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    • By Counterman
      A significant shift in the evolution of engine lubricants is just a few months away. Scheduled to become the new standard on March 31, 2025,
      link hidden, please login to viewrepresents the latest evolution in gasoline-fueled passenger car motor oil specifications. GF-7 stands for the seventh generation of motor oil specifications set by the International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC). This committee is a collaboration of key automotive industry players, including Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).
      “This standard specifies the minimum performance requirements and chemical and physical properties for engine oils used in spark-ignited internal combustion engines,” said Padu Sreenivas, product manager PCMO,
      link hidden, please login to view. “GF-7 will help deliver fuel economy benefits to OEMs and consumers, improved low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) protection with the addition of aged LSPI testing, and improved piston deposit cleanliness, along with other significant performance changes.” Sreenivas says the upgrade in performance is primarily focused on fuel economy. This change is in direct response to increasing pressure to meet stringent fuel economy regulations. As vehicles become more fuel-efficient, consumers will benefit from reduced fuel costs and a lower environmental impact. GF-7 aims to support the automotive industry’s push toward meeting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which will become stricter for model year 2026 vehicles.
      The inclusion of aged LSPI testing in GF-7 represents a crucial advancement. LSPI has become a significant concern with modern engines, particularly those with turbocharging and direct fuel injection. By offering better protection against LSPI, GF-7 helps safeguard engine performance and longevity.
      The updated standards for piston cleanliness also lead to improved engine performance and longer engine life. This means better overall engine health, which translates into cost savings and convenience for vehicle owners.
      The improved balance between enhanced fuel economy, piston deposit performance and LSPI protection supports consumers holding their cars longer, enhancing convenience, and reducing maintenance and operating costs.
      GF-7 also includes a new sulfated ash requirement (limited to 0.90%) to facilitate the adoption of Gasoline Particulate Filters (GPFs), which are essential for meeting updated emission regulations.
      “GF-7 is different from previous specifications not only from a performance standpoint, but also time. Previous ILSAC categories for gasoline-fueled passenger car motor oils have taken a significant number of years to develop and implement. To accelerate from the original proposal of 2028 first license to March 31, 2025, first license is an incredible feat that will enable OEMs to meet the changing requirements.”
      The transition does pose some challenges. Implementing the new GF-7 specifications involves complex testing and adjustments to meet the updated performance criteria.    
      Suppliers and manufacturers must align their products with these new standards, which may require substantial investment and changes in production processes. Sreenivas says Lubrizol has invested considerable resources to ensure a smooth shift to the new standard by the March 31, 2025, licensing date.
      As the transition approaches, stakeholders across the supply chain will need to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by this new standard.

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    • By Counterman
      link hidden, please login to view introduced six additions to its Coolant/Antifreeze lineup for North American and European passenger and light-duty vehicles.  AISIN’s Extended-Life, prediluted antifreeze/coolants are “meticulously designed to meet the rigorous demands of North American vehicles,” the company said. They are available in color-coded formulations – such as purple specifically engineered for Stellantis and Chrysler vehicles; yellow for Ford Motor Co.; and orange for Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors vehicles – and including any internal combustion engines as well as electric and hybrid vehicles equipped with indirect cooling battery systems. 
      In addition to North American applications,
      link hidden, please login to view has also introduced three European antifreeze/coolants. Available in color-coded formulations, including pink for European applications that include, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Ferrari, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini, Porsche, Saab, Volvo, and Volkswagen; blue that includes several of the applications mentioned above with the addition of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter; and a third color, violet, for newer European vehicles. AISIN coolants are tested to meet and exceed industry standards and eliminate the need for supplemental coolant additives and chemically charged filters, making them the ideal choice for internal combustion engines, electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid technologies, according to Larrow Kaufman, senior sales manager, Aftermarket Division, AISIN World Corp. of America.
      “While the market continues to benefit from use of our current line of coolants, many have asked when we’ll offer full coverage for all makes and models,” says Kaufman. “We listen carefully to our customers and, as a result, have greatly expanded our coverage to meet their needs. We also provide our customers with convenience and a simpler decision-making process by offering the right product for the right application, with exceptional corrosion protection, compatibility, and shelf life. Bottom line: AISIN coolants are trusted by automotive professionals.”
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    • By Counterman
      Applications are being accepted for the Federated Car Care Scholarship program.
      Interested students should complete and submit their applications at
      link hidden, please login to view by March 31. The Federated Car Care scholarships are funded by Fisher Auto Parts in memory of Art Fisher, founder of Federated Auto Parts and the Federated Car Care program. Qualified candidates should specify “Federated” on their application when applying online.
      Administered by the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (
      link hidden, please login to view), the scholarships will be awarded to employees and children of active Federated Car Care Center members attending a two- or four-year accredited college, an ASE/NATEF-certified post-secondary automotive, heavy-duty or collision technician training program or any licensed and accredited vocational school. Students graduating from high school in 2024 and heading to any of these post-secondary programs also are eligible. “It is a privilege for us to once again provide scholarship opportunities to the children and employees of Car Care members, assisting them in furthering their education,” said Bo Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher Auto Parts. “The University of the Aftermarket Foundation’s AutomotiveScholarships.com website streamlines the application process. We urge all interested candidates to submit their applications by March 31 and look forward to awarding Federated Car Care scholarships to another group of deserving young men and women for the 2024-25 academic year.”
      Federated is one of more than 30 other organizations awarding scholarships on
      link hidden, please login to view. As an added benefit for students who apply at this site, each completed application will be considered by every scholarship where the candidate meets the qualifications. The post
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    • By Counterman
      The University of the Aftermarket Foundation is accepting applications for hundreds of scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year.
      Scholarships are available to students training to become automotive, heavy-duty or collision repair technicians or those studying engineering, business, IT/cybersecurity or other courses in preparation for a career in the motor-vehicle aftermarket.
      Graduating high school seniors, full-time post-secondary students and former recipients are welcome to apply.
      Each completed application is considered for all scholarships where the student meets the qualifications, the foundation noted.   
      The application deadline is March 31.
      To apply, visit
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    • By Counterman
      Engine oil has become an integral part of automakers’ fuel-economy and emissions strategy, with each company specifying its own unique blend of base stocks and additives to achieve specific goals. The result has been a surge in specialized lubricants, and no small amount of confusion over the “correct” recommendations for each application.
      While there are multiple oil specifications (even within a single manufacturer) to sift through, these criteria often relate to the varying levels of sulfated ash, phosphorous and sulfur (SAPS) found in these additive packages. As far back as the 1990s, oil manufacturers began to reduce the amount of phosphorous (and zinc) in their additive packages, as these anti-wear and anti-oxidant elements had a nasty side effect: catalytic-converter failures.
      Bonding with platinum found in the catalyst bed, zinc and phosphorous reduce the efficiency of the catalyst, increasing emissions to unacceptable levels. The new oil formulas were great for contemporary vehicles, but classic and other pre-converter vehicles were prone to increased wear. ZDDP (zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate) additives restore these lost elements, but only should be used in applications without catalytic converters.
      Sulfur became a key talking point in the early 2000s, as diesel fuels began to transition to “ultra-low-sulfur diesel” (ULSD) formulas to meet increasingly strict EPA guidelines. Sulfur reduction allows for the use of emissions-aftertreatment devices such as particulate filters and catalysts common in modern diesels. Sulfur, as part of the SAPS content in engine oils, has the same negative effect on pollution-control devices, contaminating catalysts and increasing buildup of particulate materials.
      SAPS levels vary among these engine-oil specifications, and are selected based on engine design, the emissions equipment used and even manufacturer-specified oil-change intervals. European specs often are the most visible, with Mercedes, Volkswagen-Audi and BMW groups each specifying multiple standards across their lineups. Specifications for naturally aspirated or turbocharged gasoline engines may differ from those for diesels with and without aftertreatment devices. Higher-SAPS engine oils are generally suitable for older or higher-mileage applications, and for those with extended oil-change intervals – but not for those with particulate filters.
      “European Formula” engine oils often contain mid-to-high levels of SAPS, due to the extended oil-change intervals, from 10,000 to 15,000 miles for some manufacturers. The European market has a significant number of light-vehicle diesel engines, especially when compared to the U.S. market. Emissions standards in the European Union are stricter than ours, so many of the pollution-control systems now in use stateside are already familiar to European engineers.
      Lower-SAPS oils (by definition) will contain less ash, phosphorous and sulfur, reducing the amount of particulate matter that eventually can collect downstream or be released into the atmosphere via the exhaust. For vehicles that employ a particulate filter in their exhaust system, this means less buildup of ash-based residue, extending the service life of the filter, and reducing the frequency of regeneration events.
      Here in the U.S., diesels are most prevalent in light trucks and SUVs. DPF-regeneration events fall into two categories: passive and active. Passive regeneration happens on its own, usually at highway speeds and under load, while active regeneration requires the PCM to alter its fuel or timing strategy to increase exhaust-gas temperature to a level high enough to “burn” particulates from the DPF.
      Lower-SAPS engine-oil formulations are better-suited to these diesels (as well as gasoline vehicles with three-way catalytic converters) because there’s less residue to potentially contaminate aftertreatment devices, and they also can provide modern engines with longer service life. The unfortunate trade-off for most of these formulations is oil life, so some manufacturers choose to specify mid-level SAPS content in some applications.
      European oil standards are set by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (known as “ACEA,” an acronym based on the French translation). Like the API standards, ACEA standards categorize engine oils for gas and diesel usage, but also consider further parameters for emissions and fuel economy. Along with the API designation and the manufacturer’s specifications, you’re likely to see the ACEA A/B (gas/diesel) or C (three-way catalyst or aftertreatment diesel) classification on these Euro-specific oils.
      When specifying or recommending engine oils for ANY vehicle, the owner’s manual is the primary source of reference. It not only contains the factory-authorized fill information, but often gives alternate information useful to making an informed substitution when necessary. If your e-catalog suite includes lubricant reference information, these specs also can be easily consulted and compared to the labels of your oil inventories. If your required manufacturer’s standard isn’t printed plainly on the oil container, most oil vendors’ websites now feature compatibility and selection widgets.
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