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By Counterman
Anchor industries continues to support the aftermarket with late model coverage. This month, the company highlights additional late model Honda coverage.
The eight part numbers represent a small sampling of many of the late model part numbers that are in stock and available for immediate delivery.
Covering over 2,971,550 applications and model years 2016-2023, these parts numbers represent excellent sales opportunities, the company states.
For more information, visit anchor-online.com
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By Counterman
Niterra North America, formerly NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), announced that it is expanding its coverage of spark plugs and ignition coils and adding 15 new part numbers to its line of spark plugs.
The new part numbers, sold under the company’s NGK brand of spark plugs, represent an increase in coverage for more than 6.5 million domestic and foreign vehicles in operation (VIO). Niterra also has added 12.9 million VIO of spark plug coverage and 10.6 million VIO of ignition-coil carry-forward coverage to its catalog.
“The 15 new spark plug numbers fit a variety of 2012-2021 model vehicles across a broad spectrum of high-volume applications, many of them utilizing high-ignitability and precious metal technology designs,” said Mark Boyle, general manager – product OE & AM for Niterra North America. “NGK Spark Plugs is committed to application-coverage leadership and supplying service providers with our latest OEM technology, and we are excited to extend our category-leading spark plug designs and ignition-coil technologies into the aftermarket through these applications.”
For more details about Niterra and the NGK spark plug and NTK product brands, visit
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By Counterman
Motul recently launched Motul 8100 Power for the North American market.
Motul developed 8100 Power specifically for performance street vehicles that do not require a dedicated track motor oil such as Motul 300V, the company said.
The 100% synthetic, ester-based engine oil replaces and expands upon the Motul Sport line and is available in four viscosities for use in naturally aspirated and forced-induction gasoline and diesel engines.
“Engineered with modern performance engines in mind, 8100 Power provides the ideal balance between performance and protection,” said Motul USA Marketing Manager Nolan Browning. “With 8100 Power, we are taking what we’ve learned from our decades as a leader in motorsport lubrication technology and applying it to high-performance and tuned street cars. It’s the perfect addition to our line of motor oils for everything from general service to extreme track use.”
The new line of
link hidden, please login to view is specially formulated to ensure performance and reliability for turbocharged or naturally aspirated light-duty diesel or gasoline engines across a broad range of temperatures and engine RPMs, according to Motul. Motul 8100 Power is engineered to protect against the risk of low-speed pre-ignition in small-displacement turbocharged direct-injection engines. It delivers oil-film resistance at elevated temperatures for peak engine power, torque and anti-wear protection, thanks to a unique combination of ester base oils and friction modifiers, according to the company.
Motul 8100 Power also maintains compatibility with manufacturer warranties with vehicles requiring API SP-grade lubricants as well as full compatibility with bioethanol (E85 and E100), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), CNG (compressed natural gas) and diesel fuels.
Motul 8100 Power is available in 0W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-50 viscosities in 1-liter and 5-liter containers. The high-performance lubricant already has been recommended and extensively tested for high-performance vehicles at manufacturer-recommended drain intervals.
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By Counterman
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian AEB systems on passenger cars and light trucks.
The proposed rule is expected to dramatically reduce crashes associated with pedestrians and rear-end crashes, according to the agency.
NHTSA projects that the proposed rule, if finalized, would save at least 360 lives a year and reduce injuries by at least 24,000 annually.
In addition, the AEB systems would result in significant reductions in property damage caused by rear-end crashes, according to NHTSA. Many crashes would be avoided altogether, while others would be less destructive.
“Today, we take an important step forward to save lives and make our roadways safer for all Americans,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on May 31. “Just as lifesaving innovations from previous generations like seatbelts and air bags have helped improve safety, requiring automatic emergency braking on cars and trucks would keep all of us safer on our roads.”
The
link hidden, please login to view is a key component of the department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), which was launched in January 2022 to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The NRSS adopts the safe-system approach and builds multiple layers of protection with safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds and better post-crash care, according to the agency. As part of the safe system approach, the proposed rule highlights safer vehicles and the DOT’s effort to expand vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes. An AEB system uses various sensor technologies and sub-systems that work together to detect when the vehicle is close to crashing, and then automatically applies the vehicle brakes if the driver has not done so, or applies more braking force to supplement the driver’s braking as necessary to avoid or mitigate the severity of the crash.
“We’ve seen the benefits of the AEB system in some passenger vehicles already even at lower speeds, and we want to expand the use of the technology to save even more lives,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Ann Carlson said. “That’s why our proposed rule would require all cars to be able to stop and avoid contact with a vehicle in front of them up to 62 miles per hour. And the proposal would require pedestrian AEB, including requiring that AEB recognize and avoid pedestrians at night,” “This proposed rule is a major safety advancement.”
If adopted as proposed, nearly all U.S. light vehicles (gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less) would be required to have AEB technology three years after the publication of a final rule.
This notice is a direct response to a provision in the
link hidden, please login to view to create a rule to establish minimum performance standards requiring that all passenger vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States be equipped with an AEB system. A preliminary regulatory impact analysis that presents the benefits and costs associated with the proposed rule also link hidden, please login to view. The post
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By Counterman
The more time I spent behind the counter, the more I noticed the diversity of customers coming into the store from one day to the next. My theory is that cars are a uniting force in our world. Put simply, they may be the one thing we all share in common. To some of us, cars are simply a way to “get from point A to point B.” Then there are the enthusiasts who look at their car not only as transportation, but also as an extension of their passions, and sometimes, their personalities.
I’d say that I fall into the second category. I love cars for a number of reasons. The snarling sound of a European V-8 compared to the rumble of an American V-8 – both are music to my ears! I also tend to make at least some sort of modification to every vehicle I own. It may not be a big upgrade, but something to either add a bit of my own style, or a touch of added convenience.
I’m not the type of person who is only interested in horsepower, but I know when a car feels like it’s lacking in that department. However, there are customers out there who want to boost horsepower as much as possible, and they’re willing to shell out some serious cash to make it happen! It’s probably safe to say that you’ve had at least one experience with a customer who is looking to boost their car’s horsepower, even just a little bit.
Let’s take a look at what sort of parts this type of customer could be interested in, and what you can do to make the sale.
Air Intake
High-flow performance filters are a common upgrade. These filters come in a variety of colors. The color is from a dyed oil that’s soaked into the element. The elements typically are a cotton weave, held in place by a wire mesh. The weave is looser than a standard paper air filter, which allows a greater volume of air to pass through. Since the loose weave can’t filter out the smaller particles, it’s soaked in oil, and the particles will, in turn, stick to the oil. Dye is used in the oil so there’s an easily noticeable contrast between the oil and the element, allowing you to ensure that all areas are saturated.
These types of filters can flow more air, and drivers may be able to feel a small change in performance. But they do require regular cleaning and re-oiling to maintain their level of performance. You can be confident about selling them and touting the increased flow, but I do warn people that when they clean and oil them, be sure to heed the instructions, and don’t over-oil them. There always have been “rumors” of these types of filters damaging mass airflow sensors, but they’re largely unfounded, and over-oiling them is the only thing that could possibly contribute to this.
At the higher end, the customer may choose to install a new intake system. An intake system swaps out the factory air box for a heat shield, or a redesigned air box for better air flow.
Power-Adders
This next category steps things up a notch. Power-adders are upgrades that are designed to add horsepower, or possibly free up ponies that are being lost along the way.
Thanks to the widespread use of turbocharging in modern-day engines, there are plenty of tuning possibilities with these forced-induction engines. Bigger, more efficient intercoolers will help to keep those intake-air temps low. Cooler intake air is denser air, and this means better power and efficiency.
There are plenty of opportunities to maximize airflow and efficiency in a turbocharged application. Small gains can be seen by upgrading the charge pipes that carry the charge air from the turbocharger to the intercooler, then from the intercooler to the intake manifold. The small, restrictive stock turbo inlet pipe can be swapped out for an upgraded cast aluminum for better air flow. These may be small gains, but they will start to add up. For the best possible power gains, they may want to consider having the ECU tuned by an aftermarket tuner.
High-End Upgrades or Retrofits
Our final category comes in at the highest price point, but some of them can bring tremendous power gains.
The exhaust system is responsible for carrying away exhaust gases after combustion. The real problem – at least in a car enthusiast’s eyes – is that stock exhausts are quiet. An upgraded downpipe can make a huge sound difference on a turbocharged engine. Aftermarket headers can have a similar effect on naturally aspirated engines. And a cat-back exhaust system (from the catalytic converter back) can benefit any vehicle with a livelier exhaust note. But it’s wise to urge your customers to always adhere to local ordinances and emissions regulations.
We already talked about modern engines that are turbocharged from the factory, but what if their vehicle isn’t turbocharged? Well, it’s possible, of course, to retrofit a turbocharger or supercharger onto a naturally aspirated engine, but that brings a whole new level of complication and cost.
And let’s not forget our customers with supercharged engines, such as the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, Audi S4 and Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. There are a number of vehicles out there with supercharged engines. One of the easiest ways to gain power in these applications would be by installing a new supercharger pulley. This smaller-diameter pulley causes the supercharger to spin faster, increasing the amount of boost it can generate. After this, the crankshaft pulley can be replaced with a larger one, increasing the amount of overdrive to the supercharger. Speaking from experience, with both of these pulleys and the required ECU tune on a 2013 Audi S4, the difference is night and day! The car went from being quick to snapping your head back into the headrest.
These are just a few examples of upgrades that can be used to boost horsepower. I would urge you to spend some time looking through your catalogs and familiarizing yourself with the offerings inside. Chances are you’ll have an opportunity to sell upgraded parts to a customer soon!
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