DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Ap"

AP
  1. Acronym for Actual Power
    See
    Power factor
  2. Acronym for Accelerator Pedal
A-panel
The side panel used to fill the gap between the rear edge of the front fender and the front edge of the doors.
APC
Acronym for automatic performance control
Ape hangers
A term coined at the height of the custom-bike movement to describe tall handlebars that forced the rider to reach skyward to grasp the controls, making the rider adopt an ape-like posture.
Aperture
See
Door Aperture
Lamp Aperture
Valve Aperture
Windshield Aperture
Aperture panel
A large side panel of a vehicle making up the rear fender, door frame, and side window frame.
Also see
Sunroof aperture panel
Apex
The top of a triangle. In racing, it is the point or area closest to the inner corner.
Apex seal
Apex seal

Apex seal

A Wedge shaped device found on the tips of the triangular Rotor in rotary (Wankel) engines. Its purpose is to prevent the escape of compressed gas or Combustion gases. It may also release engine heat.

API
Acronym for American Petroleum Institute, the organization that classifies oil. API site
Also see
Engine oil classification
APIA
Acronym for Association of Automotive Manufacturers and Importers (Romania).
API Gravity
Gravity (weight per unit volume) of oils as measured by the API scale. This standard was adopted by the API 5/4/22 as the standard for the American petroleum industries. The measuring scale is calibrated in terms of degrees API
API scale
Acronym for American Petroleum Institute scale. Scale of relative density, similar to Baumé scale. Degrees API=(141.5/s)-131s, where s is the relative density of the oil against water at 15°C.
A pillar
See
A-post
A-pillar
A-pillar

A-pillar

When you look at the side of a car, the pillar that is attached to the Windshield and supports the roof is called the A-post or A-pillar. There are two to each car. Generally the middle post is the B-post and the back post is the C-post.

Apollo
The name of a number of vehicles such as the following:
Apollo (Buick)
A compact car built by Buick from 1973-75 that was essentially a re-badged Chevrolet Nova.
Apollo GT
A vehicle brand of which the 1963-66 models are Milestone cars.
A post
See
A-post
A-post
A-pillar

A-post

When you look at the side of a car, the post that is attached to the Windshield and supports the roof is called the A-post or A-pillar. There are two to each car. Generally the middle post is the B-post and the back post is the C-post.
Apparatus
See
Air-cooled apparatus
Beckmann apparatus
Distilling Apparatus
Vacuum Sealing Apparatus
Apparent power
  1. The square root of the sum of the squares of the Active and the Reactive powers.
  2. The product of the voltage (in volts) and the current (in amperes). It comprises both Active and Reactive power. It is measured in volt-amperes and often expressed in kilovolt-amperes (k VA) or megavolt-amperes (MVA).
Also see
Power
Real Power
Appendages
Structures extending beyond the main hull. They include items like shafting, rudder, bossing, struts, and bilge keels.
Apple paint
See
Candy apple paint
Appliance
  1. A piece of equipment, commonly powered by electricity, used to perform a particular energy-driven function.
    See
    Cogeneration appliance
  2. A British term for a Fire engine.
Appliance flue
The passage(s) within an Appliance through which combustion products pass from the combustion chamber of the appliance to the outlet of the appliance.
Application
The act of applying adhesives and coatings. The principal methods of application are: brushing, spraying, dipping, stenciling, flowing, stamp-padding, roll coating, knife coating, squeegeeing, or troweling with spatula or notched trowel. For sealers: spatula, caulking gun, flow gun, pressure extrusion units and spray gun
Applicator
A tool for putting something on something else, e.g., a spreader or brush.
Applied stress
The stress induced in a member under load.
Appliqué
(appliqué) A sticker or decal which is applied to the body panel of a vehicle.
Apply
To put something on something else.
Approach
A secondary road leading up to a highway or to a bridge.
Also See
Arc of approach
Approach angle
  1. The most sharply angled incline the vehicle can make without its front scraping the ground. Measured in degrees, it's the angle formed on one side by the horizontal axis, and on the other by a straight line connecting the forward edge of the front tire and the most prominent front-end feature extending beyond that line -- the bumper, fog lamps, tow hook, etc.
  2. In side-view, the angle between the ground and a line, ahead of the vehicle, joining the periphery of the front wheel and (typically) the front bumper or other low component. It represents the size or steepness of a slope or obstacle that can be approached or climbed without striking bodywork.
Approval certificate
See
Type approval certificate
Approved
Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
Aprilia
A well-regarded Italian motorcycle manufacturer, known for 250 GP race bikes that are tiny and lightweight.
Apron
  1. The paved area directly below the racing surface that separates the track from the infield.
  2. The panel under the vehicle's doors or the panel acting as an air dam at the front of a vehicle.
  3. A Kick panel.
  4. A firm surface of concrete or tarmac laid down adjacent to aerodrome buildings to facilitate the movement, loading and unloading of aircraft.
Also see
Fender splash apron
Front apron
Rear apron
Rear valance
Wing Splash Apron
APS
  1. Acronym for Absolute Pressure Sensor (GM)
  2. Acronym for Atmospheric Pressure Sensor (Mazda)
APT
Acronym for adjustable part throttle
APTS
Acronym for Advanced Public Transportation Systems
APU
Acronym for Auxiliary power unit
APWA
Acronym for American Public Works Association