- FI
- Acronym for Fuel injection.
- FIA
- Acronym for Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile -- An international umbrella motoring organization to which national motoring organizations are affiliated
- Fiat
-
A vehicle brand of which the 1925-1948 models with required application are classic cars.
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Fiat
- Fiberglass
- A mixture of glass fibers and Resin that when cured (hardened) produces a very light and strong material. It is used to build boats, car bodies, repair damaged areas, etc. It can also be spelled Fibreglass. Also called glass reinforced plastic.
- Fibreglass
- A mixture of glass fibres and Resin that when cured (hardened) produces a very light and strong material. It is used to build boats, car bodies, repair damaged areas, etc. It can also be spelled Fiberglass.
- Fiberglass body
- A body shell which is molded in one piece from fiberglass and has the advantage of lightweight and freedom from corrosion
- Fiberglass mat
- A layer of chopped but irregular individual fiberglass strands dressed with a chemical to hold them loosely together, which when a resin is applied hardens into a strong material for repairing holes, e.g. in car bodies
- Fiber optics
- The transfer of light through glass fibers. Cadillac, for instance, transfers the light of the Headlight or taillight through fiber optics showing that the lights are actually on; rather than just an electrical connection which shows that the indicator light works.
- Fiber reinforced plastic
- (FRP) Continuous mat or woven fibers impregnated with plastic resins to form a lightweight but extremely strong solid. These plastics are stronger per pound than steel. Commonly used fibers are aramid (kevlar), carbon fiber, nomex, and glass. These fibers are used alternatively to provide various levels of strength and weight.
- Field
-
- A particular body of interest or expertise.
- The area covered or filled with an electric, magnetic, or gravitational force.
- Field coil
- Insulated wire wrapped around an iron or steel Core. When Current flows through the wire, a strong magnetic force field is built up.
- Field intensity
- The force acting on a unit electric charge or unit magnetic pole placed at a given point.
- Field pole
- Part of Stator of motor which concentrates magnetic field of Field winding.
- Field terminal
- (F) The input terminal on a Generator
- Field weakening
- The introduction of resistance in series with the shunt-wound field of an electric motor to reduce the voltage and current that weakens the strength of the magnetic field and thereby increases the motor speed
- Field winding
- That part which produces a constant-strength magnetic field in an electric motor or Generator, the field core being on the Stator or the Rotor depending on the type of motor or Generator
- Fierceness
- The tendency of a Clutch to engage suddenly so that it is difficult to proceed smoothly from a stop
- Fiero
-
A model of automobile manufactured by Pontiac division of General Motors
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Fiero
- Fiesta
- The 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta is a milestone car.
- FIEV
- Acronym for Fédération des Industries des Equipements pour Véhicules (i.e., The French Vehicle Equipment Industries Association)
- Fifth wheel
-
- A wheel that is temporarily attached to a vehicle to test the accuracy of the Speedometer, etc.
- A recreational trailer which has its tongue attached to the bed of a truck.
- A coupling device attached to a tractor or dolly which supports the front of a semitrailer and locks it to the tractor or dolly. The fifth wheel's center is designed to accept a trailer's kingpin, around which the trailer and tractor or dolly pivot in turns.
Also see
- Fifth-wheel travel trailer
-
A recreational trailer which is towed by a pickup truck. The tongue of the trailer fits into the bed of the truck. Like a travel trailer, it comes with all the amenities of home. The master bedroom is over the truck bed. They have an extension on the front of the box that extends over the tow vehicle and a horizontal plate that looks like a wheel (hence the name fifth wheel) that rests on the tow vehicle for support. This hitch arrangement requires special equipment on the tow vehicle. The trailer is outfitted with a fifth-wheel hitch (also known as a gooseneck hitch). The hitch arrangement makes towing easier by placing the trailer load in the center of the tow vehicle instead of behind it. The extension on the front of the box also serves as a bedroom in most fifth wheels. Fifth-wheel trailers usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heater, air conditioner, a self-contained toilet, a shower, water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water), faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, and a separate 100-125 volt electrical system. Some have built-in washer and dryer, slide-out room extension. They can sleep up to six people. Prices range from $15,000 to $150,000.
Fifth-wheel travel trailer
Fifth-wheel trailer
- Fifty-fifty power split
- An arrangement in a four-wheel drive transmission where equal amounts of power are delivered to the front and rear wheels
- Filament
- A fine wire inside a light Bulb that heats to
incandescence when Current passes through it. The
filament produces the light.
Also see
- File
-
File
- A flat or rounded tool with a rough surface of hardened steel. When it is rubbed against metal, it removes small bits of metal leading to a smaller amount of base metal.
- The action of removing metal by using a file.
Also see
- File card brush
- A brush with angled wire bristles for cleaning between the teeth on a file or the threads on a bolt.
- Filler
-
- Paste usually with a polyester base which, when mixed with a hardener, forms a surface which can be sanded smooth and is suitable for repairs to dented or rusted bodywork. Also called filler paste.
- A Primer filler.
- An inert material added to paper, resins, and other substances to modify their properties and improve quality.
- An opening through which some liquid can be poured (i.e., oil or gasoline).
- Substances added to friction materials to obtain specific performance characteristics.
- Filler door
- A hinged door (usually less than six inches square and painted the body color) which covers the gas cap and filler neck on some models.
- Filler neck
- A funnel shaped part which is connected to the main container (gas tank,
radiator, windshield washer reservoir, etc.) and is usually covered with a cap.
Also see
- Filler port
- The passage through which brake fluid flows from the reservoir to the cylinder
bore, refilling the low pressure ahead of the cup on the return stroke. Also
called an inlet port or intake port.
Also see
- Filler rod
- A metal wire that is melted and added to the welding puddle to produce the
necessary increase in bead thickness.
Also see
- Fillet
-
- A round Joint between two parts connected at an angle.
- Weld metal in the internal vertex, or corner, of the angle formed by two pieces of metal, giving the joint additional strength to withstand unusual stresses.
Also see
- Fillet weld
- Metal fused into a comer formed by two pieces of metal whose welded surfaces are approximately 90° to each other.
- Filling
- Repairing of holes or dents in bodywork with filler paste or Body lead
- Filling station
- A British term for a Gas station
- Fillister-head machine screw
-
A machine screw with a head that has a flat bottom to fit flush with the surface of the material and has a deep rounded head
Fillister-head machine screw
- Fillister screw
- A Set screw with a deep rounded head
- Fill plug
- A small screw-in plug in the steering box or similar, which is removed for topping up with oil.
- Fill up
-
- To put in the full amount of fuel as in "Fill up the gas tank, I'm down to a quarter of a tank". Often said, Fill 'er up or Fill her up.
- The amount needed to make a full tank as in "I need a fill up".
- Filter
-
- A device designed to remove foreign substances or particles from air, oil, Gasoline, water, etc.
- A device used either with the drier or as a separate unit to remove foreign material (contaminants) from the Refrigerant
Also see- Air cleaner
- Air filter
- Analog Filter
- Band-stop Filter
- Band-pass Filter
- Bypass filter
- Canister air filter
- Centrifugal force air filter
- Centrifugal oil filter
- Ceramic filter
- Ceton Filter
- Charcoal filter
- Cuno filter
- Diesel particulate filter
- Electrostatic Filter
- Fuel filter
- Full-flow oil filter
- Fuel Filter
- Gas filter
- In-line fuel filter
- Integral fuel filter
- Micro oil filter
- Oil filter
- Oil filter cartridge
- Oil filter housing
- Oil filter bypass valve
- Oil filter wrench
- Partial flow filter
- Pod filter
- Sock filter
- Surface-type filter
- Vacuum filter
- Filter cartridge
- The replaceable porous part of some oil filters and air filters; but often refers
to the whole filter. Also called filter element.
Also see
- Filter element
- The replaceable porous part of some oil filters and air filters; but often
refers to the whole filter. Also called filter cartridge.
Also see
- Filter screen
- A piece of wire mesh in a pipe or surrounding an air filter which is designed to collect dirt and foreign matter
- Filter wrench
-
An oil filter wrench for removing the Oil filter.
Filter wrench
- FIM
- Acronym for Fédération Internationale Motorcylistes, the governing body of international motorcycle sports
- Fin
-
- A thin metal object projecting from a surface and is used to dissipate heat. It is found on Radiators and air-cooled engines.
- Wings and airfoils used to improve a vehicle's aerodynamics, stability, or possibly aesthetics.
- A thin projecting rib.
- Final Boiling Point
- (FBP)
- The temperature at which a substance starts to boil is referred to as the Initial Boiling Point (IBP), and the temperature at which it boil off completely is referred to as the Final Boiling Point (FBP).
- The highest temperature indicated on the thermometer inserted in the flask during a standard laboratory distillation. This is generally the temperature at which no more vapor can be driven over into the condensing apparatus.
- Final drive
- This is the end of the drive train before power is transmitted to the wheels. In a typical car, the engine (or electric motor) transmits its power through some sort of Clutch into a transmission. Then the power is transmitted to differential gears that adjust the engine speed to the most efficient use intended. These final drive differential gears are either at the front axle or rear axle, depending on the vehicle's layout. A typical family car or one intended for high speeds will have a low numerical ratio, to give it speed and good fuel efficiency. A truck or performance car is likely to have a high numerical ratio for better pulling power or for better acceleration
- Final drive gear
- The last gear in a Drivetrain before the driven wheels. Usually it is in the Differential.
- Final drive ratio
- This is the ratio that describes the difference between the number of times the Driveshaft must turn before the axle shaft turns once. In a final drive ratio of 3.551, for example, the Driveshaft must turn 3.55 times before the axle will turn once. The number of teeth on the Ring and pinion gears determine the ratio. In most instances, the ratio is not a simple number like 3.001 because the same teeth on the drive and driven gears would always meet and cause wear.
- Final purchase price
- This price is equivalent to the amount you would pay for the vehicle if you were buying or financing rather than leasing. The final purchase price does not include any down payment by the lessee.
- Finance and control
- Ownership of company (i.e., Canadian, U.S., Japanese, German, etc.); public or private; capital investments Buildings, machinery and equipment, Tooling programs.
- Fine
-
- Something that is made of very small particles.
- The position of threads on a bolt or nut that are very close together.
- Fine-structure constant
- A dimensionless constant, equal to 7.297351 x 10-3 (approximately 1/137), given by 2π times the square of the electron charge, divided by the product of the speed of light and Planck's constant.
- Finger tight
- The torque required when securing something without the use of a wrench; but using only one's fingers.
- Finish
-
- The final coat of paint applied to a vehicle.
Also see
- The overall look of a vehicle so that the paint, for instance, is evenly applied, there are no bare spots, etc. Usually this word is used in the expression Fit and finish.
- Surface refinement as in smooth finish.
- The final coat of paint applied to a vehicle.
- Finish coat
- The final color Coat applied to a vehicle.
- Finished leaded gasoline
- Gasoline that contains more than 0.05 gram of lead per gallon or more than 0.005 gram of phosphorus per gallon. Premium and regular grades are included, depending on the octane rating. Includes leaded gasohol. Blendstock is excluded until blending has been completed. Alcohol that is to be used in the blending of gasohol is also excluded.
- Finish hammer
- A pounding device used for detail work in shaping a panel after it has been brought approximately into the right shape.
- Finishing enamel
- The paint used as the top coat of a painting system -- usually before a clear coat is applied. Also called finishing paint.
- Finishing paint
- The paint used as the top coat of a painting system -- usually before a clear coat is applied. Also called finishing enamel.
- Finish restorer
- A polish or rubbing compound with very slight abrasive which is used to remove an oxidized paint surface to bring back its original luster.
- Finishing stone
- A fine grain stone used at the completion of the honing process to give a smooth surface.
- Finite-element analysis
- A reduction of a complex structure to its basic component parts so that these can be studied in a computer, especially in a CAD process. Also called FE analysis
- Fin neck carriage bolt
- A plain, circular, oval head bolt with two fins or protrusions located below the head that fits into corresponding notches to prevent rotation.
- Finning
- An arrangement of fins on a surface to aid cooling by improving the heat transfer rate, typically found on air-cooled engines
- Fins
- A series of blades such as are found in the internal design of the torque
converter. To create mechanical torque from hydraulic pressure, oil is forced under
pressure through the torque converter. The inside of the converter is made up of
layers of steel fins which zigzag in direction and vary in size. First the fins are
large but as the layers go on, the fins decrease in size. This design generates
greater hydraulic pressure as the oil passes through the converter, the strong flow
of oil creates a fluid coupling which operates like a
Clutch, driving the wheels.
Also see
- Fire
-
- To start an engine as in "I will fire up this engine".
- To ignite the air-fuel mixture.
Also see
- Fire appliance
- A British term for Fire engine
- Fireball combustion chamber
- A combustion chamber design developed by the Swiss engineer May and introduced on Jaguar's V-12 engine in 1981
- Firebird
-
A model of automobile manufactured by Pontiac division of General Motors
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Firebird
- Fire engine
- A vehicle built on a special truck chassis equipped with fire-fighting items such as ladders, pumps, hoses, etc.
- Firenza
-
A model of automobile manufactured by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors from 1982-88
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Oldsmobile Firenza
- Fire extinguisher
- A cylinder filled with a powder, foam, or liquid which can be sprayed on a fire to put it out.
- Fire point
-
- The temperature at which the vapor continues to burn.
- The lowest temperature at which an oil vaporizes rapidly enough to burn for at least 5 seconds after ignition, under standard conditions.
Also see
- Firewall
- The metal partition between the Driver's compartment and the engine compartment. On front engine vehicles, it is located below the Windshield; but on rear engine vehicles, it is located below the backlight (i.e., back window). It protects the driver and passengers from engine fires, noise, and fumes. The British term is bulkhead.
- Firing order
- The sequence or order in which Cylinders must be fired 1, 5, 3, 6, 2, 4, etc. It differs from the Cylinder sequence which starts with cylinder number one and goes to the last cylinder 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The sequential firing distributes the shock of combustion evenly and reduces engine vibrations.
- Firm
- A business or institution comprising sole proprietorships, partnerships, companies and other forms of organizations.
- First
- The lowest gear in a transmission. In a Bicycle, it is the gear ratio where the drive sprocket is the smallest and the driven sprocket is the largest. This gear is the best for starting from a stop or going up a hill.
- First-aid kit
- A box containing bandages, antiseptic ointment, and other basic medical requirements for treating injuries.
- First gear
- The lowest gear in a transmission. In a Bicycle, it is the gear ratio where the drive sprocket is the smallest and the driven sprocket is the largest. This gear is the best for starting from a stop or going up a hill.
- First law of thermodynamics
- The natural law that states energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and that energy can only be converted into another form.
- FISA
- Acronym for Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile which is the governing body of motor sport
- Fish eye
- A small pit that forms in the Finish coat of paint, usually due to insufficient or improper cleaning of the old Coat.
- Fish eyes
- Small pits that form in the Finish coat of paint, usually due to insufficient or improper cleaning of the old Coat.
- Fit
-
- Contact area between two parts.
- The way in which two parts come together.
- To attach or put into place.
- The range of tightness which may result from the application of a specific combination of allowances and tolerances in the design of mating parts.
- Normally referring to threads, fit is a measure for the tightness of mating parts.
- Fit and finish
- The evaluative standard of a vehicle's cosmetics. Good fit and finish means all the body panels and Trim are evenly spaced, aligned, and secure. The paint is evenly applied with no bubbles or pit marks.
- Five-door
- Body design typical of station wagons and most hatchbacks, with four side doors and a tailgate.
- Five-door hatchback
-
Essentially unknown among domestic models in the mid-1970s, the four-door hatchback became a popular model as cars grew smaller and front-wheel-drive versions appeared. Styling was similar to the original two-door hatchback, except for two more doors. Luggage was carried in the back of the car itself, loaded through the hatch opening, not in a separate trunk.
Five-door hatchback
- Five-link rear suspension
- Independent rear suspension layout also used on live rear axles, in which each wheel is guided by two trailing links, two transverse links and a common track rod
- Fivers
- Colloquial term for Fifth-wheel travel trailer
- Five-speed transmission
- A Manual transmission with five forward gears. Generally the fifth gear is an Overdrive to allow the wheels to turn faster than the engine.
- Five-valve head
- A cylinder head which has five valves per cylinder, usually three intake valves and two exhaust valves
- Fixed anchor
- A non-adjustable anchor pin. It can be riveted or welded to the backing plate, or it can pass through the backing plate and attach to a part of the suspension system
- Fixed-anchor grind
- A variation of Undersize grinding that compensates for the size and location of a fixed shoe anchor.
- Fixed caliper
- A disc brake caliper rigidly mounted to the steering knuckle or spindle or control arm. It can have one or two pistons on each side of the disc and does not float or slide.
- Fixed-caliper disc brake
- A disc brake with a caliper which cannot move, the caliper consisting of two halves which are bolted together and contain at least one cylinder and piston each
- Fixed-choke carburetor
- A Carburetor where the choke tube or venturi is of predetermined size
- Fixed cup
- The right-hand cup of the Bottom bracket of a
Bicycle, ordinarily not loosened or removed during
Bottom bracket disassembly.
Also see
- Fixed drive
- A power transmission without differential action at the driven axle or between the driven axles in a four-wheel drive layout
- Fixed gear
- A Cog attached to a Hub without a Freewheel; it always turns as fast as the Bicycle's wheel so that you cannot coast.
- Fixed head
-
- A non-removable cylinder head cast in one piece with the cylinder block. These heads were used in early automobile engines and, more recently, in some motorcycle engines.
- A British term for a solid non-removable roof, or coupe.
- Fixed idle-air bypass
- Some Rochester Quadrajet Carburetors have idle air passages from the air horn to a point just below the throttle plates. Extra air through these passages allows the throttle plates to be more closed at idle, reducing the signal applied to the discharge nozzles for the main metering circuit and eliminating nozzle drip at idle
- Fixed-jet carburetor
- This is the most common type of carburetor in which the jets and choke are of a predetermined size. The opposite is a Variable-jet carburetor
- Fixed orifice tube
- A device that converts high pressure liquid Refrigerant into low pressure liquid refrigerant (thus lowering its boiling point) before it passes through the evaporator. The expansion valve replaces the thermostatic expansion valve. Also called an Expansion tube
- Fixed price selling
- Published fixed price displayed on a new vehicle eliminating need for negotiation.
- Fixed stop
- A Stop that cannot be changed without the use of special tools.
- Fixed Tandem
- Assembly of two axles and suspension that is attached to the chassis in one place, and cannot be moved
fore and aft.
Also see
- Fixed wheel
- Same as Fixed gear, the kind of rear wheel found on track bicycles.
- Fixed wheel bicycle
- A bicycle you can back-pedal to brake. It has one wheel which cannot rotate independently of the pedals
- Fixte
- A Bicycle with a single rear gear that does not allow for coasting. In other words, you have to pedal all the time.
- Fixture
- Device for holding goods in process while working tools are in operation that does not contain any special arrangements for guiding the working tools.