DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Wa"
- W:
- A letter rating for tires to indicate that they are theoretically rated for speeds up to 270 kph
(167 mph), as in P220WR15.The next higher rating is Y
and the one lower rating is V
- W/:
- Abbreviation for "with," as in black w/white top.
- Waddle:
- A side to side rocking movement of a vehicle in motion, caused by suspension or tire
damage or excessive lateral runout
- Wad punch:
- A tool with a round cutting edge for cutting out holes in gaskets or other soft materials
- Wagon:
- See:
four-door station wagon
liftback station wagon
sag wagon
space wagon
station wagon
two-door station wagon
- Waistline:
- A British term for belt line. An imaginary or molded
horizontal line below the bottom of the side window that separates the roof area from the bottom
of the body
- Waiver:
- See duty waiver
- Walcker:
- See chenard-walcker
- Walk-in cooler:
- Larger.
commercially refrigerated space kept below room temperature. Often found in supermarkets or
wholesale meat distribution centers.
- Walked over:
- Trucker slang
for Over powered by a stronger c.b. signal as in "Come back on that someone walked all over
you."
- Wall:
- See cylinder wall
- Walnut:
- See burr walnut
- Wander:
- A steering action where the vehicle moves or rambles from a fixed course without positive
control.
- Wanderer:
- The first Wanderer car with a 5/12 hp four-cylinder engine was test driven in 1912. It went
into series production in 1913. This small Wanderer car had not been on the market very long
when it became a stage star in the operetta "Puppchen" (which can be translated loosely as
"darling") by Jean Gilbert. The title song was rather catchy: "Darling, you are the apple of my
eye, darling, I think the world of you." From then on the little Wanderer was known simply by
the name "Puppchen."
- Wandering:
- A condition in which the front wheels of an automobile tend to steer slowly one way and
then another, and interferes with directional control of stability
- Wankel engine:
- A rotary internal combustion engine
invented by Felix Wankel (1902-1988). It consists of an equilateral triangular member with
curved sides orbiting about an eccentric on a shaft inside
a stationary housing whose inner working surface is in the
shape of an epitrochoid. The
rotor is in sliding contact with the
eccentric and imparts power to the eccentric shaft as a
connecting rod does to a crankshaft. With one-third of a
rotor revolution per shaft revolution and a power impulse for each of the three rotor sides, the
Wankel generates one power impulse per revolution per rotor--twice that of what the
four-cycle
piston engine produces. Thus it has become accepted practice
to multiply the geometry displacement of the
Wankel by a factor of two for comparison with
otto-cycle piston engines. The Wankel's advantages include
compact size, light weight and smooth operation because there are no
reciprocating parts. Its drawbacks include relatively high
exhaust emission, possible sealing problems and
low fuel economy. Mazda, however, has made
significant improvements in all three areas.
- Warding file:
- See key file
- Warm up:
- To run an engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
- The laps taken on the track prior to the race used to warm up the tires, transmission,
engine fluids and other components of the race car before the start of the event.
- Warm-up:
- The action of starting an engine and allowing it to idle until it reaches operating temperature
before driving away.
- Warm-up control
unit:
- A unit that produces the richer mixture needed for cold running and modulates fuel system
pressure according to engine temperature; the unit includes an electrically heated thermostatic
spring, which reduces the force on a spring-loaded control diaphragm
- Warm-up
enrichment:
- A reduced enrichment of the air/fuel mixture following cranking and after-start enrichment.
In the past, warming up an engine was thought to be good practice but now manufacturers
recommend that motorists should drive off immediately, as this is the quickest way of heating up
the engine and preventing oil being washed off the cylinder walls by partially burnt rich mixture
(which causes engine wear)
- Warm-up regulator:
- On Bosch CIS, the original name for the control-pressure regulator
- Warning:
- See:
deflation warning system
direction indicator warning
light
engine oil level warning light
fluid level warning indicator
handbrake warning light
hazard warning switch
low oil warning light
oil pressure warning light
parkbrake warning light
reversing warning signal
- Warning indicator:
- See fluid level warning indicator
- Warning lamp:
- A small lamp on the instrument panel that lights up if there is a problem
- Warning light:
- A small lamp on the instrument panel that lights up if there is a problem.
Also See:
brake warning light
check engine warning light
coolant level warning light
direction indicator warning
light
engine oil level warning light
handbrake warning light
low oil warning light
oil pressure warning light
parkbrake warning light
seat belt warning light
signal light warning light
SRS warning light
- Warning light valve:
-
A valve in the hydrauklic circuits of a dual brake system that switches on
a dash warning light when one system fails.
- Warning signal:
- See reversing warning signal
- Warning switch:
- See hazard warning switch
- Warning system:
- See:
deflation warning system
and talking warning system
- Warning tracks:
- The little ridges in the road that warn you of an upcoming tollbooth or another lane.
Sometimes called "wake-up bumps" or "Bot's Dots" -- Mr. Bot got very rich off these.
- A part of the race track which is off the main part of the section for driving.
- Warning triangle:
- A triangular red safety reflector that should be carried on all vehicles and be placed at the
side of the road to warn of an obstruction ahead, such as a broken-down vehicle
- Warp:
- A bending or twisting out of shape.
- Threads in cloth that run along the length of the material.
- To bend or twist out of shape
- Warranty:
- The promise made by both the vehicle manufacturer and the vehicle dealer to fix or replace
parts on a new vehicle if there is a malfunction before a specific time or distance has elapsed. In
some instances some manufacturers or dealers grant warranty even after the expiry of the
designated time or distance. This is called "good will warranty."
Also See:
anti-corrosion warranty
corrosion warranty
good will warranty
- Wash:
- See:
automatic car wash
and car wash
- Washboard:
- A road surface which has a series of lateral grooves -- usually found on gravel roads and
caused by water runoff.
- Washcoat:
- An oxide layer on the catalyst substrate which increases with the active surface area
- Washer:
- A flat disc with a hole in the center. It may be made of
metal, rubber, plastic, or leather. It is often placed under a nut to even out pressure and prevent
damage to the part on which it rests.
Also See:
bridge washer
crush washer
cup washer
dish washer
flat washer
helical spring lock washer
protector washer
split washer
spring lock washer
spring washer
tab washer
thrust washer
windshield washer fluid
windshield washer
- Washer fluid:
- A fluid added to the water in the windshield washer and rear window washer
reservoirs/bottles to improve the cleaning action and lower the freezing point. Also see
windshield washer fluid
- Washer pump:
- See windshield washer pump
- Wash/wipe:
- See:
headlight wash/wipe
rear wash/wipe system
- Wash/wipe switch:
- A switch on the instrument panel that operates the rear wash/wipe system
- Wash/wipe system:
- See:
windshield wash/wipe system
rear wash/wipe system
- Wastegate:
- See waste gate
- Waste gate:
- A valve used to limit the boost developed in a turbocharger. A waste gate operates by
allowing some of the engine's exhaust flow to bypass the turbocharger's
turbine section under certain conditions.
- Waste spark
method:
- In distributorless ignition systems, dual-spark coils fire two spark plugs at the same time;
one of these sparks is in a cylinder during its exhaust stroke, where the spark has no effect (waste
spark); the other spark occurs in the cylinder near the end of the compression stroke
- Water:
- See:
de-ionized water
distilled water
oil and water extractor
- Water column:
- A reference term used in connection with a manometer
- Water-cooled:
- An engine which is cooled by antifreeze in contrast with an air-cooled engine.
- Water-cooled
condenser:
- Heat exchanger designed to transfer heat from hot gaseous refrigerant to water.
- Condensing unit which is cooled through use of water flow.
- Water cooling
system:
- The normal cooling system used on most cars and trucks to keep the temperature of the
engine down to a desirable level; engine heat is removed via water acting as a coolant which
surrounds the cylinders in a water jacket; the system typically includes water passages, coolant
pump, thermostat, hoses, and radiator
- Water defrosting:
- Use
of water to melt ice and frost from evaporator during off-cycle.
- Water extractor:
- See oil and water extractor
- Water fade:
-
A delay in brake application caused by water contamination that reduces friction
between the brake linings and drum or rotor.
- Water hammer:
- Noise
generated by back pressure of water when a valve is closed.
- Water injection:
- In an attempt to improve performance and allow the use of lower octane
gasoline, water injection was developed. The cooling of the
water vapor charge suppresses detonation. A small
amount of water or alcohol-water fluid is injected into the
fuel-air mixture as it enters into the
carburetor. Theoretically, as the water evaporates it should
cool the incoming charge which then becomes denser, leading to higher
volumetric efficiency. This in turn should lead
to improvements in performance and economy and allow
the use of lower octane fuel because cooling of the charge suppresses
detonation.
- Water jacket:
- The area around the cylinder block and
head or intake
manifold that is left hollow so that water may be admitted for cooling. Also called "cooling
jacket." Also see cooling system.
- Water jet cutter:
- A stream of water under great pressure (50,000 psi) which is controlled by a computer and
is used to acurately cut plastic and fiberglass, etc.
- Waterline:
- The line of the water's edge when the ship is afloat. Also see
load waterline
- Water marking:
- Stains on the paintwork caused when a drop of water evaporates, leaving behind an outline
of the drop
- Water passage:
- A passage within the water jacket designed to prevent the formation of pockets of steam
- Water pump:
- A device that circulates the liquid through the
cooling system by pumping it from the engine
water jackets to the
radiator. The pump is usually mounted at the front of the
engine and is driven by a belt from a pulley on the front end
of the crankshaft. Also called a "coolant pump."
- Water separator:
- A device found on diesel cars which removes any water that may have contaminated the
diesel fuel.
- Water splash:
- See salt water splash
- Water spotting:
- Stains on the paintwork that occur when a drop of water evaporates from the painted surface
and leaves a white spot behind. See water-spotting.
- Water-spotting:
- Drops of water that mar the finish before it is
thoroughly cured.
- Water
temperature gauge:
- A gauge on the instrument panel which indicates coolant temperature
- Water valve:
- A shut-off valve, mechanically or vacuum operated, for stopping the flow of hot coolant to
the heater.
- In most water cooling units. a valve that provides a flow of water to cool the system while it
is running.
- Waterways:
- See international waterways
- Watt:
- The international unit of measurement of power. One watt equals one
joule per second.
- Watt linkage:
- A suspension
linkage which has three-bars to locate the De Dion or
live axle. There are two usual methods for arranging a Watt
linkage: frame to pivot on axle
housing to frame or axle to pivot on frame to axle. In either
arrangement, this link structure restrains all movement of the axle to a vertical plane.
- Watts link:
- A device used to control side to side motion in a ladder bar, torque-tube, or 4-link rear
suspension. A watts link has a pivot point in the center of the axle and a rod that runs to each side
of the car. This design eliminate the side to side motion of a panhard rod.
- Wave:
- See:
full wave rectifier
half wave rectifier
pressure wave supercharger
pressure wave
- Waveband:
- A series of wavelengths forming a group
- Wavemeter:
-
See absolute wavemeter
and
absorption wavemeter
- Wave rectifier:
- See:
full wave rectifier
half wave rectifier
- Wave supercharger:
- See pressure wave supercharger
- Wax:
- A substance resembling beeswax in appearance and character, and in general
distinguished by its composition of esters and higher alcohols, and by its freedom from fatty
acids; used for underbody sealing, cavity sealing, and paintwork care.
- Ingredient in many lubricating oils which may separate from the oil if cooled enough.
- To treat with wax.
Also See:
car wax
hot wax
release wax
- Waxing:
- The formation of wax crystals in diesel fuel in freezing conditions, thus clogging the
fuel filter and stopping the engine; avoided by the use of a fuel heater or fuel additives.
- The application of a wax finish on the paint surface of a vehicle to preserve the paint
and maintain its beauty
- Wax injection:
- The injection of corrosion-inhibiting wax into car body cavities
- Wax lancing:
- The injection of corrosion-inhibiting wax into car body cavities
- Wax-type
thermostat:
- A thermostat in which the expansion of melting paraffin wax (in a rigid cylinder) deforms a
molded rubber membrane and displaces a piston/pin from the cylinder; this has the advantage of
being insensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations or to the pressure in the system
- Way:
- See:
oil way
one way clutch
- Way catalytic
converter:
- See three way catalytic converter
- Way clutch:
- See one way clutch
- Ways:
- The machined abutments on which a sliding brake caliper rides
- Special sliding surfaces machined into the anchor plate and caliper
body where these parts of a sliding caliper make contact and move against
one another.
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