Ring Borescope Gives Inside View

Ring Automotive has introduced the RBS50 hand held borescope for DIY motoring enthusiasts. A borescope is a flexible, bendy compact inspection camera for viewing hard to reach areas. 

The borescope is able to look inside narrow gaps and pipes, making it easy to inspect, diagnose and fix potential faults in the engine, gearbox and wiring systems.

The RBS50 is designed to work with a user’s laptop. Once the software (included with the product) is installed, the borescope can be connected via the laptop’s USB port to start showing real-time images, taking pictures and recording videos.

The 11.5mm waterproof camera probe with integral LED illumination provides a clear view in poorly lit areas. Images and videos can be recorded directly to the laptop, to allow for more in-depth, considered inspection.  

The RBS50 includes magnet, hook, and mirror clip on tools for picking up objects and looking at different angles.

With the RBS50, maintenance and repair work on vehicles can be more easily identified, so helping to reduce the time needed diagnosing a fault. In turn this helps reduce the time needed to complete the work. 

The RBS50 is the latest addition to Ring Automotive’s range of award winning Borescopes, the RBS100, RBS200 and RBS300.

For more details why not call Ring Automotive on 0113 213 2000 or speak to your local CAAR Member Store

Haynes Publishing Highway Code Offers More!

Two new publications from Haynes should be surefire winners for every CAAR Member.

Haynes Highway Code for Drivers

Every learner driver needs a copy of the Highway Code, and this is an appealing version that provides extra information and even more value for money. In addition to the essential ‘Rules of the Road’, this value-added offering contains information about basic car maintenance, car care and other practical matters such as tax, MoT and insurance. This is a handy, low-cost publication that will be invaluable to all new drivers.

Key content

The Highway Code is an essential reference for all new drivers.

Offers more information and better value than the ‘official’ version.

Basic car maintenance including checking oil and tyres and replacing bulbs.

Dealing with the paperwork - information on tax, MoTs and insurance.

SSP is £2.50

Haynes Highway Code for Motorcyclists

Every learner motorcyclist needs a copy of the Highway Code, and here’s an appealing version that provides extra information and even more value for money. In addition to the essential ‘Rules of the Road’, this value-added offering contains information about basic motorcycle maintenance, motorcycle care and other practical matters such as tax, MoT and insurance. This is a handy, low-cost publication that will be invaluable to all new riders.

Key content

The Highway Code is an essential reference for all new motorcyclists.

Offers more information and better value than the ‘official’ version.

Basic bike maintenance including oil checks, adjusting chains and replacing bulbs.

Dealing with the paperwork - information on tests, tax, MoTs and insurance.

SSP is £2.50

Please call Haynes on 01963 442010 for more details or visit your local CAAR Member Store.

The One Stop Tools Book from Draper Tools

Draper Tools have launched the 2012/13 edition of their main tool catalogue, providing a comprehensive guide to the thousands of products available from this leading tool company.

Available from all Draper stockists, the full colour 780 page publication features over 8,500 products and is their biggest yet!  There are hundreds of NEW LINES in all categories including the workstation modular storage system and a range of low noise compressors.

For web traders and stockists producing their own marketing material, Draper Tools have produced a DVD containing digital images and specifications/descriptions of all items appearing in the catalogue.  This information is also available on the website which is regularly updated with the latest products.

The catalogue is priced and available in either Sterling or Euro.  Electronic pages of the catalogue can also 

be found at www.draper.co.uk

For your FREE copy of the new Draper Tools catalogue and DVD, telephone the Sales Desk on 023 8049 4333.  Existing trade account holders will automatically receive a copy of the catalogue.

Comma Oil & BTN Turbos Working Together

Turbochargers have transformed the performance – to say nothing of the image and appeal – of diesel powered cars. What were once considered smokey, oil- burning ‘rattlers’ have become refined, high performance machines that now command over 50% of new UK car registrations, thanks at least in part, to the ‘civilising’ impact of modern turbo technology.

Today, nine out of ten diesel passenger cars are fitted with a turbocharger. Combined with sophisticated engine mapping and diesel particulate filters, they increase power and contribute to lower exhaust emissions, as well as delivering 20+% better fuel economy and superior torque characteristics when compared to petrol engines of similar displacement. Currently, around 24% of all cars – diesel and petrol - on UK roads are fitted with a turbocharger. That’s forecast to be no less than 70% by 2020, and makes turbos a big issue for aftermarket distributors.

Turbochargers are mechanically very reliable, with only 1% of failures attributable to a manufacturing fault with the turbo itself. That said, the alarming statistic is that over 90% of turbocharger failures are oil related!

Which is perhaps unsurprising, when you consider that a turbo’s rotating components spin at up to 240,000 rpm – that’s 4,000 revs per second! - and have to endure extreme constant exhaust gas temperatures of up to 950°C.

In conditions like that, the turbo shaft and bearings are under immense stress, and totally reliant on the protection provided only by a thin film of the correct oil as specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer. If these parts are starved of oil, the turbocharger will almost certainly fail under load in a matter of seconds.

Similarly, if the oil is contaminated for any reason, or if entirely the wrong oil is used, the shaft and bearings can quickly degrade through scratching, scoring and/or excessive wear, and it will be only a matter of time before they give up the ghost.

And that’s when things get really expensive, because the latest generation VNT (Variable Nozzle Technology) turbo cannot be reliably repaired; replacing and fitting a new one can easily result in a bill for over £1,000.00.

So, to provide distributors, vehicle service technicians and their customers with expert advice and guidance on how to avoid costly turbo failure and replacement, Comma is working in association with the world’s largest independent turbo distributor, BTN Turbo Ltd.

To start with, you can make sure that you’re supplying - and advising your workshop customers to use - precisely the correct oil for any given turbo by using the vehicle registration look-up function at www.CommaOil.com. For your - and their - peace of mind, every recommendation carries Comma’s 100% guarantee: just make sure you also supply, and advise your customers to use, the exact same Comma oil when topping up between complete oil change intervals. In addition, Comma has produced a series of leaflets for distributors, workshops and motorists alike - backed by BTN Turbo - that explain how turbos work and why getting the right oil is so important. These are available from Comma – just email enquiries@commaoil.com or call them on 01474 564311

For more technical information about turbochargers, visit www.btnturbo.com.

ACDelco Launches Slick New Oil Labelling At CAAR Show

Leading UK and European aftermarket components supplier, ACDelco, used its

attendance at the recent two day CAAR trade show conference to launch a new look labelling programme across its oils range.

Introduced to add further growth impetus to an already dynamic product offe

ring that has recently benefitted from the introduction of four new fully synthetic oils and

an online lubricants product catalogue, the new labelling is bold, vibrant and striking.

To be rolled out on all 1 and 5 litre containers covering the entire ACDelco oils range, the new labels are visually informative and have been designed to improve product identification at point-of-sale.

Commenting on this latest development, ACDelco’s General Manager, Lee Quinney said: “The new look labelling will help further increase the visibility of oils within ACDelco’s lubricants product range in front of that all important audience, the customer, whilst also strengthening brand awareness. And what better place to unveil the labelling programme than amongst CAAR’s growing rank of members. This was our third year of attending their conference and gala dinner and the reception we got this year at Birmingham’s Forest of Arden Golf & Country Club, particularly in relation to the labels launch, was extremely pleasing.

“Overall, the two days presented us with the ideal platform from which to promote the labelling to a highly relevant audience of key players under the one roof,” he added.

In order to maintain the dynamism of a product offering that sees oils continue to become increasingly manufacturer/model specific, the new online catalogue - available via ACDelco’s UK and European website, acdelco.eu.com - provides comprehensive details relating to a product range that covers the majority of today’s vehicle parc.

Alongside an informative and logically laid out application section is a clearly illustrated product guide, not to mention numerical index and useful competitive cross-reference section. For improved functionality, the online oil catalogue features a series of universally understandable symbols to improve parts identification.

Commenting on behalf of CAAR, Chief Executive, Mike Webb stated: “We have grown in strength with ACDelco over the last three years and it was great to see them use our event to support the roll out of their new oil labelling. As you would expect from a key aftermarket brand such as ACDelco, the labels are very leading edge in terms of their design and appearance and will most certainly be embraced by the aftermarket in general.”

Start-Stop: A New Era In Battery Technology

As part of its on-going education programme, Manbat continues to communicate with CAAR members at events such as the recent CAAR Trade Show at the Forest of Arden, to explain the developments, challenges and opportunities presented by technological advances in battery design.

We are all conscious of the need to protect the environment and to reduce global CO2 emissions and these topics present the car industry with enormous challenges, particularly with the advent of new EU regulations that will come into force next year.

The directive will require vehicle manufacturers to reduce the maximum level of CO2 emissions across Europe to just 130 g/km. This will result in a substantial increase in the demands placed on vehicle batteries because in order to meet the target, vehicle manufacturers are going to need more than just improvements in engine management systems; they will also require innovative battery technologies.

This development makes the issue of ‘hybrid technology’ more relevant than ever and vehicle manufacturers are considering a number of hybrid solutions. However, micro hybrid vehicles - which are generally referred to as Start-Stop vehicles - are set to become the most prominent. There are already around 2.8 million vehicles equipped with Start-Stop technology and the number is expected to rise to 30 million by 2015.

Batteries from Johnson Controls make up the vast majority of OEM batteries fitted to these micro hybrid vehicles and its aftermarket VARTA Start-Stop battery range reflects this position, with five VARTA Start-Stop with EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) technology and five VARTA Start-Stop Plus with AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology batteries in the line up.

VARTA Start-Stop batteries with EFB technology are ideally suited to vehicles with a standard, entry-level Start-Stop function.

When the engine is switched off, they provide the vehicle’s electrical system with a reliable power supply and ensure that the engine restarts in a fraction of a second. Furthermore, they boast twice as much cyclic stability as conventional batteries and can be allowed to discharge more without any loss of functionality.

VARTA Start-Stop Plus batteries are the perfect solution for vehicles featuring advanced Start-Stop technology with regenerative braking and additional fuel-saving technologies. Only the specially developed VARTA Start-Stop Plus batteries with AGM technology can meet the challenges imposed by these systems.

Compared to VARTA Start-Stop batteries, VARTA Start-Stop Plus batteries offer even greater performance and versatility, and are capable of reliably supplying power to an even greater range of devices.

Manbat is positively encouraging members to make preparations to gear up to deal with this new generation of batteries and as the approved supplier of VARTA batteries, they are perfectly placed to cater for the requirements of members looking at how to address this changing marketplace.

For further details, please call Manbat customer services on: 01743 460790 or visit: www.manbat.co.uk

Comma Free Motorsport Ticket Giveaway is Back

Comma is celebrating its continuing Technical Partnerships with the FIA Formula Two championship and its operator, MotorSport Vision (MSV) with a massive ‘Motorsport Ticket Giveaway’ promotion. In

all, 70,000 FREE entry tickets to the value of £2 million will be made available for top race meetings across the country at Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park. Major headline events include the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the MCE British Superbike Championship, FIA Formula 2/International GT Championships, DTM (German Touring Cars) and many more.

Promotional packs of 4.5ltr/5ltr Comma Performance Motor Oil (PMO) will carry a special neck tag printed with a unique code. (20 litre PMO promotional packs will carry a wallet containing 4 neck tags). This unique code is located beneath a scratch panel inside the tag and once revealed, can be redeemed at www.CommaOil.com for a free entry ticket worth up to £42 to top flight MSV race meetings throughout 2011. Alternatively, the code can be redeemed for free entry into a prize draw to win an FIA Formula Two ‘goodie bag’ worth over £100.

“We launched this promotion twelve months ago with great success and it was hugely popular with race fans,” said Comma Sales & Marketing Director, Mike Bewsey. “This year, we’re giving workshops extra tools to make the promotion even better for them and their customers. We’ve produced an informative workshop waiting room poster and special ‘service receipt’ wallets. The wallets are intended for workshops to present their customer with their free promotional ticket tag, along with the service receipt for their vehicle. The wallet is printed with full details of the promotion, the Comma PMO used to service their vehicle, and useful tips on How To Keep Your Car In Shape”

“Motorsport runs through Comma’s DNA,” said Mike. “Our Technical Partnership with MSV embraces the international FIA Formula Two Championship - an official ‘feeder series

for Formula 1 - and the world famous PalmerSport driving experience at Bedford Autodrome.Comma supply the engine lubricants, coolants and maintenance chemicals to all MSV’smotorsport activities and championships, which provides us with a unique ‘real world’ laboratory for all our products to be proven in the cauldron of competition. If our products can survive and thrive in that kind of environment, independent workshops and their customers can have complete confidence in specifying them to service their vehicles.”

For more details visit www.commaoil.com