Dictionary of Automotive Terms Abbreviations

DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Lu"

Lube grease:: A very thick lubricating oil that has a paste-like consistency. Used to lubricate the steering linkage, the suspension system, and other moving parts outside the engine.
Also See:
gear grease

Lube job:: The greasing and lubrication of the suspension system, the drive train, and other parts of the vehicle which need it. A grease gun is applied to zerk or grease fittings and the grease is forced into the component. It should be done professionally once or twice a year. It can be done regularly when you change your oil.

Lubricant:: Any material, usually of a petroleum nature such as grease, oil, etc., that is placed between two moving parts in an effort to reduce friction. Lubricant can also protect a part from dirt and moisture.
Also See:
extreme pressure lubricant
Grease
oil

Lubricate:: To cover or treat with a lubricant.
Also See:
ep lubricant
extreme-pressure lubricant

Lubricate beads:: In order to mount a tire on a rim, the bead of the tire is coated with a vegetable base lubricant. In this way, the tire slides on easily. A petroleum base lubricant must never be used.

Lubrication:: A type of friction reducing agent like oil or grease.
Also See:
central chassis lubrication
chassis lubrication
clean oil lubrication
dry sump lubrication
forced-feed lubrication
petroil lubrication
pressure lubrication
pump-fed lubrication
separate lubrication
splash lubrication
total-loss lubrication
wet sump lubrication

Lubrication film:: A coat of lubricant to reduce the friction created when two surfaces move on one another

Lubrication pump:: A pump used to supply oil to lubricating points, particularly for plain bearings

Lubrication system:: The system which stores, cleans, cools, and recirculates oil in an engine to lubricate its moving parts and bearings. It includes the oil pump, oil pan or sump, oil coolers, tubing, filters, oil passages in the block, and dashboard oil gauge. Checking the level of oil is accomplished with the oil dipstick.

Lucas Bosch:: This system, used in Jaguars and Triumphs, is a Bosch L-Jetronic system licensed for production by Lucas

Lug:

To cause the engine to labor by failing to shift to a lower gear when necessary. The British term is "labour."
A protrusion on an object.
A sleeve into which bicycle frame tubes are inserted to form a joint.
Also See:
dog
An external metal sleeve that holds two or more tubes together at the joints of a frame.
A device mounted on a rotating shaft or component that engages in a recess of a component to be driven.
A solid block of tread on a tire.

Lug bolt:: Bolts which secure the wheel to the hub. Also called "wheel lug bolt."
Also See:
locking lug bolt

Luggage:: Travelling bags or suitcases. In some luxury vehicles, the luggage is shaped to fit the trunk of the car.

Luggage carrier:: A rack which is bolted on top of the trunk lid for taking luggage or the spare wheel (often seen on old sports cars where space was at a premium). In modern vehicles it is only decorative rather than functional.

Luggage rack:: A trunk which fits on the back of a motorcycle behind the rear passenger.

Lugging:: A condition of an engine having difficulty in turning because the transmission is in a higher gear than the road speed requires. The British term is "labouring."

Lug nut:: One of several nuts which hold the wheel and tire assembly on the car and are screwed on the studs. The inner face of the lug nut is a tapered (conical) nut to help center the wheel. On modern wheels for passenger cars, lug nuts and corresponding studs are less frequently used than bolts. On commercial vehicles, however, lug nuts are very common. A lug wrench is necessary to remove the nuts. The British term is wheel nut.
Also See:
locking lug nut

Lug wrench:: A wrench used to remove the lug nuts which secure the wheels to the vehicle. Some are L-shaped while others are X-shaped. They are usually found in the trunk of the car with the tire jack.
Also See:
cross-shaft lug wrench

Lumbar support:: A feature in an automobile seat which allows the driver or passenger to increase the pressure in the small of the back and thus provide more comfort.

Luminance:: The luminous intensity of a surface in a given direction per uatt of projected area of the surface, in candela per square meter; not the same as the apparent brightness

Luxe:: (L) Although the word means luxury, on its own it is often used to denote a rather basic model. Compare CL and GL.
Also See:
comfort Luxe
grand Luxe

Luxury car:: A well-appointed, well-equipped, well-designed and constructed vehicle varying in size from a compact to a large sedan.

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