andrisk management technology thatallows us to detect unusual activi-ty on our system the moment ithappens and often, before it hasan opportunity to impact our cus-tomers. To help protect merchants– which has also helped us gainconsumer trust – we will not sharefinancial or personal informationwith the merchant in the transac-tion process. In fact, according to a2013 Javelin Strategy & Researchreport, consumers rate PayPalabove Visa and MasterCard forprivacy protection.

What makes your productdifferent/better than other e-commerce vendors today?CM: Payments have been our oneand only focus for the past 15years. We are continuing to learnand evolve and develop an openplatform that supports a range ofhardware readers, POS systems,software solutions and works withexisting acquirer systems – retailersdo not have to rip out existing sys-tems. We are an open infrastruc-ture that builds a platform for thenext generation of payments. CM

EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW

Executive Interview With Chris Morse,Senior PR Manager, Head Of Merchant Communications, PayPal

Track Talk

As the Chase for theNASCAR Sprint Cup™ picturecomes further into focus,NASCAR has announced thatChase Grid™ Live Sponsoredby Toyota and Sprint willmake its debut in downtownChicago on Sept. 10-11.

The free outdoor fan festlocated on North MichiganAvenue, will culminate with atwo-hour live show featuringall 16 Chase for the NASCARSprint Cup drivers, just daysbefore the momentousChallenger Round debuts atChicagoland Speedway.

“There’s no better way tointroduce our new Chase forthe NASCAR Sprint Cup for-mat than by inviting our fans– the most loyal in sports – tobe a part of the celebration,”said Steve Phelps, NASCARchief marketing officer. “Weare fortunate to have part-nered with two world-classbrands in Toyota and Sprint toprovide an unforgettable fanexperience as we embark onthis significant moment forour sport.”

In conjunction with thisannouncement, fans can visitNASCAR.com/ChaseGridLiveto enter the Chase Grid™ LiveSweepstakes. The Grand Prizepackage includes an all-inclu-sive trip to Chicago for a VIPexperience at Chase GridLive, two VIP access passes toall three national series racesat Chicagoland Speedway, aride in the Toyota Camry

Grand Marshal car before theNASCAR Sprint Cup race,and $1,000 spending money.Fans can enter the Chase GridLive sweepstakes throughAug. 29.

“Toyota is proud to onceagain partner with NASCARand Sprint in Chicago for thisannual celebration of theSprint Cup Series champi-onship contenders,” said EdLaukes, vice president of mar-keting, performance and guestexperience, Toyota MotorSales, U.S.A. Inc. “With thisseason’s new Chase formatand 16 worthy competitors

vying for the championshiptrophy, this is an eventChicagoans and NASCAR fanswill certainly want to attend.Being from Chicago, I knowit’s a great venue and knowingNASCAR it will definitely be amust-see event.”

Throughout the two-dayfan fest, ESPN will feature livesegments with many of the 16drivers competing in theChallenger Round and variousother NASCAR personalitiesmaking appearances on-site.Fans in attendance will betreated to custom content thatwill be featured on SprintVision, a high definition18x32.4-foot screen; ToyotaCamry NASCAR Sprint Cupshow cars; and a special in-

show tribute by NASCAR andToyota to the nation’s service-men and women.

For the fourth-consecutiveyear the Chase for theNASCAR Sprint Cup begins atChicagoland Speedway. Fortickets to the Sept. 12-14 raceweekend, visitChicagolandSpeedway.com orcall 1-888-629-RACE (7223).Single-day tickets are available.

The first race in the Chasefor the NASCAR Sprint Cupfrom Chicagoland Speedwaywill air live on ESPN at 2 p.m.ET on Sunday, Sept. 14. Therace will also be broadcast onthe WatchESPN app, MRNand SiriusXM NASCAR Radio,with additional coverage onNASCAR.com.

NASCAR’s Chase Grid™ Live to Debut in the Windy City

Fans can visit NASCAR.com/ChaseGridLive to enter the Chase Grid™ Live Sweepstakes for a VIP trip to the inau-

gural event in Chicago.

Follow NASCAR Performance on Twitter and Facebookwww.twitter.com/NASCARauto ■ www.facebook.com/NASCARPerformance


Auto Care AssociationDigital Auto Care Factbook 2015

The Auto Care Association’sDigital Auto Care Factbook2015 and the Digital Auto CareFactbook & Lang Annual 2015feature an extended IndustryForecast through 2017 provid-ed by IHS Automotive, driv-en by Polk. The forecast is

the product of the Auto Care As-sociation and the Automotive Aftermarket SuppliersAssociation (AASA) Channel Forecast Model and isone of the new value-added content highlights inthis year’s Digital Auto Care Factbook and DigitalAuto Care Factbook & Lang Annual. Auto Care As-sociation members received a complimentary copyof the Digital Auto Care Factbook 2015 as a memberbenefit in May, along with three guest passes. Addi-tional copies for members and non-members areavailable for purchase.

Carter Fuel Systems Expands Product Range To Millions Of AdditionalForeign Nameplate AndDomestic Vehicles

Carter Fuel Systems hasintroduced more than 120new “Carter Complete”fuel module assemblies, elec-trical fuel pump sets, pump-and-hanger assemblies and otherpremium-quality products for millionsof late-model foreign nameplate and domestic pas-senger vehicles. The new Carter parts include 65 pre-mium fuel module assemblies, 25 electrical fuelpump sets, four pump-and-hanger assemblies and avariety of other components for domestic, Asian andEuropean applications up to and including the 2013model year. Many new Carter fuel modules, sets andpump-and-hanger assemblies feature the brand’s ex-clusive CleanScreen strainer, which offers up to 40percent greater dirt-holding capacity and helps elimi-nate fuel delivery issues by preventing clogging.

MARKETPLACE

Standard Motor Products Releases More Than500 New Parts for Intermotor Import Line

Standard Motor Products (SMP) has announced theaddition of 503 new part numbers to its Intermotorline of genuine import parts. The Intermotor lineexpansion features more than 220 new switches, in-cluding multi-function, combination, windshieldwiper, steering wheel audio control, fog lamp,cruise control and more, covering more than 46million additional vehicles-in-operation (VIO). In-termotor also has added more than 180 sensors, includ-ing more than 100 ABS speed sensors, covering anadditional 23 million VIO. Also added was significantcoverage for cloneable TPMS sensors, brake master cylin-der fluid level sensors, turbocharger boost, transmission in-put and output sensor, vehicle speed and more. Additional keycategory expansion includes ignition starter switches, ignitionlock cylinders, fuel pressure regulators, PCV valves and relays.

counterman.com 67

Standard Motor Products Introduces QWIK-SENSOR Multi-Coverage Cloneable TPMS Sensor Line

Standard Motor Products Inc. (SMP) has introduced its new QWIK-SENSOR Multi-coverage cloneable TPMS sensor line. SMP’s new TPMS sensor line complements the

Standard and Intermotor OE-matching, cloneable TPMS program.The QWIK-SENSOR offering is engineered with the technological

advancements that customers have come to expect from thecompany. The line will cover 94 percent of all domestic,

European and Asian applications with three multi-coverage TPMS sensors. QWIK-SENSOR Multi-coverageTPMS sensors are easily programmed with the new

TechSmart T55003 TPMS tool and can be ID-cloned orfactory relearned, technician’s choice. Each QWIK-

SENSOR is available in two valve stemconfigurations, metal or rubber, to match theproper application. QWIK-SENSOR TPMS

sensors are color-coded for easy identification,come fully assembled right out of the box and

once activated, are ready for installation and willwork with all major brands of TPMS tools.

KYB Americas Announces Expanded Strut-Plus Coverage

KYB AmericasCorp. is excit-ed to announcethe release ofexpanded cov-erage for itspopular com-plete strut as-sembly lineup:Strut-Plus.With the addi-tion of these new part numbers, Strut-Plus now cov-ers more than 70 million vehicles on the road today,including the most popular late-model Toyota, Ford,Honda, GM and Chrysler applications. First intro-duced in 2008, the KYB Strut-Plus is widely recog-nized as the highest-quality performance-restoringcomplete strut assembly available anywhere in theworld. Since its launch, the Strut-Plus lineup hasgrown significantly by adding vehicle and corner-specific part numbers that help restore originalequipment designed performance.

Bendix Adds Coverage For 50 Million Vehicles On The Road Today

Honeywell Friction Materials, maker of Bendix andStop by Honeywell brakes, has added 125 new modelnumbers in 2014 that cover over 50 million U.S. vehi-cles on the road. The coverage expansion includesdisc pads and shoes, hydraulics and drums and ro-tors for popular late-model vehicles, includingChevrolet Silverado, Ford F series Super-Duty trucksas well as popular Mercedes Benz, BMW, Acura andAudi models. Bendix also has added hardware tomore than 50 SKUs and plans to upgrade content onanother 13 SKUs in the third quarter.

MARKETPLACE


How many times a day do you hearit? “You have to trust me on this”advertising that claims of being a“trusted source,” and on and on.

Trust is a word that’s used everywheretoday. In fact, at the risk of being trite, I’dsay it’s overused. It seems today that it’smore of a saying than a word with actualmeaning. It used to be that when someonesaid, “You can trust that it will be done,” itgot done. Completing the task was takenas a personal commitment and a reflectionof the person who made the commitment’sintegrity. I think this literal meaning of theword has been lost today.

The 2014 edition of Webster’s definestrust as: “The belief that someone or some-thing is reliable, good, honest, effective,etc.” In 1828, Noah Webster defined trustas: “Confidence; a reliance or resting of themind on the integrity, veracity, justice,friendship or other sound principle of an-other person.”

The differences in the old definition andnew definition are subtle, but they’re there.The original version talks about integrity,justice and friendship. The current versionrelies on the phrase “etc.” to allow thereader to fill in what it means. In a way,Webster’s is trusting us to complete thethought. That seems a bit scary to me con-sidering what goes on today.

In business, there needs to be a certainelement of trust. When we contract or

FROM THE PUBLISHERBy S. Scott Shriber

Where Is The Trust Today?agree to purchase a good or service fromsomeone, there’s an implied trust thatcommitments will be upheld on bothsides and goods and services will be de-livered and paid for. It all sounds simpleuntil greed or dishonesty clouds the deal.I think greed is what drives most of thecloudiness. In today’s large, consolidatedbusiness entities, Wall Street plays a hugerole in this trust-stretching.

There’s such intense pressure to deliverincreasingly higher returns that good judg-ment gets in the way. Then, large corporatestructure allows individuals to hide behindthe veil of the corporation and, voilà! Dis-honesty, truth-stretching and trust-stretch-ing prevail.

The lesson for distribution business owners is: most of us distribute parts to re-pair vehicles one car at a time, and our busi-ness is a reflection of our relationship andcommitment to our customers. How is yourtrust with your customers and suppliers?Can they count on you? What about youremployees?

In the end, the only real difference you or Ican make is with our own integrity. I can as-sure you of one thing, though: if your cus-tomers and employees trust you, and yoursuppliers trust you as a business partner,you’ll be a more successful businessperson.

Join the revolution, step out there and betrustworthy and trusted.

Trust me on this.

■ ■ ■

For more information: www.counterman.com

The 2014edition ofWebster’sdefines trust as: “The beliefthat someone or something is reliable, good, honest,effective, etc.”

counterman.com 69

By Tom DaytonBY THE NUMBERS

Many part specialists are familiarwith the Service Parts Identifi-cation (SPID) label found onGeneral Motors vehicles as a

way of helping a customer locate paintcodes. It also contains a wealth of otherinformation, once you know how todecode it. The bulk of the information onthe SPID label is a series of three-digitcodes, arranged alphanumerically. Theseare known as Regular Production Optioncodes (RPO codes), and each one calls outa specific feature of the vehicle. Somecodes are more useful than others to theparts specialist, but a handful of them arereally helpful on a regular basis.

There are four situations where I preferto go to the RPO code when possible:

1. Identifying the transmission in orderto catalog transmission components oroxygen sensors.

2. Selecting the alternator amperagewhen cataloging charging system partsand serpentine belts.

3. Cataloging brake parts on vehicleswith multiple brake design options.

4. Identifying suspension designs whenselecting shocks, steering and suspensioncomponents.

Transmissions can be identified by the“M” code on the SPID tag. The most com-mon cataloging question we run into iswhether a full-size GM truck has a 4L60Eor 4L80E transmission, and if it has a shal-low or deep pan design. The 4L60E can beidentified by its 16-bolt pan, or by its RPOcode of “M30.” The 4L80E has 17 bolts, andan “MT1” code. According to GM, the deeppan for these transmissions is 76.6mm(about 3 inches) deep, while the shallowpan is 59.6mm (roughly 2-5/16 inches)deep.

Often, a parts specialist is presented withmultiple options for a replacement alterna-tor and/or serpentine belt. Armed withthe following “K” codes, a parts specialistcan determine alternator amperage with-

Becoming An ‘RPO Pro’out trying to find a stamping number ortag on the alternator itself. RPO codes formost of the popular alternators used in thelast 15 years, along with the code for “heat-ed windshield” (another optional alterna-tor descriptor) can be found here:

The “J” series codes for brake type aresome of the most well-known RPO codesamong seasoned parts specialists. Foryears, brake parts manufacturers have pub-lished charts of RPO codes in their papercatalogs, but many electronic catalogs onlymake reference to the code number itself,rather than providing a physical descrip-tion. Simply put, even without knowingwhat each code represents, it is possible tosell the correct parts the first time if youhave this bit of information. For the record,here are some of the most useful codes for2000 and newer vehicles, with a little bit ofadditional information:

● J55: heavy-duty brake option, found oncommercial Cadillacs with 8-lug wheels(hearse, limo, etc.)

● J67: 4-wheel disc brakes and ABS,found on Malibu’s with 10-7/8-inch frontrotors

● J41/JM4: drum rear brakes, found onMalibu’s with 10-7/8-inch front rotors

● JL9: 4-wheel disc brakes and ABS,found on Malibus with 11-5/8-inch frontrotors, and non-HD Caddys

● JL4: active brake control, full-size vansFinally, there are a series of codes relat-

ing to suspension design, which I call “FE”

The bulk of theinformation on the SPID label is a series of three-digit codes,arrangedalphanumerically.These are knownas RegularProduction Optioncodes (RPOcodes), and eachone calls out aspecific featureof the vehicle.

Tom Dayton is operationsmanager for JS Auto Supplyin Jamestown, N.Y., andwas Counterman’s CounterProfessional of the Yearfor 2009.

85A ...............................K9995A ...............................K32100A....................K60, KXB102A .............................K43105A ............K61, K62, K68110A .............................K63115A .............................K64120A .............................K09124A ...........................KW2125A ....................K76, KG7

130A.............................KG8135A ...........................KW3140A.............................KG9145A ...................KD9, KG3150A ..........KG4, KG5, KH5155A ...........................KW8160A ...........................KW1170A ...........................KW7190A ...........................KW9heated windshield .....C50


Iwas born on the fringes of the BabyBoomer years; a Boomer outlier, still aBoomer, nonetheless. Demographicallyspeaking, marketers love me as a

Boomer. They have been throwing person-alized marketing pitches, based on my birthyear, since the day I arrived on this Earth.And I have bought almost everything theypeddled: the SUV, the retirement plan, themortgage, thousands of music CDs and theone-job career. Still pending are the teethwhitening, cosmetic surgery and the retire-ment home — it’s still early for me folks.

Baby Boomers remain very important toour economy today since we still representthe majority of the workforce — 75 millionstrong. Throughout the 90s, Boomers workedinto our peak earning and spending years,driving the economy to levels never beforeseen in our history; yet, time marches on andwe Boomers, slowly but surely, are makingroom for the hordes of Generation Xers and Millennials filling in our slots in the big machine.

As a Boomer marketer myself, I learned atrick or two about selling to my peeps;however, I feel the tidehas been turning andthere are just too manynon-Boomers

COUNTER-TECHBy Mandy Aguilar

Think About All The GenerationsOf Customers You Want To TargetAnd Go Where They Are

out there buying auto parts for me to ig-nore. Truth is, I never ignored any cus-tomers (or more precisely, potentialcustomers); I occasionally waste my timeon the pursuit of “what if.” However, witha bit of accumulated business acumen and alot of luck, oftentimes new customers bub-ble up through the pack to connect with us.Boomer businesses sometimes grow oldalong with their aging customers, andthat’s not necessarily a bad thing; yet, weall know that at some point we need newcustomers to keep the machine churning. ABoomer-only business simply won’t last.

So the question is, as a Boomer, how doyou connect with younger customers? Howcan we learn the needs and wants of Mil-lennial business owners coming up in theauto parts industry? These are importantquestions my seasoned peers and I need toask ourselves in our quickly-evolvingworld.

Clearly, adding Millennials to your teamis one sure way to fast-track your compa-ny’s knowledge of their 80-million plus de-mographic. Collaborating with Millennials

has been very rewarding forme, and in a way it has keptme “young at heart.” And

collaborating is

Mandy Aguilar is aregional vice president forJacksonville, Fla.-based

The Parts House.

How can welearn the needsand wants ofMillennialbusinessowners comingup in the autoparts industry?These areimportantquestions myseasoned peersand I need toask ourselves inour quicklyevolving world.


really my thing; I just don’t see myself as a mentor,and as such I try hard not to play that role. Collaborat-ing, managing and selling to Millennials makes mefeel that I have remained relevant, not only to my com-pany, but to myself.

Technology got a hold of some Boomers, thoughnot all. Maybe being a Boomer outlier helped me bemore inclined to embracing technology. I have manyBoomer peers who don’t even do email (!) while oth-ers are über geeks through and through. Not so withMillennials — these guys are all about tech, social me-dia and speed. While it is estimated that only 30 per-cent of Boomers rely on social media, 50 percent ofGen Xers and a whooping 75 percent of Millennialsuse social sites to connect with friends, family andcustomers. They also use social media to make pur-chasing decisions every day. Knowing this, can ourBoomer businesses survive without catering to Mil-lennials online?

Today, almost every new potential client I meet is

owned, managed, staffed or directed by Millennials. Ata recent auto parts trade show almost every new leadthat visited our booth seemed younger than me — andI’m only 50! These are hungry new entrants into our in-dustry who are ready to rock the boat and dissect theirpiece of the pie. They have websites, Facebook pages,take orders via texting apps like WhatsApp, carrysmartphones and email you at night. When they en-gage us, they expect us to run as fast as they run andthey want to connect with us at a technological level.Relationships are still important, but they’d rather firea quick and short text message than call you on thephone to check the status of an order.

No more hakuna matata — exit Boomers, enter Mil-lennials; it’s the Circle of Life. We need to worry aboutdemographics to ensure relevancy. Technology is a bigpart of being relevant to new customers (and I’ll let youin on a little secret, too: “older” customers will love youfor it as well). So think about all the generations of cus-tomers you want to target and go where they are. CM


COUNTER-TECH

■ ■ ■

Visit Mandy’s blog: www.mandyaguilar.com

Advertiser Page Advertiser PageAAPEX 19Advics cover 3Airtex Corp. 21, 22Akebono Brake Corp. Inc. 57Amsoil Inc. 37Arnott Industries 34Auto Care Association 61Automotive Distribution Network 71AutoZone 3Automotive Video/AVI 73Babcox AMJ promo 71Raybestos Brakes 13Central Automotive Products, LTD 20Eastern Catalytic 15eBay 62ExxonMobil Cover 4FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS 5FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS/Wagner 32, 33Intermotor/Standard Motor Products 55ITW Global Brands 52, 53LIQUI MOLY GmbH 36MAHLE Clevite cover 2Modern Silicone Technologies Inc. 38, 39, 75

NGK Spark Plugs 1Nissan North America 47NUCAP Industries 10, 12, 14Packard Industries 16Philips Automotive 18Schaeffler Group USA 24K-Seal 51Spectra Premium Industries 43Standard Motor Products 23Stellar Automotive (Lube Guard) 17TechSmart/Standard Motor Products 27 Temel Gaskets 40, 41Litens Automotive Group 8ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America 7Tri Star Engines & Transmissions 30TRICO Products 49TYC/Genera Corp. 29Uni-Select 9UPS 25Walker Products 11WIX Filters 44, 45, 59Wizards Products/RJ Star Inc. 65

ADVERTISEHERE!

Tom Staab Classified Sales Mgr.

330-670.1234 ext. 224Fax 330.670.0874 • [email protected]

CLASSIFIED


codes. These represent severaltypes of suspension packages, list-ed below. Differences in controlarms, tie rod ends and even CVaxles can be determined by refer-encing these codes. Oddly enough,code “FE9” isn’t related to suspen-sion, but it is an RPO code for“Federal Emissions,” which is ahandy code to have for otherlookups. Code “FE8” is not a validcode for anything!FE0 - active suspensionFE1 - soft ride suspensionFE2/FE4 - ride/handling susp.FE3 - sport suspensionFE5/FE6 - performance/handlingFE7 - heavy-duty suspension

The SPID label is most oftenfound in the trunk of passengercars, or in the glove compartmentof trucks and vans, but may befound in other locations, too. TheSPID label below was found on thepassenger door of a 2009 ChevroletExpress van:

At the top left you will find theVehicle Identification Number(VIN). It is a good idea to cross-check this information against theVIN plate on the dash, to makesure the SPID label is original tothe vehicle. CM

BY THE NUMBERS

Continued from page 69

not generally used to compare au-tomotive filters at various particlesizes. Beta ratings also do not eval-uate a filter’s dirt holding capacity,potential service life or oil flowcharacteristics (there are other labtests for these criteria).

The bottom line is this: Filters dodiffer quite a bit, and it is importantto match the performance character-istics of an oil filter to the applica-

tion it will be used on. The best ad-vice is to follow the recommenda-tions of the filter manufacturers as towhich of their products is the bestchoice for a given application.

Inexpensive economy filters areokay provided the oil is changedregularly (every 3,000 to 5,000miles), the vehicle is not operatedin an unusually dirty environmentor has other issues like excessiveblowby or moisture in the

crankcase. For harder-working en-gines, vehicles that are driven indirty environments or have a lot ofmiles and wear on the engine, ahigher-efficiency premium filterwould be recommended to keepthe oil clean. A premium long lifefilter should always be used if theoil change interval is 7,500 miles orlonger, or the vehicle has an oil re-minder light to signal when an oilchange is needed. CM

22nd Annual Technical Forum

Oil Filters continued from page 44

Q. Are oil additives needed in some older engine

applications?

A. Yes. Today’s motor oils are formulated for late-model engines with roller lifters or overhead cams,not older engines with flat tappet hydraulic or solidlifter cams. Newer engines do not require as muchanti-wear additive as older engines, so the level ofZDDP (zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate) has been re-duced to less than 800 parts per million to extend the

service life of the catalytic converter (which can becontaminated by ZDDP).

Many older engines require higher levels of ZDDP(1,200 PPM or more) — especially if the application isa vintage muscle car with an aftermarket flat tappetcamshaft and stiffer valve springs. For these applica-tions, a supplemental ZDDP additive or a street per-formance oil that has been specially formulated withextra ZDDP is recommended to reduce the risk of pre-mature camshaft and lifter wear. CM

Fuel Additives continued from page 52

Documents

Counterman, August 2014