Toyota Chassis & Suspension
Toyota builds some of the most durable cars and trucks on the market. And, there are models for every segment of the population, from eco models that only exhaust drinkable water into the atmosphere, to large luxury models in the Lexus line. With that said, the fact is, there will still be components that can
Engine Lubrication: Motor Oil, Pumps and Filters
The best way to get to the bottom of this subject is to go right to the heart of the engine’s lubrication system and start with the oil pump. The oil pump’s job is to suck oil in from the crankcase and push it through the filter and oil galleries to the crankshaft and camshaft
OHC Engine Repairs and Service on Chrysler’s 3.5L V6
Chrysler’s 24-valve 3.5L single overhead cam V6 engine was introduced back in 1993 in their LH platform cars (Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision). Since then it has been used in a variety of Chrysler models. The 3.5L engine is an even-firing power plant with aluminum cylinder heads, a single camshaft in each cylinder
Aftermarket Update: Dana Launches New Automotive Website
Toledo, OH – Dana Corp. has launched its newly redesigned automotive website, located in the automotive section of www.dana.com. The new site offers expanded content and better navigation capabilities. Products are grouped into five main categories: • Architecture, which features products such as bi-metallic structures, cradles, frames, side rails, and twist beam axles; • Chassis,
Subaru Steering & Axle Service
Here in the Northwestern part of the country, Subaru has become one of the top nameplates. The versatility of the all-wheel-drive system makes them the ideal ski team hauler or beachcomber vehicle. The compact station wagon design is the most popular model, due to its ability to haul people, and their equipment, in comfort and
GM Timing Belt & Chain Service
Some overhead cam engines in General Motors vehicles use timing belts to drive the cam (the 2.0L for example), some use chains (2.3L Quad Four, Cadillac’s Northstar dual overhead cam 4.6L V8, the Aurora Northstar 4.0L V8 and Chevy’s Vortec 4200 inline six), and some use a combination of both (Chevrolet’s 3.4L V6). The rest
BMW Performance Upgrades
When you talk about performance cars, a list of several manufacturers comes to mind. Before the explosion of Asian-made mini rockets, you needed to go European, and specifically German, to get the latest in performance machines. BMW has been the performance marque of choice for several decades. While BMW makes it difficult to improve on
Confronting the Complete Cooling System Service
By now, it’s obvious to most service shops that cooling system service is an absolute “must-do” on any nameplate. Once a cooling system suffers long-term neglect, it turns into an ongoing source of problems for the owner and his service technician because, when corrosion starts to take place, the effects can’t be reversed. For that
How Engine Oil Becomes Engine Sludge
Fresh engine oil is a clear, free-flowing liquid blend of base stock and additives that contains no fuel, water, coolant, dirt or other contaminants. In engines that have failed prematurely, the oil has very often been transformed into a high viscosity deposit of brown or black goo, commonly referred to as “sludge.” When regular engine
Ford Timing Belts & Chains
Timing belt and chain replacement is one service that isn’t going away any time soon. Most Ford engines with overhead cam timing belts have a recommended replacement interval of 60,000 miles to 120,000 miles depending on the application (see the chart on page 54). So if a customer is driving a vehicle that is more