Parts manufacturers fiercely compete for the limited shelf space at the big chain auto parts stores. Sometimes a part manufacturer will even agree to buy up all a chain store's existing inventory if the chain store agrees to switch to the part manufacturer's brand. The part manufacturer then is in the awkward position of owning a bunch of their competitors' parts. Many of those parts end up being "Wholesaler Closeout" parts at RockAuto.com. RockAuto customers benefit by getting access to name-brand Wholesaler Closeout parts for a fraction of the original price.

RockAuto.com now has an especially broad selection of Wholesaler Closeout ride control products by Gabriel, including popular Gabriel ProGuard shock absorbers. Gabriel ProGuard shock absorbers come equipped with a larger diameter piston that delivers better-than-OE response and performance, sportier handling and a smoother ride for light trucks, vans and SUVs. Larger oil reservoirs enhance durability by keeping the shocks running cooler.

"Wholesaler Closeout" means these state-of-the-art Gabriel shocks have prices that would have been considered fantastic forty years ago! You can find Gabriel Shock Absorbers, Struts and Strut / Coil Spring / Mount Assemblies in the “Suspension” category of the RockAuto.com catalog for everything from a '06 GMC Savana, to a '04 Nissan Xterra, to a '95 Ford F-250, to a '71 Dodge B100... As with all Wholesaler Closeouts, quantities are limited, so act fast!

To see a full list of all the Wholesaler Closeout parts available for your vehicle(s) that can probably all ship in the same box, click the RSS icon after selecting your vehicle’s engine size in the RockAuto.com catalog, and then click on the HTML icon next to "Love a Bargain?"

MazdaWorld.org is a forum community dedicated to all Mazda owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, troubleshooting, maintenance, modifications 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.

I used to own a 1989 Volvo 740 Wagon with an automatic transmission. One summer when the car was ten or so years old, it developed the unmistakable rumble of an exhaust leak. I went under the car with the engine idling but could not detect the source of the leak. I even tried partially plugging the tail pipe with a rag to force the exhaust gas out through the leak, hoping to make the leak louder; but the sound did not change.

So I started to replace exhaust system parts one-at-a-time, the muffler one weekend, a pipe the next, then the resonator when that did not work and so on.

Despite replacing all these parts the car never got quieter. Then I had to take the car into the shop for an unrelated repair that was beyond my skills. As I sat in the waiting room the mechanic came to me and said, “Do you know your transmission mount is shot?”

This mount consists of two metal plates bonded to either side of a rubber cushion. Over time the rubber had deteriorated causing the metal plates to rub together, making the “exhaust” sound. I installed a new mount and the car was quiet as a Cadillac!

John in Missouri

1989 Volvo 740 Transmission Mount

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!

Their first car was criticized as looking too much like a "motorized baby carriage." People in most neighborhoods still see this company's vehicles at least weekly. What is the name of the oldest vehicle nameplate in continuous production in the United States?

A. Autocar
B. Mack
C. Studebaker

Answer below

It is definitely alarming to see oil pouring down the back of the engine in a Jeep Wrangler, leaving a trail on the road behind a Chrysler 300 or creating a smoky mess under the hood of a Dodge Grand Caravan; scary visions of leaking crankshaft seals or cracked engine blocks may come to mind. The good news is that this common problem on Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM vehicles powered by the ubiquitous 3.6L V6 can be fixed by moderately experienced DIYers with common hand tools.

The 3.6L's plastic Oil Filter Housing is an assembly that includes the compartment the Oil Filter cartridge drops into, the Oil Filter Bypass Valve and the metal Oil Cooler. It has ports for both engine oil and engine coolant and fittings for oil temperature and pressure sensors. It bolts to the engine in the center of the V between the two banks of cylinders.

3.6L's Plastic Oil Filter Housing Assembly

There are several ways the relatively complex Oil Filter Housing assembly can leak oil and/or coolant. The plastic may crack at the sharp angle where the oil filter section meets the oil cooler section. There are multiple gaskets (Oil Cooler Gaskets) that seal the oil and coolant ports on the housing to the ports on the engine. Those gaskets may be leaking because of wear or they might be leaking because the shape of the plastic oil filter housing has slightly distorted over time due to heat and exposure to chemicals. The oil pressure and temperature sensors occasionally leak as well.

The most time consuming part of the repair is removing the upper intake manifolds to gain access to the Oil Filter Housing. It can often be difficult to identify the specific source of the leak because there will likely be oil everywhere, with a deep puddle under the part (suck it out with a Brake Bleeder Tool hand pump). More oil and coolant may spill out as the part is removed and the coolant hose is disconnected.

RockAuto sells many of the individual parts separately (Oil Cooler Gaskets, Oil Cooler, etc. listed under "Engine"), but replacing the entire Oil Filter Housing (also listed under "Engine") is usually the best way to help ensure success on the first try. The Oil (and even the Coolant/Antifreeze) should also be changed when the oil filter housing is pulled off to help avoid cross-contamination of the two chemicals.

Repair manuals with detailed instructions are available under "Literature" in the RockAuto.com catalog for specific vehicles. The 3.6L being in so many diverse vehicles that have traveled millions of miles means there are numerous online enthusiast forums with info on replacing the Oil Filter Housing. Tips found on a Wrangler or Charger forum about the 3.6L are likely to be as useful to owners of 3.6L powered Avengers, Journeys, etc.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

My most recent hobby car is this 1989 Honda Civic. I acquired it about two years ago. The original owners had purchased it new in 1989 and had put "only" 160K miles (257K km) on it. It had been stored in a shed for a few years, so it was dusty with spider webs and had other assorted critter nests underneath it. I ordered a starter from RockAuto, and it fired right up. It idled a little rough though, so I ordered some plug wires and a fuel filter, and then it ran as smooth as new again. The rest was going to be just a lot of elbow grease and time cleaning and buffing out the original paint (which turned out great). Deep cleaning the engine bay, removing the seats and deep cleaning the almost flawless interior. Then the ride needed some attention, so I ordered some front and rear shocks, brake pads and rotors. That made a big difference to the ride (along with new tires).

For years I have always checked RockAuto's website first when ordering parts. I plan to continue ordering parts from RockAuto for all our cars and recommending them to my friends and co-workers.

Thanks
Jeff in Georgia (RockAuto customer for over four years)

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.

Their first car was criticized as looking too much like a "motorized baby carriage." People in most neighborhoods still see this company's vehicles at least weekly. What is the name of the oldest vehicle nameplate in continuous production in the United States?

Answer: A. Autocar (Autocar sold their first "cars" in 1901. By 1912, they had decided to build only trucks. Today, at plants in Alabama and Indiana they manufacture heavy-duty specialized trucks, such as the garbage trucks that visit neighborhoods weekly). Link to Hemmings article: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/who-would-have-guessed
B. Mack
C. Studebaker

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