RockAuto is excited to announce the addition of Permatex to our growing selection of automotive fluids. Since 1909, Permatex has been a respected leader in the development of innovative Gasket Makers, Sealants and Thread Compounds. Today, they manufacture one of the most advanced selections of premium automotive chemical products including Gasket Makers/Removers, Sealants, ThreadLockers, Adhesives, Cleaners (brake, throttle body...), Repair Kits (radiator, fuel tank...), Lubricants (battery terminal, engine rebuild...) and Rust Inhibitor/Remover.

Why use a Gasket Maker?
Using a Gasket Maker instead of a conventional gasket can save both time and money by allowing you to easily create the exact gasket you need. Permatex gasket makers are not only resistant to vibration, fluid and temperature cycles like traditional gaskets, but they can also eliminate leak paths and seal worn/uneven surfaces that traditional gaskets cannot.

What is a ThreadLocker?
A ThreadLocker, or Thread-Locking Fluid, is a thin adhesive that is applied to the threads of bolts and screws to prevent accidental loosening, leakage and corrosion. ThreadLockers are especially useful for connections that are subject to repeated vibration and strain or in situations where the connection point is intended to last long periods of time. Part manufacturers will sometimes include use of ThreadLocker in their installation instructions.

You can find Permatex Gasket Makers and ThreadLockers, as well as other Permatex products, in the "Tools & Universal Parts" tab under the different product categories. To quickly see our entire selection of Permatex product, navigate to the "Part Number Search" tab and select “Permatex” from the Manufacturer dropdown list.

Start your year off with new filters, fresh wiper blades and cash back! From now through the end of February 2019, ACDelco is offering a $5 Visa Prepaid Card on select Air Filters, Cabin Air Filters and Wiper Blades. Get the fit, form and function you expect on these important maintenance items. For over 100 years, ACDelco has been a leader in quality automotive replacement parts.

While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" star next to the part names to help you save even more on RockAuto's reliably low prices! Find Air Filters under "Fuel & Air," Cabin Air Filters under "Heat & Air Conditioning," and Wiper Blades under "Wiper & Washer" in the RockAuto catalog.

ColoradoFans.com is a comprehensive resource and large community of Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon owners and enthusiasts. This forum is active with friendly members sharing information on all aspects of these trucks, from answers to technical questions to wiper blade selection.

Registration is FREE, fast and simple!

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.

It was 1981 and now that I was out of school, I finally got out of my old rust-bucket and into a newer car – a 1977 Volkswagen Scirocco. Having received tune-up lessons from a few good folks wiser than I, I confidently performed my own tune-ups. So it was the typical fall tune-up time, and the Scirocco had become tough to start. I proudly replaced the plugs, points, condenser, oil and filters. After setting the dwell and timing, sure enough, it started right up and ran smooth. The next morning on my way to work, I was at highway speed and all of a sudden, my Scirocco started misfiring and losing power. Moments later it was back to normal. The drive home was flawless. Hmmm...was it some bad gas?!

The next day, again at highway speed, it happened again. Engine misfiring and losing power for a few moments, then right back to smooth and normal. This was peculiar! It was not until a couple days later (each day experiencing the same temporary misfire) that I realized this phenomenon happened at the exact same place on the highway! Sixty miles per hour while doing a fairly sharp left turn. So that night I started digging around examining my previous tune-up work. Sure enough, there was the culprit – I neglected to tighten the nut that secures the condenser wire to the points. It was touching the points because of the spring pressure in the wire wanting to be straight. During that high speed left turn, the centrifugal force was just enough to pull the wire away from contacting the points, and thus created the misfire.

The lesson learned like so many of us have – double check that everything is tightened properly. Now when I torque a bolt, I use a marker to mark the head so I can easily see it has been done. This is especially important when you have a specific tightening sequence/steps such as a cylinder head or timing chain cover. A paint pen works well too!

Greg in Iowa

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 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!

Optional Levi's denim upholstery was available on which vehicle?

A. AMC Gremlin
B. Porsche 914
C. Subaru BRAT (Brumby in Australia)
D. All the above

Answer below

In the past, it was always easy for me correctly diagnose fuel tank cap problems. My wife or I would accidentally leave the fuel tank cap sitting on top of a gas pump at a distant gas station, and when we got home, it was obvious we needed to buy a new fuel tank cap. Unfortunately, a tether prevented losing the original gas cap on my daughter's 2005 Ford Mustang. We needed its OBDII system to give us a clue that it was time to buy a new fuel tank cap.

The clue was the illuminated check engine light. My daughter and I got into a routine of hooking up a scan tool, reading a P0456 EVAP Very Small Leak trouble code and erasing the trouble code with the scan tool.

I knew that a leaky fuel tank cap was often the cause of EVAP problems, but as can be seen in the photo, the gasket on the old gas cap did not look too bad. There were no obvious tears or signs of permanent compression/distortion. I doubted the car's OBDII system could detect a miniscule leak from that nice looking gasket even if there was one.

Rather than throwing parts at the car, I thought I should wait until my daughter and I had time to methodically check all the hoses leading to and from the vapor canister and EVAP purge/vent solenoids. This EVAP trouble code can only happen when the fuel tank is between 1/4 and 3/4 full. I encouraged my daughter to fill up the fuel tank frequently.

Weeks passed without us finding the time to do any methodical EVAP checking. We decided it would not be so bad to throw an inexpensive new fuel tank cap at the car. After more than a year without any EVAP or other trouble codes, I am now confident that a new fuel tank cap was all the car needed!

In hindsight, it seems silly to waste time inspecting the gasket on a 10+ year old fuel tank cap. We know to automatically replace gaskets on thermostats, valve covers, oil filter housings, etc. when the part is removed just once. Over ten years, a fuel tank cap probably gets removed and reinstalled at least 200 times! It would be smart to replace a fuel tank cap as part of routine maintenance or at least not hesitate to replace it the moment an EVAP trouble code appears. Or, simply disconnect the tether and leave old fuel tank caps behind at gas stations every now and then!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

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 your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

Optional Levi's denim upholstery was available on which vehicle?

Answer: A. AMC Gremlin
B. Porsche 914
C. Subaru BRAT (Brumby in Australia)
D. All the above

1973 AMC Gremlin X Levi's Edition Interior

Back up to trivia question