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Use Penetrating Oil to Loosen a Stuck Nut or Bolt

by | Apr 19, 2019 | General

byMatthew Wright Updated September 19, 2018

The penetrating oil is most useful when you have a corroded or rusted bolt or nut that just won’t budge. Pretty much every home garage or workshop needs a can of spray penetrating oil on a shelf. If you don’t have one, you probably should. But if you already have a can, there is also a good chance you’re using it incorrectly. It’s not uncommon for people to use a can of spray penetrating oil as an old-fashioned lubricant, but that’s actually not what it’s intended for. Spraying a bicycle chain or gear linkage with WD-40 or PB Blaster, won’t really offer the lubrication you wanted.

Penetrating Oil Defined

Although manufacturers vary in how they label their products, the spray oil you are looking for will be called “penetrating oil” or “penetrating lubricant”—even though it’s really not a typical lubricating oil, such as what is used to keep machinery gears running smoothly. 

Penetrating oil is a petroleum-based oil with an especially fine viscosity—so fine that it can be sprayed as a mist, and so fine that it will find the smallest openings between metal parts and penetrate them. Because penetrants have such low surface tension, they can seep into almost invisible crevices and over time loosen metal connection that appeared to be rusted solid. 

True penetrating oil is sold under many different brand names, including WD-40, PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, and AiroKroil. This can be a little confusing, especially since brands like the WD-40 offer not only a true penetrating oil but also sell spray lithium or silicone lubricants. And some may be marketed as “multi-use” lubricants that supposedly can be used both for penetrating and other general-purpose lubrication. However, the best products for loosening nuts and bolts and other parts will specify themselves on the label as “penetrating” oils. 

Penetrating Oil Uses

When faced with a rusty bolt or nut or other parts that seem corroded together, the secret is time. After spraying a healthy dose of penetrant on the fused parts, give them several hours—or even overnight—to sit while the penetrating oil seeps in. Then use your wrenches to try and loosen the parts. If they refuse to budge, hit them with another heavy dose of penetrating oil and again let them sit for several hours and try again. 

Sometimes, very stubborn parts can be loosened if you apply heat to them. For example, a stuck nut that is warmed up with a heat gun will expand just enough to allow your wrench to turn it. However, don’t apply direct flame to parts that are still wet with oil. Penetrating oils will evaporate rather quickly, but remember that these are petroleum-based products, so there is the possibility of igniting them.

Other Types of Spray Lubricants

True penetrating oils aren’t the best product for every use and not every spray lubrication product is a penetrating oil.

Here are some of the other spray products available, along with their recommended uses:

Lithium Grease: This is a mixture of lithium hydroxide and petroleum oils. This is a true lubricant, not a penetrating oil, and it works well for lubricating parts where heavy loads or pressure is present, such as the hinges on heavy doors or mechanical cranks.

PTFE: This name stands forpolytetrafluoroethylene, but it really is just a Teflon spray. It is very good for lubricating chains and cables. It is a great material for lubricating parts on a bicycle. 

Silicone: This is a spray lubricant containing about 1.5 percent silicone suspended in other materials to allow it to be applied as a spray. Silicone lubricants repel water and work well at extremely high or low temperatures. It is also unusual in that it can be used on rubber, wood, and plastic parts without staining them. It is not intended for applications where there will be heavy pressure.

Dry Lubricants: Although in spray form, dry lubricants come out damp, the solvents used to support the tiny, dry particles, usually graphite, quickly evaporate, leaving surfaces entirely dry. Dry lubricants are ideal for locks, indoor hinges, and drawer slides, since there is no oily mess and dirt doesn’t stick to them. Dry lubricants to not displace water, though, and they wear away fairly quickly and must be regularly reapplied. 

source- https://www.thoughtco.com/pb-blaster-vs-all-the-other-penetrants-281826

Winworks Service Tracking

by | Mar 16, 2019 | Winworks AutoShop

Service tracking in AutoShop can save you time and help you bring customers back into your shop. Getting customers to come back into your shop is a key part of growing your business. Winworks Service Tracking and automatically notify you when a customer is due for a service when they are in your shop. That way you can upsell them on a service, or check up. You can also run a marketing campaign in our Marketing Machine. Send a text, email, postcard or just print mailing labels. Want to know more, read below, and watch the video at the bottom of the page.

1. Set up the Service Tracking Groups.-

Go to Lists>Service Tracking. Here you can set up different service groups. Set up your timeframe, and mileage you would like to track for that service group. So when every task with that service group is selected, it will be tracked by Winworks.  Make sure to have the correct maintenance schedule selected. This will ensure that when you run marketing campaigns they will go to the correct people and the correct vehicles. 

2. Set up the Tasks

When you are in the task window. Look on the right-hand side of the screen, and look for “Service Tracking” and when you have that selected to the correct Service Type, you will be able to automatically track the Service Selected.

Why Winworks?

Because Winworks Works!

Learn WHY Winworks is the preferred Shop management Software!

Don’t Overlook Automotive Technology as a High-Tech Career Path

by | Mar 10, 2019 | General

Written by Tony Molla

Parents, if becoming an automotive technician is not high on your list of career choices for your child, perhaps it’s time to look again.

Automotive service and repair has changed dramatically in just the span of a generation. Working in the automotive service and repair industry is now one of the high-tech careers that is always in demand and can’t be outsourced overseas.

Sophisticated computerized control systems, unheard of 30 years ago, are now standard equipment on much of the nation’s fleet of vehicles. Modern advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), such as stability and traction control, adaptive cruise control, automatic braking and variable valve timing, just to name a few, are part of the rolling computer network we use every day for personal transportation.

In the 21st century, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles are commonplace; hydrogen fuel cell and other alternative fuel vehicles are deployed in municipal fleets around the country, and internet connections, voice recognition commands and GPS mapping are available in economy to luxury models.

Given the advance of technology and a richly varied automotive industry that offers an array of positions and career paths, the future is bright for talented young people with math, science, communications and technical skills. And unlike many high-tech careers that require four, six or even eight years of college, automotive technology careers can begin after just two years of education.

As with any career, lifelong learning and continuing education is necessary, but the simple fact is that students in automotive technology can get out into the real world sooner – and with less college debt.

This is the first of a series of blogs wherein we’ll explore the wealth of choices and opportunities a career in the automotive service industry can offer. I think you’ll find it an enlightening journey. Next up: job prospects and career paths that may surprise you.

Source- https://asashop.org/blog/dont-overlook-automotive-technology-high-tech-career-path/

Will NACE Make a Comeback?

by | Mar 1, 2019 | Articles

Written by Gary Ledoux

For years, the National (then later the International) Autobody Congress and Exposition, better known simply as NACE—later combined with the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service, better known simply as CARS—had been the premier trade show for the collision industry.

Driven by its sponsoring organization, the Automotive Service Association(ASA), the NACE show saw terrific growth in its early years, then fell into a long decline.

There will be no NACE show for 2019. So what happened?

Founding and Growth

Sponsored by the then-premier automotive repair organizations of their time, the Independent Automotive Service Association and the Automotive Service Councils, the first NACE show was held in November 1983 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Prior to this time, there had been a number of small, regional shows sponsored by local auto body associations, but this was the first show of its kind on a national scale. The first show proved popular and exceeded expectations.

NACE came along at precisely the right time in the evolution of the industry. In the summer of 1983, a spot survey of shops conducted by the trade media asked how many had attended a national or local trade show. Close to 80 percent had recently been to a trade show, and over 90 percent had been to one in the past two years. Those who did attend said they wanted to look at the latest equipment and keep up on repair techniques and trends. Those who didn’t attend claimed there were no shows in their area, or they just didn’t have time to go—being so busy just to stay afloat. The first show saw 171 exhibitor booths and about 1,500 attendees.

Reaching Its Peak

In the early ‘80s, shops were on a buying frenzy securing new equipment to work on the new unibody cars. A trade show was the ideal place to see the equipment, talk with manufacturer reps and network with other shop owners.

Only two years later, in 1985, NACE attendees exceeded 4,000. In 1986, attendance exceeded 6,200, and by 1988, attendance broke 10,000. The last show of the decade saw more than 15,000 attendees.

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