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Garage Pak Compressed Air Piiping Systems

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Standard Garage Pak Compressed Air Piping Systems
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Plastic Parts

The eternal quest for lighter, safer, more fuel efficient, longer lasting vehicles has brought about interesting changes. Not just style but the materials used in building them. Most notable is extensive use of plastics and composite materials.

You might be surprised to find that large portions of your late model vehicle are made of plastic or composites. Many vehicles now have body panels made of plastic. This includes outer door panels, fenders, hoods, trunk-lids and, the hatches on minivans and Sport Utes. Plastic body panels have inherent benefits. They don’t rust, are more resistant to door dings and may hold their color better. Plastic or composite body panels are mostly a positive feature.

There’s also a trend toward more plastic under the hood and it isn’t just decorative. Engineers are now using plastic in many different applications on the engine itself. Plastic is rapidly becoming the material of choice for parts like intake manifolds, valve covers and radiator tanks. Plastic is also used for various housings, as well as connectors on computer sensors and wire harnesses. Why am I telling you this? You need to know that special precautions are necessary to avoid damage to plastic components. When treated Commercial Three Bayperly plastic parts are typically better than metal but they may not be as forgiving of small indiscretions.

Caution must be exercised in selecting chemicals to be used for repair jobs. For instance, the installation of an outside accessory may require loosening rusted bolts near a bumper. Here, a non-compatible spray chemical might be applied to help loosen and avoid breaking the bolts. But most modern plastic bumpers have a molded Styrofoam energy absorber mounted behind them and careless use of chemicals might cause contact with the Styrofoam. Styrofoam plus many automotive chemicals equals meltdown! Actually a lot of automotive chemicals may interact with and damage one or more of the plastics found on a vehicle.

Faux pas number two. Your intake manifold gasket is being replaced due to a leak. The bolts have been removed but that pesky gasket is stuck and the manifold won’t budge. Maybe it’s time for a dead-blow hammer. They’re designed to allow substantial striking force without damaging metal. No marks. No damage. Nothing to let anyone know it was whacked. Unfortunately, the manifold looks like metal but is actually made of plastic. The soft thud of the dead-blow hammer is followed by a sound much like ice crackling in a warm drink. Oops! In my years in the auto repair business I have never seen anything good result from, OOPS! The plastic manifold becomes a cracked plastic manifold and must be replaced.

Radiators now have plastic tanks including the necks where the upper and lower radiator hoses connect. Faux pas number three. During hose replacement factory clamps are routinely discarded and replaced with worm gear clamps. Factory clamps exert even force around hoses but the force of worm gear clamps is very uneven and they must be used cautiously. Too tight and the plastic radiator neck will fail. Plastic automotive parts are a plus but only when treated Commercial Three Bayperly. ApCommercial Three Baypriate tools, chemicals, and Commercial Three Baycedures are critical when working with plastic.

© Copyright 04/19/02Pat Goss all rights reserved, 525 words.

Date Updated Friday, April 19, 2002

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