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By NAPA
The NAPA Network supplies adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts with the best RV cleaning products to keep their home away from home fresh and road ready. Whether you drive a large recreational vehicle with its own engine or tow-behind camper trailers, including Airstreams, pop-ups and fifth wheels, we have you covered. And of course, NAPAonline and NAPA Auto Parts stores carry
link hidden, please login to view. To start off, browse through products specifically designed for
link hidden, please login to view. Suck up any loose debris, dirt and pet hair using a high-powered link hidden, please login to view from popular brands like Craftsman, Armor All and Milwaukee. Keep in mind, even the best vehicle vacuum leaves behind crumbles wedged into crevices. To grab up as much as possible, utilize a link hidden, please login to view that can squeeze into hard-to-reach gaps. A cleaning gel features a non-stick, residue-free formula that leaves no mess behind, making it simple to clean your vehicle’s surfaces without the need for water or additional cleaning agents. link hidden, please login to viewIf you are shopping for the best products for RV interior spring cleaning, you can’t go wrong with
link hidden, please login to view. An RV is jam packed with surfaces that are coated with sticky handprints, food residue, grimy gear and pet hair. This multi-surface cleaner does not contain bleach, and is safe to use on vinyl and upholstery fabrics. And, after being applied, it will prevent mold and mildew from forming, which is great for families spending time at the beach or lake. Speaking of surfaces, an RV camper is filled with glass surfaces from appliances to bathroom fixtures to windows inside and out. Our NAPA experts highly recommend grabbing a bottle or two of the
link hidden, please login to view. If foam glass cleaner is your thing, go for the ammonia-free link hidden, please login to view that works on windows, mirrors and more. And finally, no bucket of RV cleaning products would be complete without air fresheners. Place
link hidden, please login to view underneath seats or inside cabinets and drawers. This vehicle deodorizer works on smoke, pet smells and food odors that are difficult to remove. For a quick refresh, stock up on a link hidden, please login to view from Chemical Guys. Don’t forget, participating NAPA Auto Parts stores offer a convenient
link hidden, please login to view option, so you can get back on the road in no time. And, NAPA offers even more savings with link hidden, please login to view. Earn 1 Point for every $1 you spend. Collect 100 Points, and automatically get $5 off your next order. Get Your RV Road Ready For Spring
At NAPA, we realize you bought an RV camper to spend more time outdoors, so let’s head outside. To start off your kit of RV exterior cleaning products, our experts recommend purchasing a solution to tackle splattered bugs, road tar and bird droppings. Because your recreational vehicle is massive, and you are likely to need to complete many washes in a season, go for the 32-ounce concentrate of
link hidden, please login to view by Sea Foam. This pre-soak eliminates the need for hard scrubbing, and is safe on vehicle paint, clear coats, gel coats, metal, glass, mirrors, outdoor carpet, plastic and vinyl. Follow up this pre-wash application with a true RV exterior cleaner, like a
link hidden, please login to view from Griot’s Garage. The ultra-slick formula offers a versatile application, including a traditional hand-applied bucket wash or with a foam sprayer. After doing all this intense spring cleaning, protect your hard work with the best RV wax that is safe on fiberglass. Our experts recommend, link hidden, please login to view, formulated specifically to remove oxidation from fiberglass or painted surfaces. The glossy shine provides unbeatable protection from harsh UV rays. Apply by hand or with an electric buffer. Need to stock up on the best RV roof cleaner? For RV roof cleaning, grab a bottle of Meguiar’s
link hidden, please login to view. It cleans, penetrates and rejuvenates nonpainted vinyl and rubber surfaces like new. Then, work your way down to any pull-out awnings. link hidden, please login to view should do the trick. It works on both vinyl and canvas materials. And finally, keep a can of link hidden, please login to view on hand. Of course, spring cleaning an RV is only one part of the long list of maintenance items for this rewarding passion. The NAPA Network carries the
link hidden, please login to view you need, from a link hidden, please login to view to link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. And check out these detailed guides by the NAPA Experts on link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. Photo courtesy of
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By Counterman
Spark plugs are the “canary in the coal mine” of the combustion chamber. The electrodes and porcelain can reveal short- and long-term problems if you know where to look.
Most OE spark plugs have a life of more than 50,000 miles, thanks to electrodes that contain precious metals like platinum and iridium. OEMs consider the spark plugs a part of the emissions system on most modern vehicles.
If the plugs fail sooner than the recommended interval, it’s important to solve the problem before installing new plugs. If you’re replacing spark plugs to solve a misfire problem, the car will be back.
But first, what causes spark plugs to foul quickly? What does a fouled spark plug look like, and what is spark plug fouling?
Carbon Fouling
If the spark plugs have a matte black or grey appearance, it could be carbon fouling – something typically caused by a fuel mixture that’s too rich.
During normal combustion, most of the fuel oxidizes and changes into carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gas. When there is more fuel than oxygen, the carbon in the unburned fuel polymerizes into carbon deposits. These molecules like to stick to the hot spots in the combustion chamber, and this includes the spark plug’s tip and insulator.
Curing the problem will typically point to the fuel system and how the engine is breathing. If a fuel injector is clogged or sticking open, extra fuel can cause carbon problems.
If the mass airflow sensor or oxygen sensors aren‘t accurately reporting the air that’s coming into the engine or the oxygen content in the exhaust stream, it could cause a rich-running condition that can cause carbon to foul the spark plugs.
Another factor is how the air flows past the valves. If the air is restricted or has to flow past carbon deposits on the intake valves, it will be turbulent and disturb the flame front and fuel-droplet size in the combustion chamber. This means that the fuel injected into the intake port or combustion chamber won’t entirely burn.
Oil Fouling
Oil fouling of a spark plug typically results in a shiny, black appearance. If enough oil is in the combustion chamber, the deposits can build up on the tip, porcelain or shell.
If you can’t determine if it’s carbon or oil fouling, smell the plug; it will smell like engine oil. The oil can come from the piston rings, valve stem seals or the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system. Leaking piston rings can be diagnosed with a leak-down test. If one cylinder has oil fouling, a relative compression check can help to assess mechanical issues with that cylinder.
Malfunctioning PCV systems are becoming a leading cause of oil fouling in modern engines. These systems have become more than just a spring-loaded check valve. Modern systems can separate oil from the crankcase vapors and electronically regulate when the engine ingests the vapors.
Some PCV systems have a heater to ensure that the valve doesn’t freeze under certain conditions when condensation is present. If the valve does freeze, it can cause higher-than-normal crankcase pressure. This can cause oil to be forced past the valve seals.
If the PCV valve is stuck open, the excess vapors and oil droplets can quickly foul the spark plugs.
A failed turbocharger can be another source of spark plug oil fouling. The seals on the turbine shaft are robust, but they can be victims of heat and poor oil quality. The oil that lubricates the shaft can enter into the pressurized intake and eventually the combustion chamber.
OEMs have issued technical service bulletins concerning excessive oil consumption. Most of these problems relate to cylinder deactivation and variable valve timing (VVT).
The main culprit in these problems is vacuum generated in the cylinders that sucks engine oil past the rings and into the combustion chamber. On vehicles with cylinder deactivation, the deactivated cylinder has negative pressure and draws oil droplets in the crankcase past the ring and eventually into the converter. This has happened on some GM and Honda engines.
On some vehicles with VVT (typically on the exhaust and intake cams), the valve timing could produce higher-than-normal vacuum pressures that could suck oil past the rings. This was the case for some recent Toyota, Honda and GM models. The customer would report increased oil consumption that exceeded one quart every1,000 miles.
Beyond the oil getting past the rings, the oil trapped in the rings can become carbonized and cause damage to the cylinder walls. This can lead to even more damage and more oil consumption. In some cases, the oil consumption results in a low-oil condition that would cause damage to the bearing surfaces.
Coolant Problems
Internal coolant leaks can foul a spark plug and cause a misfire. The problem could be a leaking intake manifold or a head gasket, and the fouled plug might be localized to one or two adjacent cylinders. The burned coolant leaves ashy, white deposits on the electrodes and insulator, creating hot spots that could cause pre-ignition and a misfire code to be set.
When the plug is pulled, it might have a chalky appearance on the ground strap and center electrode. Modern coolants don’t cause this type of buildup quickly, due to the reduction of phosphate, zinc and other additives that can contaminate the catalytic converters.
In the past, the converter would become clogged and stop the engine before significant damage occurred.
Unfortunately, formulations mean that drivers can run a vehicle with a coolant leak for several thousand miles, while the plug becomes slowly fouled.
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By Counterman
Democrats in Congress are warning that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) proposed guidance for implementation of Massachusetts’ Data Access Law conflicts with the Biden administration’s pledged support for Right to Repair, the CAR Coalition reported.
As
link hidden, please login to view, former auto repair shop owner and REPAIR and SMART Act co-sponsor Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D-WA) joined Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) in link hidden, please login to view to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and NHTSA Administrator Sophie Shulman outlining concerns that NHTSA’s latest guidance may unfairly harm independent repairers. Citing differences in remote-data access, the lawmakers’ letter warns that NHTSA’s current guidance creates a “double standard” between automaker repair networks and independent repair businesses that may “entrench manufacturers’ dominance in the repair market in the long run … [and] harm competition.”
Anticompetitive practices, like data-access restrictions and design-patent misuse, put independent repair shops at an unfair disadvantage and leave consumers footing higher repair bills.
“Our constituents understand the importance of supporting small businesses and preserving their right to repair the vehicles they own,” Gluesenkamp Perez, Auchincloss and Golden said in a joint statement. “ … Without competition from independent repair shops, auto manufacturers have no incentive to price repair parts competitively.”
Let your member of Congress know to advance these key pieces of legislation by writing them a letter
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