Dictionary of Automotive Terms Abbreviations

DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Ge"

Gear: Wheel-like part with teeth cut into the rim. When one gear meshes with another gear, it causes the second gear to drive the other and in this way transmits power. When the gears are different sizes (different number of teeth on each gear) the mechanical average is changed.

Also See
axle end gears
bevel gear
bottom gear
camshaft gear
center gear
change gear
cluster gear
constant mesh gears
counter gear
crankshaft gear
crawler gear
differential gears
differential side gear
double helical gear
drive gear
driven gear
driving gear
economy gear
end gear
EP gear oil
fifth gear
final drive gear
first gear
fixed gear
flywheel ring gear
fourth gear
granny gear
helical gear
herringbone gears
high gear
hypoid oil
hypoid gear
idler gear
intermediate gear
internal gear pump
internal gear
left hand gear lever
low gear
mating gears
member of the gear train
overall gear ratio
passing gear
pinion gear
planetary gear differential
planetary gear set
planetary gear
planetary gears
planet gear
planet gears
reverse gear
reverse idler gear
reversible gear puller
ring gear
running gear
second gear
shift gear
side gear
sliding gear
spider gear
spiral bevel gear
spur gear
starter ring gear
steering gear
stepped planet gear
straight-cut gear
sun-and-planet gears
sun gear
third gear
timing gear
top gear
valve gear
wide-step gearing
worm gear

Gear arm: See
steering gear arm

Gearbox: The device in the drivetrain consisting of an input shaft, a system of gears, and an output shaft that multiplies engine torque. A manual transmission consists of a clutch assembly plus a gearbox; and automatic transmission generally consists of a torque converter plus gearbox.

Also See
automatic gearbox
auxiliary gearbox
auxilliary gearbox
change-speed gearbox
close-ratio gearbox
constant mesh gearbox
cotal gearbox
crash gearbox
dual-range gearbox
epicyclic gearbox
four-speed gearbox
high/low range gearbox
manual gearbox
mesh gearbox
planetary gearset
pre-selector gearbox
preselector gearbox
rack and pinion gearbox
reduction gearbox
sliding-mesh gearbox
steering gearbox
two-speed gearbox
wilson gearbox

Gearbox input shaft: A shaft which transmits power from the clutch to the gearbox

Gearbox output shaft: A shaft which transmits the drive out of the gearbox

Gearchange: A British term for the process of changing gears or shifting gears.

Also See
central gearchange
column gearchange
dashboard gearchange
floor gearchange
steering column gearchange

Gearchange cables: British term for shifting cables used to operate gears in some transmissions. In most vehicles rods and joints are used because cables tend to stretch.

Gearchange linkage: A system of rods and joints used to operate the gearbox. British term for shifter linkage

Gearchange mechanism: A system of rods and joints used to operate the gearbox. British term for shifter mechanism

Gear changer: See
column gear changer

Gear differential: See
planetary gear differential

Gear down: To shift into a lower gear

Gear drive: See
bevel gear drive

Geared: See
high-geared
low geared

Geared Speed: The calculated vehicle speed at the engine's governed rpm in each transmission gear, or (commonly) in top gear.

Gear grease: A heavy liquid grease that fills the differential and manual transmission to lubricate the gears. Also called "differential grease."

Gearhead

A person with a strong interest in all things mechanical
The portion of a gearmotor which contains the actual gearing that converts the basic motor speed to the rated output speed

Gear indicator: A display which shows the particular transmission gear that has been selected.

Gearing

The combination or system of gears or sprockets designed to transmit power.
The ratio between the drive gear and the driven gear.

Also See
alpine gearing
crossover gearing
double reduction gearing
half-step gearing
wide-step gearing
wide range gearing
wide step gearing

Gearjammer: Trucker slang for a speeding trucker as in "We got us a real gearjammer in that eastbound lane."

Gear knob: British term for the knob at the end of a lever, i.e., shifter knob

Gear lever: A device which is attached to the side of a steering column or to the center console which will allow the operator to change the gears of the transmission. Also called "shift lever."

Also See
left hand gear lever.

Gear oil: A heavy oil which is rated at 80 to 100 weight viscosity used in enclosed units containing gears. This oil infrequently or rarely needs changing.

Also See
EP gear oil

Gear puller: A tool with two or more jaws and pressure screw for pulling off gears, bearings, pulleys, etc.

Also See
reversible gear puller

Gear pulser: A term used by some manufacturers, including Subaru, for the tone rings

Gear pump: The simplest oil pump with two gear wheels.

Also See
internal gear pump
gear-type oil pump

Gear range: Choice of gears in an automatic transmission. The typical gear ranges are P - Park, R - Reverse, N - Neutral, D -Drive, L - Low

Gear ratio

The relationship between the number of turns made by a driving gear to complete one full turn of the driven gear. If the driving gear turns four times to turn the driven gear once, the gear ratio would be 4 to 1. In most instances, the gear ratio is not even like 41 because the same teeth would be meshing with each other. Thus a ratio of 4.111, for instance, means that a particular tooth on one gear may eventually mesh with every one of the teeth on the other gear. Changing the tire size will change the effective gear ratio.
A number, usually expressed as a decimal fraction, representing how many turns of the input shaft cause exactly one revolution of the output shaft. Applies to transmissions, power takeoffs, power dividers and rear axles. Example If 2.5 revolutions of an input shaft cause one revolution of the output shaft, the gear ratio is 2.51.

Also See
overall gear ratio

Gear selector: The device (e.g., lever or rod or pushbutton) for choosing the desired automatic transmission gear. Located on the side of the steering column, in a console, or on the floor between the front seats.
Also See
gearshift

Gear selector indicator: An indicator positioned in the instrument cluster or on the centre console shift gate indicating which gear has been selected in an automatic transmission

Gearset: A group of two or more gears used to transmit power.

Also See
planetary gear set
ravigneaux planetary gear set
simpson gear set
simpson planetary gear set

Gear shaft: See
steering gear shaft

Gearshift: A device which allows the operator to move the transmission gears into various configurations. Most often the gearshift is located on a lever on the steering column or on a lever on the floor between the driver and front passenger. Some older Chryslers had pushbutton controls on the dash. On motorcycles, the shift lever is located on the left or right side and operated by the foot.

Gearshifter: A device which allows the operator to move the transmission gears into various configurations. Most often the gearshift is located on a lever on the steering column or on a lever on the floor between the driver and front passenger. Some older Chryslers had pushbutton controls on the dash. On motorcycles, the shift lever is located on the left or right side and operated by the foot.

Gearslammer: Trucker slang for a trucker who's known to accelerate and decelerate a lot as in "Better watch out there's a real gearslammer in the granny lane."

Gearstick: A British term for the stick used by the driver to change gears. Also called a "shifter" or "shift lever."

Gear tooth: The indentation on the edge of a gearwheel

Gear train: A system of gears that transmits drive from one shaft to another.

Also See
member of the gear train

Gear transmission: See
bevel gear transmission

Gear-type oil pump: The simplest oil pump with two gear wheels. Compare rotor-type oil pump.

Gear up: To shift to a higher gear

Gearwheel: A gear

Gel

A substance like jelly.

Also See
silica gel
To become like jelly

Gel cell battery: A battery where the acid is in the form of a gel so that in the event of a spill, acid does not leak out—especially recommended for electric scooters and power chairs

Gel coat

A thin layer of plastic resin covering fiberglass panels.
An outer layer of GRP (glass reinforced plastic) moldings which gives a smooth surface that may be coloured

Gel-coat resin: A resin similar to general lay-up resin but with an additive to make it thixotropic, i.e., it does not run down vertical surfaces; used to make the gel coat in moldings

Gelling drier: A drier for PVC sealants

Gel saddle: A bicycle seat that has gel placed in certain areas to increase comfort.

GEM: Acronym for Generic Electronic Module

Gemmer steering: A cam-and-roller steering

GEN: Acronym for Generator (Alternator)

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: (GATT) Signed in 1947, the GATT was a formal multilateral agreement aimed at expanding and liberalizing world trade. The World Trade Organization which is the successor to the GATT came into existence on January 1, 1995.

General cargo: Non-bulk cargo. The cargo may be of various kinds

General corrosion: In contrast to pitting, a type of corrosion which affects the entire surface of a metal

Generalized Preferential Tariff: (GPT) system of non-reciprocal tariff preferences for the benefit of developing countries. It grants duty-free or preferential entry to imports for eligible developing countries up to a certain dollar value or import percentage limit.

General mess of crap: Trucker slang for GMC trucks by Volvo/White as in "I used to drive a general mess of crap."

General Motors: (GM) or (GMC) The largest American vehicle manufacturer including Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Cadillac, GMC trucks, and HUMMER. It has subsidiaries and associates in Britain (Vauxhall), European continent (Opel, Fiat, and Saab), Australia (Holden), Asia (Subaru, Fuji, Suzuki)

General purpose lacquer thinner: A type of thinner that may be used for both lacquers and synthetic enamels without causing lifting or other paint faults

General purpose pliers: Any kind of typical multi-purpose pliers.

Generate: To produce.

Generator

A mechanism which generates or produces some substance, i.e., electric generator, acetylene generator.
An electromagnetic device for producing direct current electricity. It was replaced by an alternator in the early '60s. Its problem was that a generator recharged the battery only at high speeds. The British call it a "dynamo."

Also See
AC generator
alternator
DC generator
flywheel generator
gas-driven generator
hall generator
pulse generator
solar generator
third brush
transistorized ignition with inductive pulse generator

Generator capacity: The maximum output, commonly expressed in megawatts (MW), that generating equipment can supply to system load, adjusted for ambient conditions.

Generator nameplate capacity: The maximum rated output of a generator under specific conditions designated by the manufacturer. Generator nameplate capacity is usually indicated in units of kilovolt-amperes (kVA) and in kilowatts (kW) on a nameplate physically attached to the generator.

Genset: Abbreviation for Generator set, a generating system comprising a combustion engine driving an electrical generator.

Geo: A model of automobile manufactured by Suzuki for GM

Click image for books on Geo

Geometry: The design, layout, or arrangement of parts.

Also See
steering geometry

Georgia overdrive: Trucker slang for "neutral gear" as in "You put her in Georgia overdrive on the downstroke."

Getting out: Trucker slang for being heard on the c.b. as in "Can anyone tell me if my c.b. is getting out?"