Dictionary of Automotive Terms Abbreviations

DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Fo"

Foam: See
Gasket Foam
Urethane Foam

Foam gasket: Joint sealing material made of rubber or plastic foam strips.

Foaming

The formation of bubbles in the oil of a transmission, differential, or shock absorber, etc.
The formation of bubbles in the oil and Refrigerant caused by a rapid boiling out or evaporation of the refrigerant dissolved in the oil when the pressure is suddenly reduced. This is most likely to occur when the Compressor starts and the pressure is suddenly reduced. If noted in the sight glass, this condition indicates a very low refrigerant level.

Also See
High pressure foaming
Low-pressure foaming

Foam leak detector: System of soap bubbles or special foaming liquids brushed over joints and connections to locate leaks.

FOB

Acronym for Freight on Board or Free on Board Used to describe when goods are loaded for free on a delivery vehicle at the seller's place of business, but the buyer has to pay transportation charges to the delivery destination.
Key fob

When not an acronym, it refers to the device on a key Chain which may contain your name or a company name, etc. Sometimes called a Key fob.

Focal: See
Multi-focal

Focus: See
Back Focus

Focusing: See
Automatic Focusing

Foettinger coupling: A torque-converting fluid coupling.

Fog: See
Rear fog light

Fog coat: A fully reduced (thinned) paint that is sprayed at higher than normal air pressure or with the gun held at a greater distance than normal from the work. The object is to obtain a fast Flash-off (Evaporation) of Thinner with minimum penetration of Thinner into the old paint.

Fog lamp: See
Fog light
Rear fog light

Fog lifter: Trucker slang for an interesting CB'er as in "She sure was a real foglifter."

Fog light

Fog light

A light (usually in pairs) mounted at the front of a vehicle which is designed to give a wide low beam which penetrates fog and rain, etc. and illuminates the sides of the road.
A red light mounted at the back of a vehicle which has the same intensity as a brake light to help following vehicles to see your vehicle.
Also See
Rear fog light

Foil: A light, thin, blunt-edged sword from which an Air foil is named.

Also See
Air Foil
Catcher Foil
Hydrofoil

Folder: See
Quarter Page Folder
Sheet metal folder

Folding camping trailer: Folding camping trailer

A lightweight recreational unit used for camping. Sometimes called tent trailer or pop-up trailer. The ends fold out and the top is raised to reveal a camping unit. When being pulled, the ends fold down to make a compact unit. The lightweight allows it to be towed by most cars. The trailer can be unhitched from the car for easier parking or for leaving it at the campground while you go to town for supplies. The interior contains kitchen, dining room, and sleeping facilities. Usually there is a pair of double beds and the dining bench converts into a bed. Often there is a cooking stove, sink, heater, refrigerator, a fresh water tank, a waste water tank, a faucet, a sink, a LP (propane) gas supply, and a separate 100-125 volt electrical system. They can sleep up to six people. Prices begin at around $4,000 and can go as high as $25,000.

Folding rear seats: Rear seats in a hatchback, station wagon, or van which fold forward into the footwells to give a more or less flat loading area.

Also See
Split folding rear seats

Folding top: The soft top of a convertible which can be folded away

Fold-ups: Greenspan GT3

A three-wheel tadpole cycle that folds along the center boom to a more compact size for transporting. Example: Greenspeed GT3

Follower: See
Cam follower
Cathode Follower

Following Flank: The flank of a thread opposite to the leading flank.

Follow-up spark: Secondary spark occurring when a spark is extinguished and re-ignited in the course of the spark duration, especially if the mixture is turbulent

Follow-up-type valve: A unit which responds to fluid displacement or mechanical linkage movement, to modulate pressure in a cylinder or chamber.

FOM: Acronym for fix operating mode a Limp-home mode

Fomoco: Abbreviation for Ford Motor Co.

Food Freezing: See
Fast Food Freezing

Foot: See
Heavy foot
Lifter Foot
Pound foot

Foot brake: The main braking system operated by a foot pedal

Footed: See
Light-footed

Foot Equivalent Unit: See
Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit

Foot feed: A gas pedal operated by the foot

Foot paddling: The way an unskilled rider walks his motorcycle around at low speeds

Foot pedal: One of four possible pedal located on the floor in front of the driver gas pedal (accelerator), Brake pedal, Clutch pedal, or Emergency brake pedal

Footpedal cluster: The gas and Brake pedals in a vehicle with automatic transmission and the gas, brake, and Clutch pedals in a manual transmission vehicle.

Footpeg: The metal post (usually covered in rubber) found on either side of a motorcycle upon which the rider or his passenger places his feet.

Footplate: A platform upon which your foot rests. It is distinguished from a pedal. A footplate allows you to rest your foot, but no action takes place. However, when you place your foot on a pedal some action could take place.

Foot pound: Unit of work. A foot pound is the amount of work done in lifting one pound one foot. Usually spelled with a hyphen.

Foot-pound: (ft-lb) A measurement of the work involved in lifting one pound one foot. In tightening, it is one pound pull one foot from the center of an object. Torque, or the twisting motion of an engine, is expressed in terms of foot-pounds at a specified rpm.

Footprint: The area of a tire that makes contact with the ground
Also see
Tire Contact Patch

Foot pump: A tire pump which is operated by pushing down a lever with a foot.

Footrest: A place to rest the left foot when driving.

Also See
Dead pedal.

Footwell: A recess in the floor below the feet of the rear seat occupants, but may also be used for the space used by the feet of people in the front seats

Footwell intrusion: A situation where an engine, for instance, occupies some of the space normally allocated for the feet of the driver and his passengers.

Force

A push or a pull that causes objects to change their motion.
That influence on a body which causes it to accelerate.
It is a Vector quantity, with a particular direction and forces must be combined with special Vector rules.
In the SI (international system of units), it is measured in newtons (N); but the older measurement recorded force in pounds, ounces, and feet.
Accumulated pressure. If the pressure is 10 psi on a plate 10 in. sq., the force is 100 lb. If pressure is 10 kg/cm² on a plate 10 cm² in area, the force is 100 kg.

Also See
Braking force
Centrifugal force
Centripetal force
Closing force
Cornering force
Damping force
Electromotive force
Magnetomotive Force
Pound Force
Tensile force
Ultimate cornering force

Force air filter: See
Centrifugal force air filter

Forced-air: See
Heat Pipe Gas Forced-air

Forced-air Heat Pipe: See
Gas Forced-air Heat Pipe

Forced circulation: A cooling system which uses a pump to circulate the coolant.

Also See
Thermosyphon cooling

Forced convection

Transfer of heat resulting from forced movement of liquid or gas by means of a fan or pump.
Movement of fluid by mechanical force such as fans or pumps.

Forced downshift: An automatic transmission system that enables a driver to accelerate rapidly. When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the transmission engages a lower gear to give this extra boost. Also called, passing gear. The British term is kickdown.

Forced-feed lubrication: A lubrication system used in all modern four-stroke engines, in which an engine-driven pump forces the oil through passages in the engine castings, or through external pipes, to the main areas of stress in the engine

Forced-induction system: A system in which either a conventional supercharger or a turbocharger, or even a combination of both, is used to increase intake pressure and force the mixture into the cylinders. Compare Naturally aspirated engine

Force dry: The accelerated drying of paint by heat or air movement

Force-feed oiling: Lubrication system which uses a pump to force oil to surfaces of moving parts.

Force-fit: See
Force fit.

Force fit: A force fit occurs when two items are hammered together to make them secure.

Also See
Drive fit
Interference fit
Press fit

Force Ratio: See
Braking Force Ratio

Force Voltage: See
Electromotive Force Voltage

Forcing: See
Radiative Forcing

Ford

Click image for books on
Ford

An automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company which, until 2007, was the second largest car manufacturer after GM; but now has been surpassed by Toyota.

The 1954 Crestline Skyliner is a Milestone car.
The 1957-59 Skyliner Retractable models are Milestone cars.
The 1955-56 Crown Vic Skyliner models are Milestone cars.
The 1946-48 Sportsman models are Milestone cars.
The 1955-57 and 1958-60 Thunderbird models are Milestone cars.

It includes the following models Aerostar (1986-97), Aspire (1994-97), Bronco (1966-96), Bronco II (1984-90), Club Wagon (1961-98), Contour (1995-2000), Country Squire (1950-91), Crown Victoria (1955-56, 1978-2008), Econoline (1961-2008), Edge (2007-08), Escape (2001-08), Escort (1981-2003), Excursion (2000-05), EXP (1982-88), Expedition (1997-2008), Expedition EL (2007-08), Explorer (1991-2008), Explorer Sport (2000-03), Explorer Sport Trac (2001-08), F150 (1948-2008), F250 (1948-2008), F350 (1948-2008), Festiva (1986-97), Five Hundred (2005-07), Focus (2000-08), Freestar (2004-07), Freestyle (2005-07), Fusion (2006-08), GT (2005-06), Mustang (1964-08), Probe (1989-97), Ranger (1983-2008), Taurus (1986-2008), Taurus X (2008), Tempo (1984-94), Thunderbird (1955-97, 2002-2005), Windstar (1995-2003), and ZX2 (2001-03)

Ford fixed orifice tube system: (FFOT) An air conditioning system that uses an accumulator instead of a receiver-drier and an orifice tube instead of an expansion valve. The accumulator is located at the evaporator outlet. A pressure sensing switch cycles Compressor operation

Fordism: The Encyclopedia Britannica first called the process of mass production by this name. However, mass production simply evolved in almost every industry at the beginning of the 20th century.

Fordor: A word coined by Ford for a 4-door Sedan.

Ford-type lug: A special type of battery connection consisting of a flat lug with nut and bolt between the battery cables and terminal posts. Also called Ford-type terminal

Ford-type terminal: A special type of battery connection consisting of a flat lug with nut and bolt between the battery cables and terminal posts. Also called Ford-type lug

Fore and aft adjustment: The ability to move, for example, a seat forward and backward

Fore-and-aft flat twin: A flat-twin motorcycle engine mounted with the cylinders positioned in-line with the frame

Forecar: Early three-wheeled vehicle with two-front wheels attached to a motorcycle-based frame. Passengers sat above the front axle

Forecast: Prediction of future production or sales in the automotive industry.

Forecastle: The raised part of the forward end of a ship's deck. It is used for the storing paints, tackle, deck stores, tarpaulins, ropes, etc.

Forehand welding: A style of welding where the heat of the welder is in front of the weld so that the metal is preheated

Forepeak bulkhead: The foremost main transverse watertight bulkhead designed to keep water out of the forward hold in case of bow collision damage. Also called Collision bulkhead

Fore perpendiculars: A vertical line at the intersection of the fore side of the stem and the summer load waterline.

Also See
Length between perpendiculars

Forge: To force a piece of hot metal into the desired shape by applying pressure on it (including hammering it) or pushing it through a die.
Also See
Drop forged

Forged: See
Drop forged

Forged alloy wheel: See
Two-piece forged alloy wheel

Forged aluminum: An engine piston that is formed under tremendous pressure. Forging creates a denser material that is much stronger but more expensive to make.

Forging

A process (usually involving hammering or squeezing) that transforms solid metal into shapes of varying cross-sectional material thickness, often involving heating.
A piece of forged metal alloy

Also see
Drop forging
Hot forging

Forgiving: A characteristic of a component or vehicle which overlooks problems or mistakes that a driver might make. For example, a vehicle's handling may be forgiving in that even if the driver makes small inadvertent steering wheel movements, the vehicle continues to go straight.

For-Hire Carrier: A company in the business of transporting freight belonging to others. Compare Private Carrier

Fork

Fork

The part of the Bicycle or motorcycle Frame that fits inside the Head tube and holds the front wheel. Generally called the front fork.
The part of the Bicycle Frame where Chainstays and Seatstays join to hold the rear axle.
A shifting device that is U-shaped and moves gears back and forth on the shaft.

Also See
Belt Fork
Clutch fork
Clutch throwout fork
Druid Forks
Dual-Crown Fork
Earles Forks
Girder Forks
Inverted Telescopic Forks
Quad fork
Selector fork
Shift forks
Springer Fork
Telescopic Forks
Unicrown Fork
Upside-down Forks

Fork blade: One of the two parallel curved tubes that hold the front wheel of a Bicycle.

Fork blades: The two parallel curved tubes that hold the front wheel of a Bicycle.

Fork crown: The horizontal piece on the upper part of the front fork to which the Fork blades attach on a Bicycle.

Fork ear: A metal piece which surrounds the front forks of a motorcycle and acts as a fork protector. The Headlight shell is mounted to the protrusions from each protector

Forked: A device which has one end in the shape of a Y

Forked con rod: A special split connecting rod to take two pistons for uniflow-scavenging two-stroke engines with two pistons per cylinder

Forked rocker: A Rocker arm operating two valves with its forked end

Forked rocker arm: A Rocker arm operating two valves with its forked end

Fork lift: Fork lift

(Lift truck) A vehicle having metal arms extended in front for picking up and moving pallets or skids.

Fork-lift truck: A small vehicle used for loading in factories, warehouses, docks, etc., with two arms at the front projecting forward which fit into pallets and can be raised and lowered

Fork mount: A vertical bar mounted on a roof rack to hold the front forks of a Bicycle when the front wheel has been removed. The front wheel is subsequently placed in a U-shaped tray

Fork rake: On a Bicycle or Motorcycle the shortest distance between the front axle and an imaginary line extending through the Head tube downward toward the ground.

Also See
Rake.

Fork tip: One of the slotted ends of the Fork blades into which the front wheel axle fits on a Bicycle.

Fork tips: The slotted ends of the Fork blades into which the front wheel axle fits on a Bicycle.

Form: See
Cable Form
End form

Formal hardtop: Formal hardtop

The hardtop roofline was a long-lasting fashion hit of the postwar car era. The word formal can be applied to things that are stiffly conservative and follow the established rule. The limousine, being the popular choice of conservative buyers who belonged to the Establishment, was looked upon as a formal motorcar. So when designers combined the lines of these two body styles, the result was the Formal Hardtop. This style has been marketed with two or four doors, canopy and vinyl roofs (full or partial) and conventional or opera-type windows, under various trade names. The distinction between a formal hardtop and plain pillared-hardtop coupe hasn't always followed a strict rule.

Former: A shaped wooden block for use in panel beating, on which a desired shape is produced by hammering.

Also See
Balloon Former
Pulse former

Form factor: A figure of merit that indicates how much rectified current departs from pure (nonpulstating) (DC). A large departure from form factor (pure DC) increases the heating effect of the electric motor and reduces brush life

Forming: See
Hot forming
Metal forming
Solid Phase Pressure Forming

Form of Thread: The profile of a thread in an axial plane for a length of one pitch.

Formula: A detailed specification, e.g., for a particular class of motor racing.

Also See
Bridge Formula
Brillouin Formula
Euromix formula
Quinonoid Formula

Formula car: Formula car

An single seat race car with exposed wheels

Formula I: A formula according to which racing cars are built for the major Grand Prix races counting for the World Championship

Formula One: A formula according to which racing cars are built for the major Grand Prix races counting for the World Championship

Forsterite: A crystalline chemical compound in Brake dust created by the action of heat on Asbestos

49-state car: A car that complies with U.S. emission standards which are less restrictive than the standards in California.

Also See
Federal version.

49 state car: A car that complies with U.S. emission standards which are less restrictive than the standards in California.

Also See
Federal version.

Forty-nine state car: A car that complies with U.S. emission standards which are less restrictive than the standards in California.

Also See
Federal version.

Forward: The front part of a ship.

Also See
Cab-forward design
Primary forward brake shoe

Forward bias: Conductive condition that exists when current flows through a Diode.

Forward brake shoe: See
Primary forward brake shoe.

Forward perpendiculars: A vertical line at the intersection of the fore side of the stem and the summer load waterline (See Length between perpendiculars)

Forward shift: From the neutral position, the movement of the commutator brushes in the same direction of rotation

Forward shoe: See
Leading shoe

Forward welding: Fusing metal in the same direction as the torch flame points.

Fossil fuel: An energy source formed in the Earth's crust from decayed organic material. The common fossil fuels are petroleum, coal, and natural gas.

Foul

To clog or cover (a spark plug) with oil or soot/carbon deposits which can cause a loss of performance and engine misfire.
To get in the way of another part or obstruct it.

Fouling: A situation that takes place when oil or carbon impedes the normal operation of a component. For instance, a spark plug can become fouled by oil so that a spark cannot be formed across the electrodes.
See
Carbon fouling

Foundation brake assembly: See
Brake assembly

Foundry: An operation where metal castings are produced, using coke as a fuel.

Four: See
Flat four
V-four

Four banger: Four cylinder engine.

Four barrel: See
Four-barrel carburetor.

Four barrel carburetor: See
Four-barrel carburetor.

Four-barrel carburetor: Click to supersize

A Carburetor with four Barrels to allow fuel into the manifold. In normal operation, it work like a Dual carburetor by closing off two barrels so that the throttle operates one pair of barrels. At high demand, the second throttle butterfly opens the other two barrels to provide more fuel and thus more power. Usually found on large V-8 engines.
Also See
Double-barrel carburetor
Single-barrel carburetor

Four bolt mains: Four bolt mains

A term referring to the number of bolts needed to secure each cap to a crankshaft rod. Most engines come with two bolt main; but racing engines have four.

4/C: Abbreviation for Four-color, usually referring to color photographs or slides. A term used in classified advertisements to indicate the availability of pictures of a vehicle.

Four color: (4/C) Usually referring to color photographs or slides. A term used in classified advertisements to indicate the availability of pictures of a vehicle.

Four cycle engine: See
Four-stroke cycle engine.

Four-cycle engine: See
Four-stroke cycle engine.

Four-cylinder engine: An engine with four cylinders usually in line; but can also be V-type or horizontally opposed. The in-line type is the most common in most small cars and in larger motorcycles.

Four-door: A vehicle which has two doors on each side. This is the typical layout for family sedans

Four-door hardtop: Four-door hardtop

This is a four-door car styled to resemble a convertible, but having a rigid top of metal or fiberglass. Buick introduced a totally pillarless design in 1955. A year later most automakers offered equivalent bodies. Four-door hardtops have also been labeled sports sedans and hardtop sedans. By 1976, potential rollover standards and waning popularity had taken their toll. Only a few makes still produced a four-door hard-top and those disappeared soon thereafter.

Four-door hatchback: Four-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.

Four-door pillared hardtop: Four-door pillared hardtop

Once the true four-door hardtop began to fade away, manufacturers needed another name for their luxury four-doors. Many were styled to look almost like the former pillarless models, with thin or unobtrusive pillars between the doors. Some, in fact, were called thin-pillar hardtops. The distinction between certain pillared hardtops and ordinary (presumably humdrum) sedans occasionally grew hazy.

Four-door sedan: Four-door sedan

If you took the wheels off a car, mounted it on poles and hired two weightlifters (one in front and one in back) to carry you around in it, you'd have a true sedan. Since this idea isn't very practical, it's better to use the term for an automobile with a permanent top (affixed by solid pillars) that seats four or more persons, including the driver, on two full-width seats.

Four-door station wagon: Four-door station wagon

Since functionality and adaptability are advantages of station wagons, four-door versions have traditionally been sales leaders. At least they were until cars began to grow smaller. This style usually has lowerable windows in all four doors and fixed rear side glass. The term suburban was almost synonymous with station wagon at one time, but is now more commonly applied to light trucks with similar styling. Station wagons have had many trade names, such as Country Squire (Ford) and Sport Suburban (Plymouth). Quite a few have retained simulated wood paneling, keeping alive the wagon's origin as a wood-bodied vehicle.

Four-gas analyzer: Equipment for testing exhaust gas for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen

Four-link rear suspension: An independent rear suspension layout, also used on live rear axles, in which each wheel is guided by two control arms, one mounted longitudinally, the other mounted transversely or almost transversely, thus providing lateral location for the axle. A suspension setup that uses 4 rods (or links) to locate an axle. Depending on the arrangement of the links, a panhard rod or watts link may be used to control side to side motion. This type of suspension was used in most American designed rear wheel drive cars built from the 60's, 70's, and 80's.

Four on the floor: A Four-speed manual transmission with floor mounted shift.

Four-on-the-floor: A Four-speed manual transmission with floor mounted shift.

Four piston caliper: A disc brake caliper of the fixed type that has two pistons on each side of the disc.

4-point racing harness: A safety harness anchored at four points, worn by some racing drivers

Four-pole motor: 1800 rpm, 60 Hz electric motor (synchronous speed).

Four-spark ignition coil: An ignition coil with two primary windings and one secondary winding

4-spd: Abbreviation for Four-speed, either Manual transmission or Automatic transmission.

Four speed: A Transmission which has four forward gears.

Four-speed: A Transmission which has four forward gears.

Four-speed gearbox: A British term for a Four-speed transmission

Four-speed transmission: A Manual or Automatic transmission which has four forward gears. In most instances, the top gear is an overdrive.

Four stroke cycle engine: See
Four-stroke cycle engine.

Four-stroke cycle engine: An engine requiring two complete revolutions of the Crankshaft to fire each Piston once. The first stroke down (Intake stroke) pulls fuel and air into the Combustion chamber. The second stroke up (Compression stroke) compresses the mixture. The third stroke down (Power stroke) comes about through the rapid burning of the compressed fuel mixture. The fourth stroke up (Exhaust stroke) expels the Exhaust gases from the Cylinder. It is also called the Otto cycle.

Four stroke power cycle: See
Four-stroke cycle engine.

Four-stroke power cycle: See
Four-stroke cycle engine.

Four-stroking: A two-stroke engine which is running faultily as it fires only on every second cycle

Fourth: The highest gear in a four-speed transmission or the second highest in a five-speed transmission.

Fourth gear: The highest gear in a four-speed transmission or the second highest in a five-speed transmission.

Four valve: An engine which has four valves (two intake and two exhaust) for each cylinder. Multiple valve systems offer better breathing.

Four-way wheel wrench: Four-way wheel wrench

A Lug wrench shaped in the form an X with a socket at each end. Also called a wheel nut spider.

Four-wheel ABS: An anti-lock brake system that operates on all four wheels

Four wheel alignment: See
Four-wheel alignment.

Four-wheel alignment: In most rear-drive vehicles only the front wheels need to have their wheels aligned because the rear wheels are on a fixed axle. However with front-drive vehicles and rear-drive vehicles with Independent suspension, all four wheels need to be aligned.

Also See
Alignment.

Four wheel disc brakes: Disc brakes fitted to both front and rear wheels

Four-wheel drift: A term that describes a cornering situation in which all four tires are operating at large Slip angles so that a car gets into a sideways slide.

4WD: Acronym for Four-wheel drive. This term should be distinguished from FWD which is Front-wheel drive.

Four-wheel drive: Four-wheel drive

(4WD) A type of drive system in which both front wheels are connected to its own Differential and axles, and both back wheels are connected to its own Differential and axles. Between these two Differentials there is a Transfer case which allows you, in the case of part-time four wheel drive, to switch between Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. In full-time four-wheel drive, power is sent to both Differentials.

Also See
Automatic four-wheel drive
Ferguson four-wheel drive
Full-time four-wheel drive
Part-time four-wheel drive
Permanent four-wheel drive
Real-time four-wheel drive
Torsen four-wheel drive

Four-wheel-drive high: (4WD Hi) A four-wheel drive, with the final drive ratio the same as when the vehicle is in two-wheel drive.

Four-wheel-drive low: (4WD Lo) A separate low-ratio transfer case gear set designed for low-speed operation and maximum traction in difficult terrain. In virtually all systems, engaging 4WD Lo usually requires bringing the vehicle to a complete stop.

4WS: Acronym for Four-wheel steering.

Four wheeler: Trucker slang for a passenger car or pickup as in "Looks like smokey is giving that four wheeler an invitation."

Four wheel steering: See
Four-wheel steering.

Four-wheel steering: A vehicle where the rear wheels also turn when the front wheels turn to give a sharper and more accurate turn.