Mercon SP Fluid in Ford 5r110w Trans
Q: Can you tell me any details on Mercon SP fluid used in Ford 5r110w trans and what brands offer an equal? A: Mercon SP is a specially formulated, friction-modified transmissions fluid. Ford does not recommend using any other type of transmission fluid in transmissions that require Mercon SP, which would include so-called “universal” ATFs.
How does ethanol gas affect some older-model vehicle fuel systems?
The fuel system on any car or light truck that has been manufactured since the 1980s should be compatable with gasoline/ethanol mixtures of up to 10 percent ethanol. However, ONLY vehicles that are built to be FLEX FUEL vehicles can handle higher blends of ethanol alcohol (E85). Alcohol is a strong solvent and may cause
Where can I find the value of a 1959 Cadillac Deville, unrestored value and fully restored value?
Here are three sources that might help: http://www.nadaguides.com/ http://www.hemmings.com/priceguide/check_prices.html http://www.kbb.com When finding the value of older vehicles, beauty is in the eye of the beholder or key holder in this case. Most price guides for late-model vehicles is based on "dealer only" auction prices or retail prices paid by consumers (DMV title information). Since very
What is the best way to explain to customers why they should buy top-quality parts instead of their low-budget, cheaper counterparts?
I’d start off with asking them how many times they’re willing to drive to an auto parts store to get yet another cheap part that will fail. It’s all about the adage, "You get what you pay for." If the job is done right the first time, it’s often less expensive than going back time
Do you think members of the public view counter people any differently than they would view fast food or grocery store employees? How so and why?
My hope is that they would view counter professionals very differently. If you as counter professionals become a trusted source of information for them, it would certainly cast you in a good light. However, if you’ve ever asked a grocery store employee where an item is and they simply point in a direction without showing
What is the Real Cost of a Cheap Brake Pad?
By Andrew Markel The brake repair market is starting to become dominated by a “good enough” mentality. Good enough to some is just being able to stop in a “reasonable” distance at normal driving and last for 10,000 miles. But, when asked to perform an emergency stop or a series of hard stops, the vehicle
The Effects of Biodiesel on Fuel Filters
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is rapidly growing in use. However, biodiesel received a bad reputation after the problems that occurred in 2005 when some states mandated the use of B2 biodiesel blend statewide. One of the problems was very short fuel filter life. Further research revealed that the problems encountered were not due
Short-term Pain for Long-term Gain
I’ve been in the parts business for 17 years, mostly on the dealership side of the business. I’ve found that the same practices used on the dealership side also work in the independent world. With a little effort and some help from a computer, it is fairly simple to track purchases and stock based on
Wake Up to the Computer Age
I’m a 32-year veteran of the auto parts business and am ASE certified in eight areas. While it’s good to have paper catalogs at a backup, in some instances, an e-cat is better. At NAPA, we have an e-cat system that shows exhaust diagrams. It’s very useful and faster to look up online than on
Sorry, I Prefer Paper
With paper catalogs, an error is found once. I can make a notation or use sticky paper or a paperclip to mark it so it can be shared with other counter people. There’s no way to make notation with e-cats I’ve used. I have found e-cats may fix one listing but other new mistakes pop
Cylinder Head Oil Leak or Weepage Found on Some 4.6L and 5.4L Engines
Some vehicles equipped with the Romeo 4.6L 2V engine or 5.4L 2V Windsor and 5.4L Supercharged engine may exhibit an oil leak or oil weepage from the cylinder head gasket at the right-hand rear or the left-hand front of the engine. Oil weepage is not considered detrimental to engine performance or durability. An oil leak
Spark Plug Wire Inspection
Spark plug wires are designed to carry the electrical voltage from the ignition system to the spark plug. They are designed to have very low resistance so the maximum amount of energy is transferred. This transfer of energy can be interrupted by several factors: