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Whats your favorite Oil Filter
What do you think is the best Oil Filter
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By NAPA
Hybrid vehicles work by powering off the engine when they are not in motion on the road, such as at a stop light or in traffic, which is considered idling. Hybrid-electric vehicle technology uses idling to achieve fuel savings of nearly 15% according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is a great choice for consumers who are environmentally conscious or want to save money at the pump. However, you should understand some key insights about letting your hybrid vehicle sit idle for too long.
With more professionals working from home, it is all too easy to let your hybrid vehicle sit completely idle in your garage for long periods of time. However, if you do not start up and drive your hybrid regularly, you run the risk of causing serious issues to your battery pack. link hidden, please login to view need exercised weekly at a minimum to prolong your hybrid vehicle’s performance. But remember, there are also other ways a vehicle can idle.
The exact length of time that you can let a hybrid car, truck or SUV sit completely idle without being turned on varies by the make and model. If you’re working from home and not driving as much, make sure to turn your hybrid vehicle on in a ventilated area and let it run for at least a few minutes each week to exercise the battery pack. If you cannot turn the vehicle on at least once a month, consider having a friend or trusted neighbor do it for you.
If you have to let your hybrid sit idle without powering it on for more than 30 days, inspect your vehicle or take it to
link hidden, please login to view to prepare for your absence. Store the hybrid vehicle in a well-ventilated area or garage that is free of moisture, ensure any interior lights or plug-in accessories are turned off and rest easy knowing you’ve prepared your prized hybrid vehicle for a long absence. Do Hybrid Vehicles Use Gas While Idling? link hidden, please login to view
Hybrid vehicles use a combination of gas and battery power to function and can include an array of features like idle-stop systems where energy is transferred from the gasoline engine to the electric starter and back to the generator/battery. An idle-stop system (also commonly known as the start-stop system) helps drivers save gas by powering down the engine (idling) when the vehicle comes to a halt for even a short period of time. Imagine you brake at a red light—the hybrid engine automatically shuts down to save on gas. Then, when you release the brake pedal to accelerate, the engine starts back up again.
The idle-stop system makes up today’s market of hybrids that can come standard in both mild hybrids and full hybrids. Mild hybrids that use idle-stops are typically conventional combustion engine vehicles that simply idle when not in motion, but do not take advantage of an electric motor that full hybrid vehicles possess. So, which type of hybrid electric vehicle has an idle-stop operation? The answer is that many mild and full hybrids now come with idle-stop technology, shutting off the gasoline engine when at rest, coasting or slowing down.
Due to idle-stop, no gas burns inside the engine, saving you money while saving the planet at the same time. NAPA thanks you for doing your part to reduce the heat island effect, which happens in large metropolitan areas where air quality and pollution is affected by vehicles that have high carbon emissions from fossil fuel. According to Reuters, U.S. hybrid vehicle sales increased a whopping 76% in 2021 and is on pace to continue growing sales. Additionally,
link hidden, please login to view estimates that the hybrid-electric vehicle market was worth $252 billion in 2020 alone and may reach as high as $1,165 billion by 2026. Even Ford Motor Company predicts that electric vehicles will make up 40% of its sales by 2030. How Long Can a Hybrid Vehicle Sit Idle?
As you cruise along in your planet-loving automobile, just as you start to brake, the hybrid’s stop-start system will engage the regenerative braking system. Regenerative braking uses rotational energy from your wheels to create electricity for your generator in a full hybrid vehicle model. The generator then sends the electricity to your battery where it is stored and used later as your energy reserve.
As the brake is fully pushed, the generator shuts down the gas flow. Stepping on the accelerator again restarts the engine and uses that stored energy, running it to the link hidden, please login to view. If you have a full battery, hybrid vehicles can idle for nearly two hours. Of course, this figure can scale up or down depending on your hybrid’s make and model. Keep updated about the condition of your hybrid battery and take care of the day-to-day maintenance needs with the help of NAPA’s expert technicians, the
link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. Note: Although mild hybrids offer fuel savings, they are only a small savings compared to fully hybrid-electric vehicles. For more information about hybrid-electric vehicles, consider reading “
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By Counterman
Oil changes continue to be one of the most common DIY repairs performed on vehicles today. According to a recent Counterman P.A.R.T.S. report, changing the engine oil was the second-most popular DIY auto care job, behind only changing the wiper blades.
Changing the oil and filter is right in the sweet spot for do-it-yourself (DIY) vehicle owners: It’s a regular maintenance task that’s critical to the overall health and longevity of the engine, and it’s easy to perform. It’s the sort of basic maintenance that can be performed by someone who might not get their hands dirty otherwise. Chances are you’ve had a DIYer in your store asking how to get started. Let’s talk about some of the tips you can share with your DIY customers to help them change their own oil – and do it right.
Essential Tools vs. Non-Essential Tools
Tools are a long-term investment. They may cost more than they’ll save on the first oil change, but they pay for themselves in the long run!
Let’s start with the essential tools that every DIYer should have in their garage. At the top of this list, we find a jack and jack stands. Whenever you’re working underneath a vehicle, you need to make sure that it’s lifted up on level ground, and that it’s safely supported with jack stands. If you lift the vehicle up with a hydraulic jack, and don’t support it with jack stands, the jack can lose pressure and the vehicle will start to lower itself. If you’re underneath the vehicle when this happens, it can be deadly. Be safe, be smart and live to wrench another day. If any of the wheels are coming off, I place them underneath the vehicle for an added layer of protection. My thinking is simple: If something went wrong, having to replace a wheel and/or tire could be the least of my problems!
As a personal rule, I like to use jack stands that are rated for far more weight than I’ll ever put onto them. I have a number of 4-ton and 6-ton jack stands, and I prefer them over the less expensive 2-ton stands due to their increased footprint, and more robust construction.
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 1 Next on the list are the basic tools and supplies you’ll need to finish the job. You’ll need a basic set of sockets, wrenches and ratchets. You’ll also need some form of tool to remove the oil filter or filter housing cap (Figure 1). It’s worth mentioning that you may need to purchase specialty tools to remove the drain plug or filter housing on certain applications. For example, Volkswagen uses a proprietary tool to remove the plastic drain plugs from its modern four-cylinder engines. GM Ecotec engines require a special socket to remove the filter housing cap on its 1.4T and 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines. These are only two examples of many, so it’s best to do some online research before starting the job. Make sure you have all the tools you need on hand BEFORE you start to drain the oil.
You’ll need some form of drain pan or container to catch the oil as it drains out of the engine. It’s a good idea to have some old rags or towels on hand to clean up any spills or messes along the way, and I usually have a can of brake cleaner for added cleaning “umph.”
Finally, let’s talk about personal protective equipment (PPE). It’s a good idea to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and gloves to protect your skin.
Tips & Tricks
First and foremost, a DIY customer probably will have a lot of questions about what type of oil they need, how much oil their engine holds and more. While you may be able to lookup fluid specifications and capacities in your catalog, your DIY customers won’t have access to something like that. But a quick Google search should get them on the right track. I would always advise them to follow the OE maintenance guide and specifications, regardless of mileage or age.
There are a lot of things that you’ll learn through experience. Any tips, pointers or advice you can share with your DIY customers can go a long way toward helping them, and might just be the thing that gets them back to your store for the next repair. For example, some oil-drain plugs feature a gasket or crush washer that seals up against the oil pan. This type of gasket will need to be replaced at every oil change. A leaky drain plug can be a real pain, and could be really discouraging to a DIYer after their first oil change.
Then there are the little things that just make the whole job go a little bit smoother. I like to keep some old, cut-up cardboard boxes around the garage. In a pinch, they work great as a “poor man’s creeper.” Sometimes you don’t have enough room under the vehicle to slide around on a creeper, so the cardboard gives me something to lay on without having to lay directly on the cold, concrete floor.
When replacing a spin-on oil filters, always wipe off the mounting surface before installing the new filter. This ensures that any dirt or debris will be wiped away, AND if the gasket was stuck in place, you’ll either feel it, or you’ll knock it off of there. If you installed the new oil filter on top of the old gasket, it wouldn’t seal correctly. The result would be a massive blowout, leaving oil all over the garage floor. Not a great way to spend an afternoon!
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 2 The same applies to cartridge oil filters, but for different reasons. Cartridge oil filters are held in place by a filter housing cap. This cap will contain one or more O-rings that seal inside the housing. These O-rings need to be replaced with every oil change, and they’re almost always included with the new cartridge oil filter. Whatever you do, don’t double up these O-rings! This can lead to massive oil leaks, but it also can make the filter housing cap nearly impossible to remove (Figure 2).
Finally, always dispose of the used oil safely. If your store will take used oil, be sure to let your customers know. If your store cannot take in used oil, make a list of nearby shops that will. Some shops use oil-burning heaters, so they may take used oil without a charge to the customer.
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By NAPA
Kid-Proof Your Car with NAPA
Family vacations. Carpooling to school. Loading up the team after a tournament. Balancing a packed weekday schedule full of appointments, practices and club meetings. There is seemingly never a free day or even a spare minute to clean up from and compartmentalize the chaos of carting around those adorable kids and their friends. But it is critical for your family’s health and safety on the road to kid-proof your car with NAPA.
While national driving statistics show that parents are more likely to complain that their car is a mess, vehicle owners with kids are also more likely to clear out the clutter in their vehicles every week. However, too many drivers in the U.S. admit to going three months or more between an actual interior cleaning. Although most vehicle owners report that the floor is the dirtiest area, drivers with kids consistently say the backseat is the messiest spot of their sedan, SUV or minivan. Cup holders, the dashboard and trunk round out the
link hidden, please login to view. How is Your Car Interior Getting So Filthy?
Food crumbs, empty bottles and fast-food wrappers are the top three issues making commuter cars so filthy in America. National driving statics also reveal that a family with kids is more likely to eat in their car, than owners without children. Food garbage and packaging can create a health hazard. A vehicle left out in the sun, especially during the summer, is a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. And, occupied drink holders cause parents to break one of the worst safety rules: driving while ‘holding’ a drink between their legs.
At the NAPA Network, we get it. The typical schedule of a parent is so full that the family car is filled with every item that is needed for activities throughout the day. But sports equipment and toys of every size are lethal when flying through the air because of sudden braking or a rear-end crash. Loose objects on the dashboard or center console, such as earbuds, loose change, sunglasses and smartphones, are distracting as they slide around when the driver turns a corner. Soda cans, sports drinks and water bottles (not to mention tennis balls and school supplies) rolling around on the floor can also lodge under your gas pedal or brake pedal.
Car Organizers for Kids & You Too link hidden, please login to view
Distracted driving causes accidents! According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80% of automotive accidents and 65% of near-accidents involve some form of driver distraction within three seconds of the crash or near-miss. For those little things that all too often roll around before getting lost in cracks and crevices, the NAPA experts recommend the
link hidden, please login to view. This slender space is perfect for smartphones, chargers, house keys, permission slips, plastic utensils, pencils, hair ties, baby socks or any other small ‘give me that before you lose it’ item. For those more bulky items that you still need to have within reach, go for the
link hidden, please login to view, which doubles as a backseat protector from kicking legs and backpack scuffs. Easily contain and organize water bottles, snack packs, computer tablets, library books and action figurines. This machine-washable interior accessory is available in three patterns—gravel, brown and mossy oak camouflage. If you are desperate for more cabin storage, especially in a small truck cab or two-door sports car, check out the
link hidden, please login to view. This storage accessory fits under a front seat or back bench to contain emergency supplies, hand tools or valuable items you need to keep locked away. This steel lock box is about as kid proof as any aftermarket part can find. Protective Car Seat Covers & Floor Liners
A cluttered car can seem like a temporary problem until the mess turns into something more permanent. Without the proper protective gear, today’s spills can cost you when trying to sell your vehicle in the future. The NAPA Network has you covered when it comes to interior accessories, including
link hidden, please login to view customized for your exact make and model. Shop NAPAOnline.com now for trusted, long-lasting brands, including link hidden, please login to view, link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. Don’t forget to upgrade your trunk or cargo space. A
link hidden, please login to view prevents permanent damage to your upholstery while also making clean-up jobs much quicker and easier. For parents of infants and toddlers, the link hidden, please login to view is a must! Constructed with WeatherTech’s thermoplastic, this sturdy base sits underneath the baby carrier or booster seat to prevent wear and tear on your original material. From muddy uniforms to sticky hands, kids love to share everything they have contacted throughout the day. Don’t stress over the mess; add a layer of protection to ensure your original upholstery remains spotless. Designed with durability in mind,
link hidden, please login to view protect your bucket seats and bench seats from snags, rips and stains with a range of materials from link hidden, please login to view to link hidden, please login to view. Each custom-made seat liner is designed to the specifications of your prized pickup truck, deluxe SUV, sporty sedan or reliable minivan. These removable covers follow every curve and contour of your existing seat, including any functionality of seatbelts and airbags. Don’t forget to add a
link hidden, please login to view to your online order today. Interior Car Cleaning Essentials
Finally, don’t leave home without a solution! NAPAonline is fully stocked with all the
link hidden, please login to view you could ever need, including link hidden, please login to view, link hidden, please login to view, carpet cleaners, vinyl repair kits and leather conditioners. Browse the large selection of link hidden, please login to view. Order your car cleaning and organizing supplies today and take advantage of our In-Store Pickup service or Free One-Day Shipping! The post
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