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NAPA Shopping Guide: What You Need To Get An RV Ready For Spring
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By Counterman
Sunday, May 4, 2025, officially marks the 100th anniversary of NAPA and a century of service in the automotive industry. This automotive industry milestone highlights NAPA’s commitment to supporting drivers and repair shops nationwide. To commemorate the occasion,
link hidden, please login to view is debuting a celebratory paint scheme on all four of its race team cars. In a rare event, three of these teams will hit the track from May 1-4 at the Texas Motor Speedway. NAPA 100 Paint Scheme Honors Automotive Industry Milestone
The company said the NAPA 100 paint scheme is the perfect way to honor NAPA’s history and impact.
The rapid adoption of automobiles meant people across the country needed reliable repair shops to maintain their cars.
link hidden, please login to viewstepped up to meet that need. Today, as the automotive aftermarket industry evolves faster than ever, NAPA embraces new technologies and advancements to keep drivers on the road. link hidden, please login to view Design Details Celebrate a Century of Excellence
NAPA describes the paint scheme as a champagne gold that is sure to stand out from the pack.
Thoughtfully designed, the gilded look features NAPA’s unique 100-year logo and a matching driver fire suit. The design symbolizes celebration and NAPA’s impressive legacy, the company said.
NAPA’s Racing Community Joins the Celebration
As a decades-long sponsor of motorsports, NAPA said it was important to honor this milestone with its racing community. NAPA is a sponsor of NASCAR driver Chase Elliott, American NHRA Funny Car racer Ron Capps, NASCAR trucks driver Daniel Hemric and sprint car racer Brad Sweet.
link hidden, please login to view 100 Celebration Weekend – NAPA Race Team Schedule:
Series: Kubota High Limit Racing
Team: Kasey Kahne Racing
Car: #49 Sprint Car
Driver: Brad Sweet
Owner: Kasey Kahne
Dates: 5/1 & 5/3 (2-night event)
Race: Stockyard Stampede at The Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway
Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Team: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Car: No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Daniel Hemric
Owner: Bill McAnally
Date: Friday, May 2
Race: SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Team:
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Car: No.9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
Driver: Chase Elliott
Owner: Rick Hendrick
Date: Sunday, May 4
Race: WÜRTH 400 NASCAR Cup Series
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By WiperTech008
2009 Cadillac DTS Wiring Harness - Anyone Know the Part # or Compatible Alternatives?
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By Counterman
March 31, 2025, marked a milestone in engine oil development—the first license date for the
link hidden, please login to view. While that might sound like just another specification in a long line of upgrades, for professional parts counter pros selling to independent repair shops, it’s a moment that carries real-world impact. Understanding what’s new—and how to help shop owners explain it to their customers—could be the difference between a routine oil sale and a value-driven recommendation. First, What Is GF-7?
GF-7 builds on the progress of the GF-6 specification introduced in 2020. Like its predecessor, GF-7 is split into two categories: GF-7A for most modern gasoline engines and GF-7B for low-viscosity formulations like 0W-16, commonly used in vehicles from Japanese OEMs like Toyota. The key takeaway? GF-7 oils are fully backward compatible. If a customer’s vehicle previously called for GF-6, GF-5, or even GF-4, a GF-7A product can safely be used. For 0W-16 applications, GF-7B covers those needs—just make sure the shop isn’t using a 0W-16 oil in an engine not designed for it.
“When they developed the GF categories almost 30-plus years ago, the idea was that it’s an evergreen category, so they’re all backward compatible,” Dr. Michael Warholic, global technology director,
link hidden, please login to view. “The caveat is that GF-7B category. Some engines don’t like thin oil because they’re just not made to operate that way. You have to be careful about misapplication. “The OEMs identified that and developed a shield icon with 0W-16 label to make it easy to identify it versus 0W-20 or heavier oil,” he said.
How to Identify GF-7 on the Shelf
Paying attention to the API designation and symbols on the bottle is key. Counter pros should be looking for the API “donut” and the Starburst or Shield symbols:
• The Starburst still signals general GF-category oils (GF-7A).
• A Shield symbol identifies 0W-16 oils under the GF-7B track.
• Look for API donut to know it’s GF-7.
“It boils down to: if you see the Starburst, it’s a qualified GF oil. If you see the donut on the back, it has the API credentials on it,” Warholic explained.
There’s a one-year transition period where GF-6 oils will still be in circulation, but by March 2026, GF-7 will be the standard.
“Model Year 2026 is when we expect the OEMs will start to notice GF-7 oils in the owner’s manual,” added Karl Kocher, director of light duty product strategy, Valvoline.
Why Should Your Shop Customers Care?
Not all oils are created equal, and consumers are becoming more selective. GF-7 brings improvements in durability, fuel economy, wear protection and emissions performance. This includes:
• Deposit control: GF-7 increases limits on piston cleanliness to limit deposits, helping prevent buildup that can lead to costly repairs like ring sticking.
• Wear resistance: Chain wear limits are tighter to protect timing systems and avoid check-engine lights.
• Cold start protection: Improved low-temp viscosity performance means oil flows better when the engine is most vulnerable—at startup.
• LSPI protection over time: GF-7 includes a new test for aged oil’s ability to resist Low-Speed Pre-Ignition, protecting direct-injected turbo engines long after the oil change.
• Ash limit: For the first time, GF-7 introduces an ash cap to help reduce emissions—a nod to the increasing regulatory pressure on internal combustion engines.
Selling the Upgrade
In addition to standard GF-7 products, some oil suppliers are offering “above and beyond” formulations. Valvoline’s Restore & Protect, for example, is a fully synthetic motor oil that aims at both older, high-mileage vehicles (restore) and new vehicles (protect). While the oil sports a proprietary formulation, Valvoline has noted two proprietary technologies–Active Clean, which removes deposits, and Liqui-Shield, which prevents deposit formation.
“The active technology behind the Restore and Protect products is the same in our GF-6 and our GF-7 products,” Warholic confirmed. “For GF-7, it’s built on a slightly different platform to meet the requirements. The Restore and Protect technology is above and beyond even the deposit performance required for GF-7. It exceeds that performance and does something that no other oil does or that’s actually required by GF-7. It is our own proprietary technology.”
That’s especially valuable in older engines that were exposed to less advanced oils under earlier standards like GF-4 or GF-5. With Restore and Protect, your shop customers can offer a tiered service—a standard GF-7 oil for maintenance, or R&P for vehicles showing signs of engine wear or for customers wanting the best protection available.
Bottom Line for Counter Pros
• Understand the labeling: Starburst = GF-7A; Shield = GF-7B; look for API SQ on the donut.
• Ask about the vehicle: Year, model, and what oil is currently being used.
• Explain backward compatibility: GF-7 oils replace earlier categories in most cases.
• Be proactive: As model year 2026 approaches, shops will need help identifying the right oils—GF-7A or GF-7B—and transitioning their inventory.
GF-7 isn’t just a new acronym—it’s the new baseline. The counter pros who get ahead of it now will be the ones their shop customers rely on tomorrow.
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By Counterman
Since its inception in 2011, the NAPA Partnership Event (formerly known as the NAPA Vendor Summit) has recognized outstanding suppliers through its Supplier Awards Ceremony. NAPA said the event provides an opportunity to honor the exceptional contributions of NAPA’s valued supplier partners—those who champion innovation, quality and excellence in everything they do.
link hidden, please login to viewadded that the Spirit of NAPA award, in particular, has a rich history and is awarded to a trusted supplier that embodies NAPA’s values. This year’s Spirit of NAPA award winner, Dorman, stood out for its dedication to innovation, commitment to quality and lasting impact on the industry. Below is the complete list of winners:
Innovation Award: Milwaukee Tool Quality Award: East Penn Manufacturing Cataloging Award: Old World Industries Sales Award: TERREPOWER Service Award: Weitron Indirect Supplier Award: Pricefx Spirit of NAPA Award: Dorman Partnership Award: Neal Williams The post
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By Counterman
In celebration of International Women’s Day this Saturday, March 8, NAPA will be giving away 1,000 free copies of “The Car That She Built”, a children’s book that pays tribute to the women who have paved the way for the next generation of innovators and leaders in automotive technology.
“Our collaboration with TechForce and the She Built Foundation underscores a shared mission to inspire and empower young girls, encouraging them to envision and pursue exciting careers in skilled trades,” said Cassie Bell, chief people officer at
link hidden, please login to view. “By showcasing the achievements and potential of women in the automotive industry, we aim to break down barriers and open garage doors for future generations.” Readers can sign up for their free copy
link hidden, please login to view The campaign will launch on Friday, March 7, and run through the end of Women’s History Month (March). The post
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