Tag Archive for: interview

Synthetic Motor oil

Today I am joined by Ron and Hank from Sport Dimensions Inc. When it comes to engine oils, and racing these are the smartest two guys I know. We We are talking the differences between an passenger car Synthetic oil change and a NASCAR oil change. This video has been compensated by Pennzoil. All opinions are mine alone. Join Hank, Ron and I as we discuss:Synthetic Motor oil

  • Why the synthetic engine oils NEED to be different.
  • How synthetic engine oils are different
  • 500 mile VS 10,000 mile engine oil
  • How NASCAR synthetic motor oil is similar!
  • What is PurePlus™ technology?
  • How NASCAR engine oil is analyzed
  • What is foaming oil?
  • They hold HOW MUCH oil?
  • Preheating synthetic engine oil
  • Synthetic engine oil in other race cars (F1, Indy Car)
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “Your Synthetic Engine Oil VS NASCAR Synthetic Oil” on YouTube. As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below.Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form! Don’t forget to follow me at:

Don’t forget to follow me at:

Today on the automotive podcast, Jason from Engineering Explained and I sit down and talk cars. This is episode 122 of the Humble Mechanic Podcast. For those of you that don’t know, Jason is an amazing teacher of how cars work. He also does really great car reviews. Be sure to check out all his work at Engineering Explained on YouTube. 

How to follow EE
You know you want to connect with Jason, and follow him on all the really awesome social placesHow DSG Transmissions work

Join Jason and I as we discuss:

  • Jason IS Behind The Wrench
  • Learn about how Engineering Explained got started
  • Engineering Explained teaching about cars
  • Engineering Explained car reviews
  • Coolest video that Engineering Explained as covered(hint I was in it too)
  • How Jason got into cars
  • How being trained as an engineer changed the view of cars
  • Best first upgrade for a car
  • Do engineer REALLY hate mechanic?
  • Jason’s favorite car review
  • and more


Trouble viewing? Watch “Behind The Wrench ~ Engineering Explained” on YouTube

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. Again, if you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com with Question for Charles in the subject. Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form!

Don’t forget to follow me at:

ETCG

On episode 110 of The Humble Mechanic Podcast, we go “Behind The Wrench” with EricTheCarGuy for part two. Behind The Wrench is an interview series were we talk with folks all around the automotive industry. There are so many interseting folks in the field. It is also important to see all the unique points of view. Understanding all the roles of the auto industry will help us become better at what we do, whether you are a tech, a parts person, or an advisor. If you missed part one of our interview, check it out at Behind The Wrench ~ EricTheCarGuy ~ Part One

Join Eric and I for Part 2 as we chat:

  • Eric’s favorite tools
  • Was EricTheCarGuy, a car guy before he was ETCG?
  • Eric’s favorite car
  • Eric’s least favorite car
  • Eric on car lighting mods
  • Junk yard frog?
  • Best car for sending a kid to college in
  • The “ah ha” moment for ETCG?
  • The epic EE BURN!
  •  Best moment of ETCG
  • Fixing it forward
  •  What NO ONE has ever asked EricTheCarGuy
  •  Eric’s favorite air freshener scent
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “Behind The Wrench ~ EricTheCarGuy ~ Part Two” on Youtube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. If you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form! Don’t forget to follow me at:

interview with ETCG

On episode 109 of The Humble Mechanic Podcast, we go “Behind The Wrench” with EricTheCarGuy. Behind The Wrench is an interview series were we talk with folks all around the automotive industry. There are so many interseting folks in the field. It is also important to see all the unique points of view. Understanding all the roles of the auto industry will help us become better at what we do, whether you are a tech, a parts person, or an advisor.

Follow EricTheCarGuy:

Join Eric and I for Part 1 as we chat:

  • Who is EricTheCarGuy?
  • Project 1979 Fairmont
  • Eric as a technician
  • Going to automotive tech school
  • Continued learning as a tech
  • Keeping it simple
  • Eric’s favorite jobs as a tech
  • ScannerDanner
  • Is Eric a tool snob?
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “Behind The Wrench ~ EricTheCarGuy ~ Part One” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. If you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form! Don’t forget to follow me at:

behind the wrench with PAUL DAP

Happy Friday everyone. Today we are bringing back an old favorite,  Behind The Wrench.

This is an interview series I started very early in the blog’s life. It was a way to get to know some of the other parts of the auto industry. Well due to my lack of time, I had to put that series on hold. It took a lot of time to format the interviews so they were easy to read. Well, I think I figured out a way to bring this back, and in video form.

Today we get to sit down with Paul owner of Deutsche Auto Parts. They are VW and Audi parts specialist with a huge selection of everything VW/Audi. We get to learn a little more about Paul and his VW background.

If you are having trouble viewing, watch it on YouTube Behind The Wrench ~ Paul Deutsche Auto Parts ~ Episode 22

If you have any questions for Paul, post them in the comments below. Also be sure to check out his VW DIY videos.

Also check them out at:

 

Auto Mechanic

Happy Friday Everyone. I have something a little different for you guys today. A few weeks ago I send some of your questions about windshields to the folks at Safelite AutoGlass. Scott Gardner is the Director of Technical and Operational Training. He took some time to answer all our questions on this weeks “Behind the Wrench”.

If my windshield has a small crack or chip, how do I know if it can be repaired?

A windshield chip is made of thousands of micro cracks and a strong jolt or extreme temperature change can turn it into a much larger crack. These types of chips can easily and quickly be repaired before they crack out and require replacement.

Not all blemishes are really chips. Sometimes there will be a scratch or pit in the surface that do not threaten the structural integrity of the windshield and do not need repaired.

Our standard for knowing if a crack in the windshield can be repaired is if it is smaller than a dollar bill, which is less than 6 inches long.

 

Is chip repair something promoted more due to cost from the insurance company?

While a repair is cheaper than a replacement, it’s more about safety. Most automotive safety experts rank the windshield as a vehicle’s third most important safety component behind seatbelts and airbags. The windshield ensures the passenger-side airbag deploys properly and helps maintain a vehicle’s structural integrity in the event of a rollover.

Damaged glass is approximately 60 to 70 percent weaker than undamaged glass, making driving over pot holes and speed bumps more hazardous. A repair is an effective solution to restore the original strength of the windshield.

 

How does aftermarket glass compare to OEM glass?

 All vehicle glass sold in the U.S. – both OEM and aftermarket – must meet the same Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

 

Is there an aftermarket company that makes better glass than others?

Safelite manufactured aftermarket windshields are put through a rigorous, five-point in-plant inspection and are further validated through random plant and supply chain audits, so we stand behind the quality of our windshields.

 

What do you think about people tinting their windshields? Is this safe?

 This is a dangerous practice and should absolutely be avoided. Modern day windshields are manufactured to strict OE standards that take into consideration light transmission as well as optical clarity for options such as lane departure, cameras, and heads-up displays. Altering the color and tint of a windshield will negatively affect the performance of the option as well as cause safety issues because night visibility is reduced. Besides being dangerous, tinting a vehicle’s windshield is illegal in many states.

 

What is the best way to clean a windshield?

Look for non-drip glass cleaners that are streak-free with no unpleasant odors for the best clean. These professional-grade glass cleaner can be difficult to find, but Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, has it for sale $3.98 per can in its 400+ retail locations across the country. To find one near you, visit Safelite.com and check the service locator.

Use soft, clean materials. Never use harsh chemicals, or things like steel wool or scrapers, which could damage the windshield.

You can clean the wiper blades with the same towels and cleaner and replace them at least once a year.

Avoid cleaning in direct sunlight because the heat dries the surface very quickly.

There are a few DIY auto glass repair kits on the market. Do you recommend them?

There are many different types of resin on the market – some better than others. Some will shrink, making the risk for further cracking higher. Some will discolor, affecting the visibility of the driver. For this reason, do-it-yourself kits or companies who do not use top quality resins are not recommended. We’ve seen plenty of do-it-yourself jobs where the resin starts to disintegrate and yellow significantly. And, once a chip has been filled, you cannot re-fill it. So it’s best to get it right the first time.

Safelite AutoGlass uses an exclusive resin, GlassHealer™ in the repair process that’s been tested by an independent lab and shown to be the strongest and longest lasting on the market. Safelite’s exclusive resin offers:

  • Higher adhesion for a more durable repair
  • Better aging for a visually superior repair
  • Less risk of shrinkage causing re-appearance of chips
  • Better color stability, meaning less risk of yellowing

And, all Safelite repairs are backed by a national warranty and are guaranteed to pass lease turn-back and state vehicle inspections.

Can you tell us about some of the safety features of modern auto glass?

 Some of the advances in windshields include:

  • Heads-up displays improve safety by showing information about road hazards ahead or cars in your blind spot through an “overlay” on the windshield.
  • A part of the lane departure alert systems, video sensors are being embedded behind the windshield, typically beside the rear mirror.
  • Automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers allow the driver to activate the windshield wipers once, and then forget about them, reducing driver distraction during inconsistent rain or snow
  • A collision avoidance system reduces the severity of an accident, thanks in part to a camera located on the windshield and a more sensitive radar to detect for the first time smaller “soft” objects such as animals and pedestrians.

Other interesting advancements include:

  • Adaptive Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Control is a sensor mounted on the windshield to sense traffic ahead and turn the cruise control off or reduce speed.

  • A Condensation Sensor is mounted on the windshield to detect the presence of condensation and turn the on defroster.

  • A Light Sensor on the windshield senses the absence of light and turns on the headlights.

  • Night Vision is an infrared camera mounted on the windshield that detects objects further ahead than the headlights.

  • Hydrophobic Coating is a water-resistant coating applied to glass causing rain to run off allowing better visibility.

  • Automatic High Beam Control Sensor or Smart Beam Headlamp System turns on high beams when no other vehicle is present and reverts back to low beams when detecting oncoming headlamps or tail lights.

What is the car that you replace the most windshields in?

We track by the windshield part rather than the vehicle. The most common is DW01658, which is used in multiple models, including 2007-2013 models of the Chevrolet Avalanche, Cheyenne, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; GMC Sierra and Yukon; and the Cadillac Escalade.

Which car has the most unique windshield to replace?

There is not one model that stands out as being the most unique. Several exotic vehicles are very unique because of the shape and way they set in place. Vehicles with options like lane departure cameras, sensors, and heads-up displays are unique. And large commercial vehicles like buses are unique because of the overall size. Because of the complexity of the modern windshield and complexity of today’s vehicles, drivers should always select a quality replacement company with well-trained technicians.

That is pretty much what my community wants to know. If Scott has any info he wants folks to know, please share it.

When you choose the nation’s largest auto glass company, you get the reliability of the Safelite AdvantageTM:

Always being there

Glass damage can happen at any hour. Safelite is always here with 24/7 live representatives in our renowned contact centers, as well as web and mobile app scheduling.

Knowing who to expect

When you schedule Safelite mobile service, customers receive peace of mind with the Technician Profile Email, including the technician’s name, photo and credentials before he or she arrives.

The best replacement technology

Our proprietary TrueSeal™ system guides the new windshield into precise position to ensure the most reliable seal. Plus, Safelite recycles the old windshield, making replacement a more earth-friendly option.

The strongest repairs

Safelite’s exclusive GlassHealer™ resin is why our windshield repairs stay stronger and last longer. It penetrates cracks better to make the windshield strong again.

The industry’s only nationwide lifetime guarantee

Safelite is proud to feature the industry’s only nationwide lifetime guarantee. We back it up with more than 5,000 state-of-the-art MobileGlassShops™ and company stores in all 50 states.

Well, I really want to thank Scott for taking the time to answer our questions. I learned a lot about windshields today.

Hey everyone, it’s time for Behind the Wrench! Today we have a former mechanic who now teaches the craft to the next generation! It is my absolute pleasure to have this interview with Bill!

NAME:
William (Bill) Foster
How long have you been in the Industry?
40 years
What is your current job title?
Program Director, Tech School
What were you doing for your first automotive job?
I started out working for Sears Automotive, busting tires, changing oil, you know, grunt work.
In the years you have been in the industry cars have changed so much, what is your favorite thing cars are equipped with now that they were not when you started?
As a music fan, I really like the way radios have progressed. Otherwise, GPS rocks.
Were cars really built better when you first started working on them? Is “they just don’t build them like they use to” really true?
Cars were easier to work on back in the 70s, but they needed a lot of work. By 70K, one had to have suspensions rebuilt and sometime, major engine repairs. Newer cars don’t have to be worked on as often. It is true, they don’t make them like they used to…they make them better.
Do you currently work at a Dealer, or in an aftermarket shop, do you prefer one over the other?
My last hands-on job was at an independent. During my career, I worked for both dealers and independents both have their good and bad.
Walk us through what you do on a daily basis.
Currently, I’m a director and a teacher at a technical school in a manufacturers program. I like it because I get the skinny on all the new technology and I have a 40-hour week.
When you are not working on or with cars, what do you like to do?
Summer, boating and jet-skiing. Fall and Winter, hiking.
What kind of car do you drive?
Old Jeep Cherokee. It pulls the boats and takes me to the trails.
 What was your first car?
1969 Camaro SS. 396, 4-speed.
What made you want to work on cars?
A hands-on career with good pay. I have no regrets on that decision.
What is the weirdest thing that you have found in a car, that should not have been there?
A kitten. I rescued it with welding gloves on. When the owner would not take it, I suggested that I put in back in the engine bay where I found it. She changed her mind. They became good friends.
Do you have much customer interaction?
As a tech, yes, and I hated it. As a shop manager, yes, but it was my job. As a teacher/program director, it’s my job and I enjoy it.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Turning on light bulbs in normally dimly lit brains.
If giving the chance, what would you never do again at work?
As a technician, I would avoid being directly involved with customers. I would second guess becoming certified, as you get all of the problem cars.
The auto industry has a really bad rap, what do you say to someone who thinks you are trying to take advantage of them?
The next time you go to the doctor, and then have to go back for the same problem, and you get charged for it, think of how cheap the car repair was. Remember, doctors bury their mistakes.
Are cars harder to work on(for a pro mechanic) now? Cars are loaded up with computers, does that make it easier or harder to fix?
Cars are harder to work on for pro mechanics…who think they can repair cars with their wits. You need diagnostic skills, diagnostic tools, and service information. I was fortunate to have worked for employers who purchased good service manuals and equipment.
Of all the maintenance that cars need, what is the ONE that will keep my car healthy the longest?
Full-service oil changes.
How important is reading your vehicles owner’s manual?
It is very important to read the owner’s manual; you miss out on all the features of a car if you don’t.
Have you read the owners manual to your car?
Yes. After I drove a car for 6 years and found out about the auto-headlight function, I started reading them.
What tool in your tool box do you use the most?
Hammer. Just kidding, DVOM.
Is there a brand of tool that you prefer?
The brand with the best service. Currently, that’s Snap-On.
If you could only use 3 tools from now on, what would they be( and why)?
Scanner, DVOM, test light. I enjoy the challenge of drivablility and electrical work…now that I’m not on flat-rate.
If you were building a “James Bond” car, what is the one thing you would add it?
DVD player to watch Bond movies.
You are sending your kid off to college, what car would you buy for them?
Toyota or Scion because of the dependability. Actually, I did that for two of them.
What is the one thing that you want folks to know about your job that they might not know?
Your local tech-school instructor works hard to get young men and women ready for entry-level employment. They are not masters yet, and will not be for a few years to come. Give them a chance as someone did you one day. It is frustrating to watch young people work hard for a year or two learning a career just to be denied a chance, or get paid so little that pizza delivery is a better choice upon graduation. It happens every day.
WOW, 40 years in the business. Bill, you must be a trooper! Folks,I really want to thank Bill for such an awesome interview. If you have a question for Bill, post it in the comments.Be sure to swing by and check out Bills website over at AutotechsForum.com. He has a great blog about cars too.
If you want to be featured, just Contact Me. I am always looking for new folks to interview!
I hope everyone has a great weekend. Hit me on Twitter that is the fastest way to get in touch with me.