RockAuto is excited to announce the addition of Mobil brand motor oils, transmission fluids, and gear oils to our growing selection of automotive fluids. Mobil 1 has been the world's most famous full synthetic motor oil for over 40 years! RockAuto carries the full line of Mobil 1 full synthetic oils, many with special formulations tailored to meet your vehicle's specific needs, such as:

• Mobil 1 Emission System Protection: formulated to protect passenger car diesel engines that have the latest diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and catalytic converters.
• Mobil 1 European Car Formula: provides correct viscosity/weight and specs for European vehicle engines (approved by Mercedes-Benz, VW, Audi & Porsche).
• Mobil 1 High Mileage: helps reduce oil leaks and clean up sludge in engines of all ages, especially those with over 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on the odometer.
• Mobil 1 Racing: maximizes power output of racecar engines while enhancing durability with boosted levels of phosphorus and other wear/heat protection.
• Mobil 1 Truck & SUV: helps further prevent deposit and sludge buildup in hardworking truck and SUV gas engines.
• Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck: protects modern turbo-charged diesel engines while providing long drain interval capability and fuel economy.
  

In addition to the popular Mobil 1 full synthetic line of motor oils, RockAuto also offers Mobil Delvac™ oils (rebate available though November, 2020) used in on and off-highway heavy duty diesel applications, and Mobil Super™ synthetic blend formulations.

If you are an oil change novice, find videos with tips and instructions for changing your own oil on the pages for Mobil oils. Find the correct motor oil for your specific vehicle under “Engine." All oil, transmission fluid, and gear oil can also be found listed under the “Tools & Universal Parts” tab of the RockAuto.com catalog. Whether you are preparing for snow plow season, or doing your first DIY oil change, RockAuto has the fluids you need; all at our reliably low prices.

RockAuto now offers Coil Springs from Lesjöfors Automotive. Lesjöfors (pronounced similar to "let-show-force") has been developing and producing springs in Sweden for over 160 years! Lesjöfors currently produces the world's largest range of aftermarket coil springs for European brand vehicles. Lesjöfors Coil Springs are original equipment (OE) on new vehicles as well, including supercars by Lamborghini and Koenigsegg!

Lesjöfors coil springs are manufactured from high-quality spring steel. Computer numerical control (CNC) ensures springs are cold-coiled precisely. Springs are certified to meet or exceed OE specs and quality. An advanced zinc phosphate and epoxy powder coat surface treatment resists corrosion; enhancing spring durability and appearance.

Lesjöfors Coil Springs are available for a vast number of vehicles, everything from a 1984 BMW 528E to a 1999 Saab 9-5 to a 2008 Volvo V70 to a 2012 Audi A3. Find Lesjöfors Automotive Coil Springs in the “Suspension” category of the RockAuto.com catalog.

RockAuto.com's Help pages now have a freshly updated "Minimize Shipping Boxes and Cost" video.

Club3G.com is a forum community dedicated to third generation Mitsubishi Eclipse owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, troubleshooting, turbos, engine swaps, maintenance and more!

If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact marketing@rockauto.com.

About six years ago, I was replacing the brakes on my '99 BMW. Changing the front brakes went completely fine. But when I got to the rear, I could not for the life of me get the rear passenger rotor off. I had snapped off the Allen key holding the rotor to the hub, so I borrowed my neighbor's drill to drill that out, but even after that was out of the way the rotor would still not come off! I used a hammer to hit the rotor; nothing. I kicked it, same result, nothing. Hours and hours went by. I kept getting more defeated and tired struggling with this rotor.

And then....I remembered...my emergency brake was engaged (facepalm)! I dropped the brake handle and boom...the rotor dropped right off the hub on its own with no additional effort. To say the least, I have now made it a habit to check the emergency brake while changing brakes.

Brendan in Virginia

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 email 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 RockAuto 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!

Which of these is now the world's fastest production car?

A. Bugatti Chiron
B. Koenigsegg Agera
C. SSC Tuatara

Answer below

Precious metal prices are up. Unfortunately, that means catalytic converter theft is up too. Trucks and SUVs have long been targeted because higher ground clearance makes it easier to crawl under a vehicle and access the catalytic converter. However, these days the thieves may be practiced professionals stalking specific cars. The crooks focus less on ground clearance and target vehicles that have catalytic converters which contain the highest concentrations of precious metals (platinum, palladium, and rhodium). Those cars are gas/electric, partial-zero-emissions-vehicle (PZEV) hybrids. The Toyota Prius is the most common and easily recognizable hybrid, so a lot of Prius catalytic converters are being stolen.

Tail pipe cutter & clamp

Thieves sometimes use battery-powered reciprocating saws (aka Sawzall) to cut the pipes at each end of the catalytic converters. Those saws are incredibly noisy, generate a lot of showy sparks and can be awkward to use in a confined, dark space underneath a car. The least stupid criminals now prefer to use tail pipe cutters (see photo). The villain wraps the cutter's chain around the pipe and then quietly rotates the tool back and forth until the pipe is cut. An experienced miscreant may be able to do it by touch; with just one of his arms extended under the car rotating the tail pipe cutter.

The best defense is to set up obstacles that interrupt the robber's routine. There are likely plenty of cars for him choose from and something as easy as parking the car over a mud puddle may be enough of a deterrent.

One inexpensive, simple defense that does not require mud puddles is to festoon the pipes surrounding the catalytic converter with exhaust clamps (like the clamp in the photo). Navigating a forest of clamp bolts in the dark with an electric saw would not be fun. A tail pipe cutter will not work unless it is put around a perfectly round, smooth section of pipe. Use exhaust clamps to hold pieces of steel rod tightly against long, vulnerable sections of pipe. Use the bolts sticking out of the exhaust clamps to restrict access to any exposed catalytic converter mounting bolts. (Note: Be sure not to install exhaust clamps or other hardware in locations where they might scrape the road, rub against other parts, puncture fuel tanks, puncture batteries, fall off, or cause other mayhem. Consult the correct certified mechanics, government officials, legal authorities, your spouse, etc. before making any modifications to your vehicle's exhaust system.)

Theoretically, the bandit could unbolt your exhaust pipe clamps. If you really want to be thorough, then maybe paint high temperature threadlocker on the clamps' nuts, but that probably is not necessary. The felon likely will bring just a handful of tools to the crime scene. He may only target a specific car model like the Prius and only have the tools he knows he will need for that car. It is unlikely that the lawbreaker will have deep sockets and wrenches in multiple sizes. He probably will not even bother to attempt to solve your clamp puzzle while peering underneath your car in the dark. He will just look for an easier victim.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Toms articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.

I am a long-time VW enthusiast and have always enjoyed keeping my cars up on my own whenever possible. I was given the opportunity to get the Dasher back on the road with some work on my end. This car started its life as a garage-kept summer home car in Maine. When the original owners sold it, a man on the Connecticut coast bought it, and it was his daily driver for five years. On a ride home, it overheated and cracked the block and then sat in his yard for five years. I took on the project knowing the motor needed replacement and various other components as well to get it roadworthy. With my "new to me" motor, I did a rebuild of it, including all gaskets, seals, water pump, etc. Brakes and master cylinders were shot, so I replaced them too. I wanted it to be a little sportier in handling, so upgraded rims, custom springs, and aftermarket shocks/struts were obtained. The car is back on the road due to the availability and affordability of parts from RockAuto, and it is a great summer cruiser that gets lots of attention wherever it goes.

Mark in Connecticut

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to give you the opportunity to have your car or truck possibly featured in one (or occasionally more) of our publications such as the monthly newsletter, collector magnets, RockAuto social media or other commercial use. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please email flamur@RockAuto.com with the vehicle history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

Which of these is now the world's fastest production car?

A. Bugatti Chiron
B. Koenigsegg Agera
Answer: C. SSC Tuatara (On October 10th, the SSC (Shelby SuperCars) Tuatara exceeded 331 mph (533 kph) on a public road in Nevada. The car costs about $2 million. SSC is based in Richland, Washington. More info)

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