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By Counterman
It’s a common comeback: a failed starter covered in oil. Let’s break down why replacing it alone won’t fix the issue and how to prevent it.
The starter converts electrical energy into mechanical rotation to crank the engine. It relies on clean, dry internal components for proper operation. Engine seals, like valve covers, cam seals, rear main seals and oil pans, are designed to keep oil contained. When these seals fail, oil can leak externally and contaminate components mounted below, including the starter.
In some vehicle layouts, a rear main seal leak can travel along the bellhousing and reach the starter, though that depends on how the engine and transmission are positioned.
An oil-soaked starter can suffer internal damage to brushes and electrical contacts, leading to slow crank, intermittent operation, or no crank at all. Oil also attracts dirt, accelerating wear.
Heat plays a role as well. On vehicles where the starter is located near the exhaust, oil contamination can bake onto the housing and internal components, forming a varnish or sludge. That buildup can increase electrical resistance and further degrade starter performance.
In real world situations, a technician may replace the starter, only to see the new one fail prematurely. That often results in warranty returns, but the real issue is the unresolved oil leak continuing to contaminate the replacement unit.
Verify the starter concern, then inspect for oil contamination. Check above the starter for leaks from valve covers, cam seals, or rear main seals. ASE diagnostic logic emphasizes fixing the root cause before replacing components. The correct repair may involve replacing the failed gasket or seal. If immediate repair isn’t practical,
link hidden, please login to view can be used to help restore seal condition and reduce leakage. To apply, add it to the engine oil, do not overfill, run the engine to circulate, then drive normally. Most leaks stop within a few days of operation. If the starter is oil-soaked, the leak is the problem. Fix it, or the failure will come back.
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By Counterman
The
link hidden, please login to view announced a leadership transition that it said is designed to support long-term growth, continuity and execution. Effective January 12, 2026, Travis Springsteen joined Auto-Wares as chief executive officer, while Todd Leimenstoll will transition from president and CEO to executive chairman. As CEO, Springsteen will have full responsibility for day-to-day operations, performance and execution. The transition does not represent a change in ownership, strategy or culture. Auto-Wares’ leadership team remains in place, and the company said it will continue executing its re-envisioning plan focused on operational excellence, customer service and long-term growth.
Leimenstoll, who has spent more than four decades with
link hidden, please login to view and has served as president since 2008 and CEO since 2014, will remain actively involved with the company. As executive chairman, he will focus on governance, long-term strategy, and key industry, supplier, and customer relationships, while supporting Springsteen and the leadership team during the transition. “This is a thoughtful and positive evolution for Auto-Wares,” said Leimenstoll. “Travis is a people-focused leader with deep distribution experience and a strong track record of execution. After getting to know Travis and his background, I’m confident he is a solid fit with our outstanding leadership team and the right person to lead Auto-Wares forward. I look forward to supporting him in my new role.”
Springsteen brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience across automotive, powersports and aftermarket distribution. Most recently, he served as president of Western Power Sports, where he led a large, multi-location distribution organization serving dealers across North America. Throughout his career, Springsteen has built high-performing teams, strengthened operations, improved inventory productivity, and led teams in both founder-led and private-equity-backed environments.
“Auto-Wares has a strong legacy, a talented team and deep customer relationships,” said Springsteen. “I’m excited to work alongside Todd and the entire organization to build on that foundation, support the great work already underway and help the company continue executing at a high level.”
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By Counterman
Toyota made a name for itself in America by thinking small. At a time when American automakers were still clinging to V8 power, Toyota was quietly producing fuel-efficient compact cars and trucks powered by inline-fours. Beginning with the R series engine in the 1958 Toyopet Crown, the Japanese automaker would offer US drivers inline engines for the next 30 years before introducing its first V6 in the 1988 Camry. The VZ series sixes were soon followed by the first UZ series V8 with the debut of the 1990 Lexus LS400.
These early Toyota engine “families” are further identified by an alphanumeric code indicating the block’s generation, the engine family or series, and major features like fuel injection, turbocharging and valve angle. The leading number or numbers is a sequential accounting of each generation, followed by a letter (or pair of letters) assigned to the family, and finally, a suffix to highlight those variations in features. These family codes do not directly signify displacement, only the basic architecture of the block.
Over its 40-year run, the “R series” went through 22 generations, with the “final boss” being the ubiquitous 2.4L known as the 22R-E. Powering thousands of compact Hilux trucks and 4Runners along the way, it is still one of Toyota’s most beloved engines from the era. It was finally replaced by the RZ series in 1995, after the introduction of the Tacoma and T100 platforms. The 2RZ-FE was a 2.4L used in 4×2 Tacomas, while the larger 2.7L 3RZ-FE found a home under the hoods of 4×4 Tacomas, 4Runners and the midsize T100.
Toyota had helped popularize the compact pickup in America, but it soon found itself growing toward the lucrative full-size market. Thanks to a 3.4L 5VZ-FE engine available in the Tacoma and T100, Toyota finally had a V6 to help it move toward creating its biggest truck yet… the 2000 Tundra. This platform would be in direct competition with The Big Three, and required an optional V8 to compete effectively.
Using the aluminum Lexus 1UZ-FE engine as a starting point, the cast-iron 2UZ-FE was developed in Alabama specifically for the American market. At 4.7L, the four-cam, 32-valve engine proved capable, but was soon replaced by the UR series in two phases. The aluminum 5.7L 3UR-FE debuted in 2007, and remains the largest displacement Toyota V8 ever produced. By 2010, the smaller 4.6L 1UR-FE block had replaced the last of the UZ family engines. The 1GR-FE, a 4.0L V6, soldiered on between 2004-2015 as the “in-between” engine shared by both Tacoma and Tundra.
2021 would see the end of Toyota’s “growth” in the truck market. With the 2022 model year, the V8 quietly disappeared, leaving Toyota with a series of 4 and 6 cylinder engines featuring their “Dynamic Force” engine technologies. These turbocharged “I-FORCE” engines are (once again) a 2.4L in the Tacoma and a 3.4L in the Tundra, with hybrid versions of each engine receiving an “I-FORCE MAX” designation.
Thirty years on from the first Tacoma (and 20 since the Tundra), Toyota has returned to its beginnings. With small displacements, big efficiencies and a reputation for building reliable vehicles on a global scale, Toyota is still Moving Forward.
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By Counterman
Toyota made a name for itself in America by thinking small. At a time when American automakers were still clinging to V8 power, Toyota was quietly producing fuel-efficient compact cars and trucks powered by inline-fours. Beginning with the R series engine in the 1958 Toyopet Crown, the Japanese automaker would offer US drivers inline engines for the next 30 years before introducing its first V6 in the 1988 Camry. The VZ series sixes were soon followed by the first UZ series V8 with the debut of the 1990 Lexus LS400.
These early Toyota engine “families” are further identified by an alphanumeric code indicating the block’s generation, the engine family or series, and major features like fuel injection, turbocharging and valve angle. The leading number or numbers is a sequential accounting of each generation, followed by a letter (or pair of letters) assigned to the family, and finally, a suffix to highlight those variations in features. These family codes do not directly signify displacement, only the basic architecture of the block.
Over its 40-year run, the “R series” went through 22 generations, with the “final boss” being the ubiquitous 2.4L known as the 22R-E. Powering thousands of compact Hilux trucks and 4Runners along the way, it is still one of Toyota’s most beloved engines from the era. It was finally replaced by the RZ series in 1995, after the introduction of the Tacoma and T100 platforms. The 2RZ-FE was a 2.4L used in 4×2 Tacomas, while the larger 2.7L 3RZ-FE found a home under the hoods of 4×4 Tacomas, 4Runners and the midsize T100.
Toyota had helped popularize the compact pickup in America, but it soon found itself growing toward the lucrative full-size market. Thanks to a 3.4L 5VZ-FE engine available in the Tacoma and T100, Toyota finally had a V6 to help it move toward creating its biggest truck yet… the 2000 Tundra. This platform would be in direct competition with The Big Three, and required an optional V8 to compete effectively.
Using the aluminum Lexus 1UZ-FE engine as a starting point, the cast-iron 2UZ-FE was developed in Alabama specifically for the American market. At 4.7L, the four-cam, 32-valve engine proved capable, but was soon replaced by the UR series in two phases. The aluminum 5.7L 3UR-FE debuted in 2007, and remains the largest displacement Toyota V8 ever produced. By 2010, the smaller 4.6L 1UR-FE block had replaced the last of the UZ family engines. The 1GR-FE, a 4.0L V6, soldiered on between 2004-2015 as the “in-between” engine shared by both Tacoma and Tundra.
2021 would see the end of Toyota’s “growth” in the truck market. With the 2022 model year, the V8 quietly disappeared, leaving Toyota with a series of 4 and 6 cylinder engines featuring their “Dynamic Force” engine technologies. These turbocharged “I-FORCE” engines are (once again) a 2.4L in the Tacoma and a 3.4L in the Tundra, with hybrid versions of each engine receiving an “I-FORCE MAX” designation.
Thirty years on from the first Tacoma (and 20 since the Tundra), Toyota has returned to its beginnings. With small displacements, big efficiencies and a reputation for building reliable vehicles on a global scale, Toyota is still Moving Forward.
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By APF
SEMA is November 4-7, 2025 - LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER.
AAPEX is November 4–6, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV | The Venetian Expo & Caesars Forum
link hidden, please login to view If you are going, please post and tell us a little about your plans and expectations.
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