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ENEOS Unveils X Prime 0W-8 Fully Synthetic Motor Oil
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By Counterman
Standard Motor Products (SMP) continues to expand its line of parts for hybrid and electric vehicles.
The hybrid and EV market is growing larger every day, and SMP is committed to continually adding to its product offering for these vehicles, as well as expanding its powertrain-neutral coverage, the company said.
Approximately 7 million hybrid vehicles are currently on the road, and many of them are more than 10 years old. With two distinctly different powertrains – a conventional internal combustion engine and an electric motor – these vehicles feature more components when compared to gas and diesel vehicles.
Hybrid repair opportunities continue to grow thanks to a growing vehicle population, an aging fleet and multiple drivetrain components. Standard and Four Seasons are prepared to meet the demand, with more than 4,000 parts available for 150 models, according to the company.
Electric vehicles use the same sensors, switches and climate-control systems as ICE vehicles, while adding new opportunities around the thermal management of high-voltage battery and drive motor components. Currently, SMP offers more than 1,900 parts for 40 models, with more parts being introduced on a consistent basis.
Additionally, SMP offers more than 50,000 powertrain-neutral parts through its Standard and Four Seasons brands. These parts fit vehicles regardless of powertrain and include categories like advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) components, collision repair parts, A/C compressors and thousands of other switches, sensors, actuators and connectors.
“As hybrid and electric vehicle sales increase, SMP is prepared to meet the growing demand for high-quality replacement parts,” said Jack Ramsey, senior vice president of sales and marketing, SMP. “Standard and Four Seasons are dedicated to staying ahead of the curve, engineering and manufacturing superior products that last.”
From 2022 through February of this year, SMP has added substantial coverage for hybrid and electric vehicles through its Standard and Four Seasons brands. In total, SMP added 258 SKUs for hybrid vehicles, 60 SKUs for electric vehicles and 1,530 SKUs in the powertrain-neutral category.
Recent additions include a universal battery pack charging cord for electric vehicles and stoplight switches and brake-pedal travel sensors for hybrid models like the Toyota Prius and Lexus ES300h. The array of powertrain-neutral parts added include park-assist cameras, dome-light switches, rocker switches, power sunroof motors, taillight connectors and much more.
All new Standard EV and hybrid products are listed in the e-catalog found at
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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 Counterman
Bosch announced that its Hydro-Boost power brake assemblies are now available in the automotive aftermarket.
The program covers millions of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including popular Ford and General Motors models. Bosch Hydro-Boost parts are originally manufactured in the United States and provide OEM quality and performance, according to the company.
“It’s important to us that independent repair shops and DIYers are supported and have access to the highest-quality parts, so they can provide the best service possible to their customers,” said Jonathan Wong, Bosch product manager. “Opening up the Hydro-Boost brake-assembly program to the automotive aftermarket will give shop owners, technicians and DIYers access to a 100% new product manufactured using original-equipment-quality materials.”
The Bosch Hydro-Boost program offers 21 part numbers and covers 21 million vehicles across truck and SUV applications in popular Ford, GM and Dodge brands. These include the Ford F-250/F-350, GMC Sierra 2500/3500, the Ram 2500/3500 and more.
Hydro-Boost are designed to provide optimal brake-system performance to vehicles up to 8.7 tons. Bosch manufactured these systems to exceed 500,000 strokes to ensure OE quality and performance, increasing safety and peace of mind, according to the company.
For more information on Bosch Hydro-Boost power braking assemblies, visit
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