Column: July 2008

BUYER’S GUIDE
Green products and services for the store.

By Christine A. DeJoy

OIL-FREE AIR COMPRESSOR

Atlas Copco Compressors LLC, Westfield, Mass., offers completely oil-free air compressors suitable for use in auto body shops in applications such as paint spraying, sanding, and grinding. The machines have earned ISO Class 0 certification, meant to guarantee that they produce only pure, contaminant-free air. Call 800.232.3234 or visit www.atlascopco.com.

CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Simply Green, Huntington Harbour, Calif., produces cleaning products that are both nontoxic and biodegradable. The all-purpose cleaner is specially formulated to tackle the toughest cleaning jobs while remaining safe for the environment. The current product line includes more than 20 different cutting-edge cleaning products. Call 800.228.0709 or visit www.simplygreen.com.

ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTING

Green Frog Lighting, Las Vegas, announces T5 outdoor lighting fixtures for auto dealers. The fixtures, designed to replace high-wattage metal halide and high-pressure sodium lighting systems, are engineered to have 60 to 75 percent lower outdoor lighting costs than conventional lighting systems. Call 877.HOP.ON.IT or visit www.greenfroglighting.com.

DETAILING PRODUCTS

Valvoline, Lexington, Ky., has introduced the Car Brite–brand Select line of environmentally friendly detailing products. The phosphate-free, volatile organic compound–compliant line comprises 10 color-coded products, including a wheel cleaner, an all-purpose cleaner, a glass formula, and a tire and trim product. Also included: a comprehensive training CD on regulatory issues. Call 800.347.2439 or visit www.carbriteselect.com.

AERODYNAMIC TONNEAUS

Leer, Elkhart, Ind., offers two lines of tonneaus designed to save fuel. The shape of the 700 Series follows the body lines of the truck for a custom-fit appearance; the 800 Series features a low profile for a “pancake” flat look. Both reduce fuel-robbing aerodynamic drag caused by turbulent air passing over an open truck bed. Each tonneau also has a gas-assist lift system for easy operation, plus an optional keyless remote. Call 574.522.5337 or visit www.leer.com.

DIESEL BATTERIES

Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc., debuts Optima-brand batteries for diesel vehicles. The batteries use a proprietary technology to provide the extra energy that diesel engines need. The units are built to provide optimal starting power in any temperature and maintain up to twice the cycle life of a traditional lead-acid battery. Call 888.867.8462 or visit www.optimabatteries.com.

OIL-FILTER HOUSING

Eco-Filter, Denison, Tex., debuts the Emaxx permanent oil-filter housing, which uses the maker’s Snap-on and Seal technology to permit quick changes of the housing’s disposable cartridge. Designed to enable dealers to compete effectively with quick-change service centers, the housing can retrofit all new and used vehicles. It mounts to the engine block in the same manner as a conventional spin-on housing and uses light-duty, heavy-duty, or diesel filter cartridges. Call 800.FYI.5311 or e-mail email@macor-wiz.com.

RECYCLED CARPET

GreenFloors Carpet, Fairfax, Va., has introduced products that have the same industry performance standards as carpet lacking recycled content. The carpet is backed by the same warranties for high-traffic wear, fire rating, stain resistance, and color fade, given similar appropriate uses. All GreenFloors commercial carpets are certified by the CRI Green Label indoor-air-quality carpet testing program for volatile organic compounds. Call 703.352.8300 or visit www.greenfloors.com.

FUEL-SYSTEM CLEANER

Houston-based Shell Lubricants intros the Shell V-Power Complete Fuel System Cleaner, formulated to remove engine deposits from fuel injectors, intake valves, and combustion chambers to boost performance and fuel economy. Its top skill: cleaning deposits left by low-quality gasoline. It contains more than three times the amount of active cleansing agents required by government standards in premium gasolines. Call 800.416.1600 or visit www.shell.com.

SOLAR-POWERED TONNEAUS

A.R.E., Massillon, Ohio, announces a solar-powered, keyless-entry system for its LSX and LSII fiberglass tonneau covers. The system features an aerodynamic solar panel measuring less than one-tenth of an inch thick that sits above the tonneau cover’s lock. Also included: a battery pack that attaches to the inside center of the cover. The setup lets the user lock and unlock the cover remotely without tapping the truck battery. Call 800.649.4ARE or visit www.4are.com.

ECOFRIENDLY TIRES

Yokohama Tire, Fullerton, Calif., is offering two ecofriendly tires for commercial trucks. The 103ZR and the 501ZA are part of the company’s high-tech Z.environment line, whose tires are designed to last longer and use less fuel than previous versions. The 103ZR features rock-ejector platforms that keep stones and debris out of the grooves, as well as more pliable rubber that helps reduce heat generation. Both models provide low rolling resistance for better fuel economy. Call 800.722.9888 or visit www.yokohamatire.com.

EVAP TEST MACHINE

Worldwide Vapor, Inc., Huntington Beach, Calif., has introduced the Vacutec-brand WV522B Nitrogen-Generating Smoke Machine, designed for safe and simple evaporative emissions (EVAP) testing at dealership shops. The aftermarket unit generates pure, dry nitrogen from shop air, using it to deliver diagnostic smoke into a vehicle’s EVAP system without creating a volatile oxygen–fuel vapor. The equipment is especially suitable for flex-fuel vehicles, whose alcohol-based fuels can be more combustible than gasoline. Call 888.VACUTEC or visit www.vacutec.com.

Send an email for more information.