With the trend for downsized engines that offer the performance of large, but with the fuel economy and emissions control of small, ensuring a regular flow of clean, quality oil to the turbocharger has become a must. Cue the oil feed pipe. Aptly named, and often undervalued, it has taken on an increasingly important role in recent years. Here, we explain why you should always replace the oil feed pipe when fitting a new or old turbocharger.

Much in the same way that an artery supplies blood to the heart, the oil feed pipe supplies engine oil to the turbo. Like blood to the human body, oil is vital to a turbocharger’s operation. As well as ensuring an essential film of lubrication between its many moving and highly stressed parts, it also transfers heat away from them. So, if its supply is restricted, even momentarily, because of a blockage in the pipe, or a leak, the consequences, although by no means comparable, could be disastrous. In either case it could mean complete failure. Even more so with today’s turbocharger technology.

More demands on the oil

Whilst oil has always been critical, with modern turbos spinning over 300,000 revs per minute – fast enough to whip the air through the intake at near-Mach 1 speeds – and enduring temperatures close on 1,000°C, the demands placed on it now are even greater. In these conditions, even the smallest particles of dirt, soot, fuel, water or other combustion residuals can contaminate the oil and build up in the pipe, restricting its supply and eventually starving the turbo of any lubricant. The result: wear, damage and ultimately complete failure, all of which, can happen in just a few seconds. Indeed, running a turbo without oil for only five seconds is said to be as harmful, if not more, as running an engine without oil for five minutes, making a consistent flow of clean oil to the turbo, the job of the oil feed pipe, an absolute must.

It’s all on the feed pipe

With a lot dependent on this one pipe, it is imperative that it is always clean, clear from obstruction and in good condition. Anything but, and there’s no guarantee that it will be able to supply clean oil, at the correct pressure. And we already know the consequences of this. Unfortunately, however, the oil feed pipe is also prone to issues.

When to replace the oil feed pipe?

For these reasons, and given the critical role that it plays, we would always recommend fitting a new feed pipe when replacing or refitting a turbo. Whilst it may add a few pounds to the repair bill, it is much more cost effective then having to fit a whole new turbo, saving your customers valuable time and money in the long run.

Why oil feed pipes fail?

The position of the feedpipe within the engine bay means they are particularly vulnerable to damage from heat and other issues such as:

• Material wear: over time, the continued high heat from the engine, can damage the pipe and break down the materials, especially the rubber.
• Carbon deposits: the excessive temperatures can also cause deposits of carbonised oil to form in the pipe’s inner walls, limiting the flow of oil to the turbocharger.
• Kinked lines: flexible oil lines can easily be twisted or bent during installation, causing a build-up of oil pressure, and leaks from both the turbine and compressor ends.
• Worn o-rings: many feed pipes use o-rings to seal the mounting locations. Over time, they can dry out and become brittle, leading to oil seeps and leaks.
• Damaged connectors: during removal and refit the connectors can be damaged, meaning that the entire system is no longer adequately sealed.
• Liquid sealant: although it should never be used it in the air or oil system, liquid sealant can easily become detached and block oil passages. It can also harden and break off into the turbo’s rotating assembly.

What to look out for in a faulty oil feed pipe?

Of course, issues can occur at any time, so it’s also a good idea to inspect the pipe on a regular basis too. Spotting potential problems early on, will help minimise the possibility of future damage to the turbo and even the engine:

• Cracked rubber: one of the most obvious signs that there’s an issue, is cracking to the rubber from prolonged exposure to the temperatures in the engine bay. If left unchecked this will cause much bigger issues.
• Bulging spots: another common sign is bulging spots in the hose, again due to the heat, as well as the constant flow of pressure through the pipe. Eventually the spots will tear, causing the oil to leak out.
• Oil leaks: noticeable puddles of oil underneath the car are also a sign that the pipe is damaged. Unfortunately, the greater the leak, the greater the chance of damage, so its important to get the pipe replaced as quickly as possible.

Best practice turbo service

For a best practice and cost-effective vehicle repair, we offer a wide range of OE and OE matching oil feed pipes. Complementing our existing remanufactured turbocharger programme, the line-up includes more than 200 part numbers, covering over 400 references for popular brands including BorgWarner, Garrett, Mitsubishi, IHI and Mahle. Learn more about our oil feed pipe range

Carwood offers one-stop-shop turbocharger solution with launch of new oil feed pipe range.

With Carwood’s new oil feed pipes, aftermarket companies can offer an OE quality, best practice repair on the latest generation of turbocharged vehicles, all from just one supplier.

Coventry, 9 February 2021: Global solutions provider, and leading turbo remanufacturer Carwood, is launching a range of OE and OE matching oil feed pipes. The all new programme, which consists of more than 200 part numbers and covers the main OEMs, including BorgWarner, Garrett, Mitsubishi, IHI and Mahle, completes the brand’s comprehensive turbocharger line-up. Together with its existing range of OE-approved, environmentally friendly remanufactured turbochargers, expert technical support, online cataloguing and next-day delivery, Carwood can now offer its customers a full service, best practice turbo solution.

“As more and more manufacturers turn to turbochargers to improve their emissions and fuel economy, more and more vehicles will need work on these boost enhancing products, presenting an exciting opportunity for factors and garages alike,” comments Peter Green, General Manager, Carwood Turbochargers. “By providing a full product offer, technical support and service, under a proven quality brand like Carwood, aftermarket professionals can buy all their turbo needs from one source, giving them a vital competitive advantage in a lucrative and fast growing market.”

The all new feed pipe programme, which consists of more than 200 part numbers, and covers both fast moving and specialist applications for car and light commercial vehicles, will enable aftermarket professionals to perform a best practice service on all turbocharger technologies. This includes the latest generation vehicles, where thanks to the trend for downsized engines, oil feed pipes will play an ever more important role.

Green explains why. “With modern vehicles demanding the power output of larger engines, but with the economy of smaller ones, today’s turbochargers can operate at speeds of over 300,000 revs per minute, and at temperatures close to 1,000°C. This puts a huge strain on the oil, the lifeblood of any vehicle. If its supply is restricted, even momentarily, or if it is contaminated, it can cause costly damage to the turbo. And in severe cases, irreversible damage to the engine too. Because of this, it is always recommended to fit new oil feed pipes when replacing or refitting a turbo. Whilst it may add a few pounds to the bill, it is much more cost effective then having to refit a whole new turbo, saving your customers valuable time and money in the long run. As well as ensuring a high quality, best practice vehicle repair that you know will last.”

For more information on Carwood’s full turbo line-up, please visit carwood.co.uk/service/turbochargers/oil-feed-pipes/. To view the full range on the MAM Autopart online catalogue, please ensure that the “CWP” section in the MAM supplier preferences is enabled.  

As governments, automakers and suppliers look for ways to meet ever tighter emission’s regulations, questions have been raised about the future of diesel. None more so than in recent weeks. And whilst this talk has largely been focused on the lighter end, following the government’s decision to accelerate the ban on sales of wholly diesel and petrol powered cars and vans to 2030, less has been said about their heavy-duty equivalent, where diesel has been the one and only choice since the 1930s. Here, we take a look at diesel commercial vehicles and why we believe this super-efficient, super-clean fuel source will be around for the long haul.

Diesel – powering a growing market
The backbone of trade, trucks carry more than 70% of over land freight in Europe. Just think about it, almost everything we consume in our daily lives, be it groceries, clothing, appliances and more, will depend on them at some point to get from one location to another. The same goes for many essential public services such as refuse collection and emergency services.

Today there are around 6.5 million trucks on the European Union’s (EU) roads today, over 600,000 of these in the UK, and the number is continuing to grow. Indeed, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), demand for new commercial vehicles – light, medium and heavy – in the EU increased by more than 2.5% in 2019, versus 2018, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth. As well as a growing fleet, it’s also important to note that over 98% are powered by diesel and less than 1% by alternative powertrains, at a time when the latter’s popularity is growing in cars.

Why electrification faces an uphill struggle?
So why the difference? Well the electrification of commercial vehicles is pretty much in the same place as the first plug-in cars were 10 years or so ago. The challenges are just a little bigger. As well as battery technology not being able to provide the range, at an affordable price, and the impact of its weight on both energy consumption, and critically pay load, there’s also the task of building a charging network capable of keeping long-haul trucks on the road, without disrupting power supply. With commercial vehicle fleets very much focused on efficiency and total cost of ownership, it’s unlikely they will be willing to pay more for electric vehicles, that offer little, if any benefits over diesel, and at the moment, are largely unproven.

For so-called last-mile delivery services, carrying transport from distribution centre to final destination, and other local service providers, where the fleet can return to a depot to be charged overnight, there’s no doubting electric vehicles are an attractive option. And with global policymakers implementing ever tighter air quality reforms city-wide, which in some instances include complete diesel bans, they are likely to become increasingly so.

Diesel the #1 fuel choice for long haul
For long haul, however, no other fuel source can offer the industry better emissions, range, affordability or usability than a modern direct injection diesel engine. Now or in the medium term. Add sophisticated aftertreatment – diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), diesel particulate filter (DPF) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) – and other technologies such as down-speeding and automated manual transmissions, improved aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres and even driver behaviour into the mix – which together have the potential to achieve near-zero emissions – then it’s difficult to see it changing much in the longer term either. Whichever way you look at it, diesel is the number one fuel choice for commercial vehicles. And it’s here to stay.

Cleaner, greener diesel technology
Because of this, the world’s leading OEMs are continuing to develop new diesel technology for commercial vehicle applications. Take closed-loop as an example. The ultra-high-precision diesel injection system can monitor and adjust the operation of the injector in real time, controlling the exact duration of the individual injection events down to a few millionths of a second. By managing smaller injection events, and more of them, the innovative system can deliver consistent performance over the life of the vehicle. Technologies such as these are already helping commercial vehicle manufacturers meet Euro 6 emissions standards, and moving forward, will enable them to get even closer to their zero emissions and fuel economy objectives, alongside increasing electrification efforts.

Carwood. Keeping fleets on the streets.
Whether it’s today’s or tomorrow’s technology, diesel or electric, Carwood is ideally placed to support both vehicle manufacturers, fleets and workshops. For light commercial, where electric vehicles are growing in numbers, Carwood offers a range of electric vehicle solutions, that already includes new and rewound electric motors and high voltage battery services.

However, there are still significant barriers that need to be overcome, before a pure battery-powered truck can provide a genuine alternative to diesel on longer routes. Even then, with diesel enjoying 98% penetration on truck, and 93% on light commercial vehicles, plus the average age of a truck in Europe being 11.7 years, with two to three owners, it will take an incredibly long time to switch over the parc, meaning that diesel will be very much in it for the long haul.

So we will continue to offer a full line-up of OEM-approved injectors and pumps for car, light commercial, heavy duty and off-highway applications including inline, rotary, Common Rail & EUI technology. With an environmentally friendly part that’s just as good as new, but costs less, fleets can improve their fuel economy and emissions, whilst minimizing future vehicle downtime and repair bills. We like to think that’s a winning combination.

There’s been a lot of talk about diesel and petrol cars and vans in recent days, following the government’s decision to accelerate its ban on the sales of new ones to 2030. And whilst the media might have you believe that it’s the end of the road for these super-clean, fuel-efficient vehicles, the simple truth is that there’s plenty more miles left in their tanks. Let Carwood explain why…

As a leading remanufacturer of diesel fuel injection systems, turbochargers, engines and rotating electrics, plus new and rewound electric motors and high voltage battery services, we are committed to delivering a sustainable future, and welcome the government’s ambition to drive a cleaner, more energy-efficient world.

We are also pleased to see the increasingly important role that hybrid technologies will play as part of the government’s 10-point green plan. This means that the internal combustion engine (ICE) will still be very much part of the future, even if the ban on new, fully powered diesel and petrol cars and vans is implemented. We say if, because there are still huge barriers to overcome before electric vehicles can and will be adopted mainstream. Factors such as new vehicle cost, driving range and charging times all need to be addressed, and the technology change will need to be supported by sufficient charging infrastructure and power generation country wide. 2040 was an already ambitious target but those plans have just been bought forward by 10 years.

To put the outlook into context; in 2025, around 95% of vehicles sold are still expected to have an ICE. Even if new electric vehicles grow at an unparalleled rate to make up 30% of sales by 2030, that still leaves 70% powered by some form of ICE. Whilst the numbers continue to fluctuate, in what seems like an ever changing landscape, one thing is certain, millions of new vehicles with diesel or petrol capability will be added to the UK’s roads by 2030, on top of an already significant existing parc; figures suggest the total UK parc is currently around 39 million vehicles. And of course, these will all need servicing.

Which is why the industry is confident that the aftermarket opportunity will remain equally strong. Take diesel as an example. You only need to look back to 2014 to see record levels of new car registrations; 50% in the UK. Most of these vehicles are now in the independent aftermarket. Yet because the average life expectancy of a diesel car is now over 13 years, they still have their main, and most lucrative, service years ahead of them. When you factor in the millions of diesel powered vehicles, including light, heavy and off-highway, that will be added between now and 2030, and even beyond as part of a hybrid solution, it’s clear that there will be a significant diesel service opportunity for at least the next two decades. Some predict 2050. The same goes for their petrol counterparts.

So, whilst we acknowledge that internal combustion will eventually stop becoming the default option, this does not mean the immediate end of diesel or petrol. Far from it. And you can continue to count on Carwood to meet all your aftermarket needs for many years to come. For both today’s and tomorrow’s conventional ICE powered and electric vehicles.

Carwood launches new range of Antigravity batteries for high-performance, motorsport applications

Up-to 70 percent lighter, Antigravity’s latest innovative lithium-ion technology, which can be mounted in any orientation, offers improved charge and discharge performance, is longer lasting and kinder to the environment too.

Unique Re-start technology, available as a built-in option, allows one touch restart in the event of a flat battery.

Coventry, 13 November 2020: Carwood Brise, the company’s motorsport division, is partnering with leading manufacturer, Antigravity Batteries, to launch a range of high-performance batteries for the motorsport industry. The new line-up, which complements its proven starter and alternator programme and rich motorsport expertise, features Antigravity’s latest lithium-ion technology. As well as ensuring up to 70 percent weight saving over lead acid batteries, the innovative, environmentally friendly technology, delivers double the cranking power for superior starting performance. With optional built-in jump-starting, an industry first, users can quickly and easily restart the engine in the event of a flat battery, just with the touch of a button.

Launching the new programme, Steve Holden, General Manager – Carwood Brise, comments, “as an established and long-time supplier to customers in the world’s leading motorsport championships, including the World Rally Championship (WRC), World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Single Seater, Historic and Classic Championships, amongst others, we look forward to adding yet another high-quality, high-performance product to our portfolio. The introduction of Antigravity batteries, the final piece of our rotating electrics line-up, means that racing teams, drivers and enthusiasts around the world can now purchase their entire programme from just one supplier, with the backing of a trusted brand that they already know and love.”

The new offering consists of nine batteries for 6-volt, 12-volt and race oriented 16-volt applications, in drop-in fit OEM and small case ultra-compact sizes, in addition to a range of charging accessories. Designed to be used on all high-performance competition cars and motorcycles, the lightweight, high-power Lithium-Ion battery technology saves up-to 70 percent in weight over their lead/acid equivalent, making for a much lighter and more efficient vehicle with better starting and improved lap times.

It also features Antigravity’s unique Re-start function. Available as a built-in option, on a range of batteries, the innovative technology monitors voltage and puts the battery to sleep in the case of over-discharge. By reserving enough energy, the user can restart the vehicle, simply by pressing the Re-start button located on the top of the battery. This simple, but innovative technology, prevents flat batteries, negating the need for jump cables, booster packs or further assistance.

For full details on Carwood’s range of Antigravity batteries, visit www.brise.co.uk/batteries-chargers

Carwood launches new Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) cleaning service

The highly effective cleaning solution restores blocked DPFs to 98 percent of their original efficiency, for a high-quality, low-cost alternative to new, that can be installed with confidence.

Coventry, 4 November 2020: Carwood is leveraging its expertise as a leading remanufacturer of diesel fuel injection systems, to launch a new, highly-efficient and cost-effective diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning service for all makes and models of car, light commercial, heavy duty and off-highway vehicle. By removing all particulate matter (PM), ash, soot and oil, the innovative solution returns blocked filters to within just two percent of their original efficiency, significantly extending current filter life and avoiding the need for a complete and costly replacement. With the backing of a 12-month clean guarantee, and access to a technical hotline, aftermarket companies can offer a trouble-free, high-quality DPF service at a competitive price.

“DPFs have been fitted to all new diesel cars since 2009, but just like any filter, they can only hold a certain amount of matter, before they become blocked. A situation which is exacerbated by frequent start-stop journeys and powertrain component failures,” explains, Anthony James, General Manager, Carwood Diesel Systems. “Unfortunately for the vehicle or fleet owner the only way to guarantee the complete removal of these particles, is to either replace the filter altogether, or have it professionally cleaned. With new filters, costing anywhere from several hundred to thousands of pounds, Carwood’s cleaning service is the obvious choice for any business wishing to profit from a still growing and lucrative market.”

Using a unique, environmentally friendly process, the comprehensive cleaning cycle breaks down all PM10 deposits and washes away oil and other combustion residuals, for a like-new performance. As well as avoiding the expense of a brand-new unit, it improves the vehicle’s emission performance and fuel economy, saving the owner money and unnecessary downtime ongoing.

In addition, because the process uses the complete exhaust system, including the DPF sensor, it’s easier to remove and install, saving valuable labour time for technicians. And with no cutting, welding or harsh chemicals, there’s no risk of damage to the filter or the environment either. Making it a faster, simpler and safer solution too.

For more information, please visit carwood.co.uk/service/tech-vehicle-services/dpf-regeneration/

It is “Armed Forces Day” on Saturday 27^th June, the final day of “Armed Forces Week”. As a significant supplier to the Defence Industry over several decades, Carwood has close commercial and technical links as well as many friends and colleagues in the Armed Forces . In keeping with the accepted tradition for Armed Forces Week, to show our appreciation of their dedication and services, we salute them.

Carwood continues to support the Armed Forces racing organisation – Team Brit, as well as other activities such as the Armed Forces Rally Team through sponsorship managed by Team Ethos.  The drivers continue to train hard,working through strict physical fitness regimes and using the time to hone their skills on their racing simulators, which most of them have at home. If you have a PC (doesn’t have to be a full blown simulator) and would like to join the drivers in an online racing series there is one launching soon on the Assetto Corsa platform. Click  HERE for more details on how to take part or how to watch on the twitch stream – there will be full race commentary for the events so get on board to show your support for Team BRIT.

As an IMI approved and HEVRA registered Electric Vehicle service centre Carwood have installed a twin 32A EV charging point at the Herald Way location. Part of the Polar charging network associated with BP chargemaster, the point is available for staff, visitors, customers and the general public. BP Chargemaster supplies public, workplace and home charging units in the UK and has installed over 50,000 charging points across Europe. Currently there are about 7000 public charging points available as part of the expanding Polar Network.

The British Army awarded Graham Emerson the Estonia Campaign Service Medal in recognition of his efforts and performance in supporting their mission and exercises in the Tapa region of Estonia. Graham spearheads the Direct Replacement Scheme operated by Carwood on site and backed by the “DRS” team back in the UK at Coventry. The company is delighted and honoured at the award and it recognises all of the teams outstanding contribution to the DRS programme.