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Kid-Proof Your Car with NAPA
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By NAPA
Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Josh Berry made his third start for Hendrick Motorsports as the fill-in driver of the No. 9 link hidden, please login to view Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as Chase Elliott continues to recover from a fractured tibia. It was Berry’s fifth career NASCAR Cup Series start. He rolled off the grid from the 21st position and took the opening stage to adapt to superspeedway-style racing in the Next Gen car, ending stage one in 28th. The Hendersonville, Tennessee, native improved to 11th in stage two. During the final stage of the race, Berry was battling inside the top 10 when he was involved in a multi-car incident on lap 190. The team made repairs and Berry was able to rebound for an 18th-place finish.
Josh Berry qualified 21st for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It was Berry’s third race filling in for the injured Chase Elliott as he continues to recover from a fractured tibia. Berry took the green flag for his first Cup Series superspeedway-style race and used the opening laps to get a good feel for his Chevrolet. The 32-year-old driver was scored in 20th when the first caution flag of the race was displayed on lap 11. Opting not to pit, Berry lined up in that same position after choosing the top lane and battled inside the top 25 once the race resumed. Berry got shuffled to the back of the main pack on lap 42, but was undeterred from the loss of track position as he made his way back up to 28th to close out the stage at lap 60.
During the stage break, Berry reported to the team that the NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet was a little free on entry, but the balance got better on the longer run. Interim crew chief Tom Gray called the Hendersonville, Tennessee, native to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Berry took the green flag for stage two from the 26th position on lap 68 and continued his forward progress, settling in behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in the 21st position. Berry was running in 15th when teams began making scheduled green-flag pit stops on lap 127. The driver of the No. 9 stayed out until Gray called him in for a fuel-only stop on lap 138. Back out on the track, Berry made his way to as high as ninth before taking the green-and-white checkered flag in 11th to end stage two.
The No. 9 team made a stop for four tires and fuel under the stage-ending caution, sending Berry back out to start the final stage in 17th. After beginning the stage in the top lane, he made a move to the bottom and used that to his advantage to work his way to 10th on lap 182. Berry continued to race inside the top 10 until a multi-car incident occurred on lap 190, collecting the No. 9 Chevrolet. The NASCAR Xfinity Series regular was able to drive the NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet away and brought it to pit road for repairs. The team worked hard over the course of two pit stops to fix up the front-end damage, and Berry lined up 25th for the lap 200 restart. Less than 10 laps later another incident brought out the yellow flag, giving the team another opportunity to work on the No. 9. Berry was scored in the 23rd position for the restart on lap 216 and reported early in the run that the NAPA Auto Parts Camaro felt better after the most recent repairs. He battled hard in the final stint of the race, climbing his way back inside the top 20 and ultimately scoring an 18th-place finish in the 260-lap event.
“I thought it was a solid day for the No. 9 NAPA Chevy,” Berry said. “I feel like we definitely improved. We got up there in the top 10 and we were pretty solid before that wreck. After that, the car was just a little too damaged to be too aggressive. All-in-all, we finished the race, learned a lot and had some fun.”
Start / Finish: 21 / 18
Next Race: Sunday, March 26, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
How to Watch or Listen: FOX, PRN and SiriusXM
NAPA:
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By NAPA
Christian Eckes returned to victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) in thrilling fashion to give McAnally-Hilgemann Racing the organization’s first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) victory on Saturday afternoon. The driver of the No. 19
link hidden, please login to view Chevrolet Silverado RST reclaimed the points lead after racking up 50 points and capturing his second stage win of the year. The victory gives Eckes and his team a virtual lock to the NCTS playoffs for the third time in his career.
The Middletown, N.Y., native started the 137-lap event from the fourth position after inclement weather washed out qualifying on Friday afternoon. Eckes boldly asserted himself as a threat by taking the lead on the opening lap and dominated Stage 1. The NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet paced the field on the outside of the AMS high banks until a caution flew on lap 24. Crew chief Charles Denike kept Eckes on track to go for the stage win, and the call paid off. Eckes held off all challengers on lap 30 to earn 10 points and one playoff point with his second stage win of 2023 after leading every lap.
Eckes pitted under the stage caution for right side tires and restarted 20th on lap 38 as the running order flip-flopped due to contrasting pit strategies. Eckes stayed in the lead draft for the majority of Stage 2 and ran as high as ninth but was scored 14th at the end of the segment on lap 60. Denike put four tires on Eckes’ Chevrolet, which allowed him to restart 11th on lap 68. Another quick caution on lap 79 offered Eckes the chance to top off with fuel for the final run, but he was caught speeding on pit road.
Eckes started his march back to the front from 28th position on lap 84 and took advantage of every opportunity to claw his way back into contention. A restart on lap 103 saw him rocket to 11th, which included a four-wide maneuver to cut through the pack. Eckes worked the less-preferred bottom lane to perfection as he capitalized on the restarts to crack the top five on lap 121, and he claimed the runner-up spot on lap 123. A late caution set up an overtime restart. Eckes elected to take the bottom of the front row, which proved to be the winning decision. Eckes traded the lead with fellow Chevrolet driver Nick Sanchez on the overtime restart and used a surge of momentum on the final lap to pull alongside for the lead down the backstretch. Eckes held the lead on the final lap as a caution waved coming out of Turn 4 to secure the victory, his third playoff berth, and his first victory at AMS.
“Just really happy,” Eckes said. “Thanks to Charles (Denike), everybody on this team. They work so damn hard and this is what makes it all worth it. Thanks to NAPA, Chevrolet, everybody. I’m pumped. It’s going to be a really good year.
“I think this is just what I kind of figured was going to happen coming here. I knew the potential of Charles (Denike), and I knew the potential of the race team, and Bill’s passion to win, so it made my decision to come here really easy.”
Start / Finish: 4 / 1
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 151 pts.
Next Race: Saturday, March 25, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
How to Watch or Listen: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM
NAPA:
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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 NAPA
Shopping for Spark Plugs With NAPA
Automotive ignition and engine work are some of the most straight-forward DIY projects that at-home mechanics have performed for decades. At NAPA, not only do we want to guide you on which
link hidden, please login to view to purchase, but also educate drivers on how they function and the process for link hidden, please login to view. Your vehicle’s ignition system routes high-voltage current from the ignition coils to the
link hidden, please login to view in a synchronized firing order. The timing is critical to optimize the power created from the explosion or spark. Spark plugs use precisely crafted ceramic insular bodies and punched steel casings, which house two electrodes with a gap in between them. When voltage is sent to the plug, an electrical arc is formed between the two electrodes, thus igniting the fuel/air mixture. Spark plugs determine the power output, fuel economy and even engine temperature of your automobile. Signs that it is time for spark plug and coil replacement include jittery or rough idling, power surges from the engine, diminished acceleration and decreased gas mileage. Remember that spark plugs are not designed to last the lifetime of a vehicle. Built-up deposits and natural widening of the electrode gap can cause spark plugs to fail as time passes, so replacing spark plugs is a routine part of vehicle maintenance. Note: It is always best to replace all the spark plugs at the same time.
NAPA experts recommend
link hidden, please login to view every 30,000 miles on older models, which matches most manufacturer recommendations. With a modern vehicle, you only need to change spark plugs every 100,000 miles thanks to advances in materials and ignition design. Replacing spark plugs will take roughly an hour if your vehicle has a four-cylinder engine. Spark plug replacement takes longer for vehicles with a V6 or V8 engine. A standard vehicle typically has the same number of spark plugs as the number of cylinders. So, a V6 would need six replacement spark plugs. There are exceptions like Chrysler V8s, which use two plugs per cylinder. Which Plug Sparks Your Interest? link hidden, please login to view
At the heart of each spark plug is an electrode that connects to the vehicle’s ignition coil via a thick wire. Spark plugs installed by car manufacturers often contain copper, nickel or chromium core electrodes. The metal mentioned in the replacement part’s name indicates the material used to construct its electrode, which gives you an idea of the different
link hidden, please login to view in most retail aftermarkets. You can also find high-performance spark plugs composed of rare, powerful metals like ones with fine-wire iridium centers and double platinum ground electrodes. Glow plugs are typically used for heavy-duty diesel applications. So, are you wondering what type of spark plug is best for your car?
link hidden, please login to view are ideal replacements for older model vehicles. These copper spark plugs are applicable to a wide range of makes/models and are guaranteed to deliver quick starts, good fuel efficiency and smooth acceleration. Although, for commuter vehicles that aren’t classics, some of the best types of spark plugs come from link hidden, please login to view. This product line includes reliable conventional spark plugs, specialized marine spark plugs and link hidden, please login to view. Our experts highly recommend spark plugs from the top-tier levels: ACDelco Silver (Advantage) and ACDelco Gold (Professional). One of the reasons to go with a premium spark plug is that their platinum construction provides better performance and more durability when compared to copper. For example, platinum spark plugs are typically good for up to 100,000 miles of service. These plugs are engineered to generate more heat, which means they can operate in hotter environments. Due to the minimizing of carbon deposit build up, platinum plugs give a better spark for a longer period of time. For an ideal upgrade, go with the
link hidden, please login to view, which delivers optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency. This Autolite spark plug is specifically designed for Ford pickups and SUVs, such as the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. Because iridium conducts energy better (an iridium electrode’s durability is six times harder than platinum), it’s the optimal choice if you want to get the most out of a performance engine. Iridium spark plugs are engineered to offer excellent engine idling stability and a smooth performance, which is critical in newer vehicles that use
link hidden, please login to view. NGK Spark Plugs manufactures replacement parts for virtually every automotive, motorcycle, marine and small engine application. link hidden, please login to view are specifically designed for the performance enthusiast, because they provide outstanding acceleration and high fuel efficiency. Get Started With NAPA
Are you looking for where to buy spark plugs and
link hidden, please login to view? NAPA Auto Parts stores and NAPAonline.com are proud to offer thousands of spark plugs and ignition components for sedans, pickups, minivans, SUVs and more. Make sure to select the ones specifically engineered for your vehicle’s make and model. Plus, take advantage of our convenient link hidden, please login to view option. If you are concerned about how much spark plugs cost, we have some good news! The cost of spark plugs ranges as low as less than $2 per spark plug to more than $100 dollars for spark plugs used in industrial or racing vehicles. You can purchase a long-lasting, high-quality, aftermarket replacement spark plug for less than $6 each.
Keep in mind, you need to remain patient while removing spark plugs and make sure to remove one spark plug at a time in the correct firing order. You must remove and replace each spark plug, along with any accompanying wires, before moving on to the next one in the chain. Most modern vehicles incorporate coil-on-plug technology, which don’t utilize external spark plug wires.
Finally, you must check to see if there are proper gap spaces on your new set of spark plugs to finish this installation. This technical auto repair requires using a
link hidden, please login to view with a swivel head, a spark plug wire puller and a link hidden, please login to view just to name a few specific tools. With that in mind, you are probably wondering how much it costs to get spark plugs changed by a professional mechanic. The average cost of spark plug replacement is $140 for a four-cylinder engine, $180 for a six-cylinder engine and $220 for an eight-cylinder engine. Schedule an appointment with your nearest link hidden, please login to view today! Photo courtesy of
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By NAPA
Get Vehicles Out of a Jam With a Wheel Dolly
If you’re the kind of mechanic who gets under the hood of dozens of cars, you already know the value of good tools. Sure, there are essential hand tools and power tools
link hidden, please login to view. But what about the perfect tool for some really heavy lifting—like a vehicle that won’t start? Park the tow truck and stow those tow straps because there’s a better way to move using car wheel dollies. Wheel dollies for cars can vary widely in style depending on the size of the vehicle you are moving and the amount you want to spend on a dolly. Whether you need to move a vehicle a few feet to make the most of your storage space, move a broken down or abandoned vehicle or simply get a vehicle un-stuck, let the experts at NAPA Auto Parts help you find the best car dollies for your garage so you can relocate that ride the fast and easy way!
Choosing the Best Car Dolly link hidden, please login to view
Vehicle wheel dollies or car dollies are also known as “car skates.” The nickname is fitting because that’s exactly how they work, and they use the same concept as a furniture dolly or a moving dolly. You can use these wheeled platforms in pairs or in sets of four—one on each wheel—to support the weight of a vehicle so you can easily maneuver it (sometimes by just one person)!
Choosing the best car dolly all depends on a few factors:
How often you’ll use it How much you want to spend How large the vehicles are that you want to lift or move You should also bear in mind the kind of equipment to which you already have access. For example, while more advanced car dollies feature hydraulic functionality, basic models require a standard
link hidden, please login to view to lift the vehicle onto the dolly. You should also avoid storing vehicles on wheel dollies for extended periods of time, so make sure your garage is equipped with a reliable set of link hidden, please login to view for long-term storage. A basic option like the
link hidden, please login to view offers a no-nonsense approach. Each dolly is designed to withstand 1,000 pounds and features deep grooves so the vehicle’s wheels remain stable during transport. This set of link hidden, please login to view offers a fully welded steel frame built to support 1,250 pounds, and the heavy-duty swivel casters are lockable for safety. No wheels on the vehicle—no problem! Use a jack along with this pair of link hidden, please login to view, which features padded saddles that can support up to 1,800 pounds and sit on the vehicle’s frame instead of the wheels. How to Use a Hydraulic Wheel Dolly?
Hydraulic wheel dollies are very convenient pieces of equipment for any garage. There’s no need for risky maneuvers with long-handled floor jacks plus you can partially dissemble many models for easy storage. Additionally, because they are designed with adjustable slider bars, you can open and close the roller arms to accommodate many sizes of tires.
Before you begin, double-check the weight of your vehicle and the size of your tires to make sure you’re using the right model of wheel dolly for the vehicle. This professional-grade
link hidden, please login to view has a 1,500-pound weight rating and features 18 ½” aluminum roller arms that can adjust to accommodate wheels measuring 13”–24.” This beefy link hidden, please login to view holds 19”–37” tires and can accommodate light-duty trucks and SUVs. When you’re ready to use your hydraulic wheel dollies, follow these steps:
With the vehicle parked, manually open the roller arms along the slider bar, then roll the dolly forward towards the vehicle, fitting the arms on either side of one front tire Using your hand or foot, begin pumping the hydraulic pedal, so the roller arms close and raise the wheel When you reach the desired height, lock the arms in place using the locking pin on the slide bar Repeat for the other front wheels or on all four wheels Nothing completes a set of lifting tools quite like a reliable set of car wheel dollies. Now you can relocate any vehicle without starting the engine or waiting on a tow truck. Shop NAPAonline.com for all our great deals on garage tools and equipment.
link hidden, please login to view Enjoy early access and exclusive deals, as well as a $5 bonus when you join. Already a NAPA Rewards member? Complete your profile to unlock your $5 bonus today. Photo courtesy of
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