Rotomaster Turbochargers

RockAuto now offers Rotomaster replacement turbochargers and turbocharger parts, including service kits, cartridges, exhaust adapters and pedestals. Their turbochargers meet or exceed the quality and durability of OE turbos. Rotomaster engineers every component they sell. Design, manufacturing, and testing are done in-house at a state-of-the-art facility in North America, assuring that Rotomaster products have an unsurpassed level of quality.

• Rotomaster's manufacturing processes are ISO certified for high quality. CAD (computer-aided design), CNC machining and advanced inspection systems maintain the necessary tight tolerances.
  
• Turbochargers are tested at stress levels far more rigorous than anything ever encountered in normal use to ensure absolute, uncompromising safety and durability in all conditions.
  
• With over thirty years in the business, Rotomaster knows the smallest details that help make an installation successful. For example, all turbochargers are packaged in rust-preventative bags with rust-preventative treated covers used on inlets and outlets to prevent corrosion. Oil inlets are blocked with easy-to-remove plugs rather than paper labels to ensure paper residue will not be left on/in the turbocharger.

Manufacturer Rebates and Promotions are Back in a Big Way!

New rebates and promotions, with RockAuto's reliably low prices, mean the cost of many parts is cut by 40%, 50% or more! Here are examples from the Current Promotions and Manufacturer Rebates page.

• Rebates on Rancho, Monroe, KYB and Gabriel Shocks can cut the cost of a complete set of shocks/struts by 30% or more!
• Wagner ThermoQuiet Brake Pad Rebate: A generous rebate that frequently covers more than half the cost!
• Temporary 10% Price Cut on Wholesaler Closeout Oxygen Sensors: These name brand O2 sensors were already a bargain!
• DynoMax Exhaust Rebate: Rebate refunds up to 1/3 the cost of a performance exhaust system!

Forum of the Month

Founded in 2002, FocusFanatics.com has gone through many changes over the years. But, one thing has always remained constant, the fact that it's run by true Ford Focus enthusiasts with a genuine love for the brand and for automobiles in general. The goal has always remained the same throughout the years, provide a little corner of the Internet where all car fanatics can feel comfortable to gather and share information.

Feel free to stop by FocusFanatics.com for a visit!

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Growing up, my brother, sister, and I all learned to drive in my dad's '70 Dodge Dart Swinger.

Over the years that my brother and I shared that old Dodge, the car was always freezing cold in the winter and had trouble defrosting the windshield. We just assumed it was because it was an old car and learned to live with it. Finally, on a particularly cold winter night, my brother was driving the car in the city. (We lived in the country and didn't drive in the city much.) Along this particular stretch of road, there were a lot of cars parallel-parked in the street. The problem was, he couldn't see to drive since the windshield was completely fogged up and frosted over. Well, he finally did the Dodge in that night when he hit a parked car and totaled the Dodge.

The funny thing was that, probably 20 years later, I was talking to my older sister when she told me the story about that old Dodge overheating when she was driving across the state. She stopped at a gas station and the attendant helped her out by removing the thermostat and sending her on her way. She got to where she was going. When she got home, she told my dad about taking the thermostat out. Not being one to do any unnecessary work on his car, my dad never felt compelled to replace the thermostat. That's the reason my brother and I froze our butts off in that car and couldn't clear the windshield in the winter. How ironic that such a simple thing to fix would end up causing the demise of that car.

Eric in Florida

Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for a while!). Please e-mail your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and if you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt (please let us know your shirt size) or Hat if we publish your story. See the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools & Universal Parts in the catalog. The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!

Automotive Trivia

What is the recommended replacement interval for the timing belt on the turbocharged three cylinder engine available in the new Ford Fiesta?

A. 60,000 miles (100,000 km) or five years
B. 120,000 miles (200,000 km) or ten years
C. whenever the engine is rebuilt

Answer below

Is My O2 OK?

I routinely replace oxygen sensors on my newer vehicles like I do spark plugs. I have never noticed a big change in engine performance after installing new O2 sensors, and wear was never visible on old sensors hidden inside their external metal housings. I recently decided to take a typical O2 sensor with 90,000+ miles (145,000 km) on it into the lab (garage) and use my favorite diagnostic tool (hacksaw) to examine its internal components for wear.

Moving from left to right in the photo, the metal housing fits over a ceramic bulb that fits over a thin heating rod. The outside of the bulb is exposed to exhaust and the inside of the bulb is bathed in ambient air that flows in around the base of the wiring pigtail.

Looking at the close up photo of the bulb, there are two electrode rings on the right side separated by a strip of ceramic semiconductor material. This ceramic has to be hot before it starts allowing a voltage to build. That thin rod in the photo provides the heat.

One electrode is connected to the inside and the other to the outside of the bulb. The difference in oxygen levels inside (ambient air) and outside (exhaust) the bulb generates a small voltage across the semiconductor between the electrodes. Larger differences in oxygen levels result in higher voltages. The engine computer uses these small voltage inputs to properly adjust the fuel mixture.

I was slightly disappointed that the inside of the O2 sensor did not show signs of major wear or damage. The outside of the bulb was simply slightly discolored. However, this is good news for the engine that this sensor came out of (my teenage son’s ’90 Lincoln). If the bulb was covered with soot then the engine might be burning oil, or if it was covered with a glaze then leaking antifreeze might have contaminated it.

O2 sensors are similar to modern spark plugs. Both use thin layers of exotic metal conductors such as platinum that wear away over time or get coated in debris. Neither spark plugs nor O2 sensors should be left in the engine until they completely fail. A slightly dirty spark plug or O2 sensor is good, while damage or significant fouling may indicate serious engine problems.

Like with new spark plugs, it is OK if new O2 sensors installed at the right maintenance intervals do not result in noticeable changes in engine performance. Even if the driver’s foot does not feel any change, a new O2 sensor will improve fuel economy and help maximize the life of the catalytic converter. Over time, just the gasoline savings will likely cover the cost of the new sensor. Find oxygen sensors by ACDelco, Airtex, Bosch, Denso, NTK, Standard Motor Products and other respected manufacturers under the “Emission” category for specific vehicles in the RockAuto catalog.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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