Slang, jargon – it doesn’t matter what you call it sometimes it can feel like mechanics speak their very own language and someone forget to give you a phrase book. To help you understand a little more the team at Auto Super Shoppe Mt Wellington have revealed the meaning behind some of the common jargon used in the industry but if you ever don’t understand, just ask them to explain it to you in layman’s terms and they’ll be happy to oblige.

Here is some common auto mechanic slang:

  • Aftermarket – Parts made by companies other than the original manufacturer.
  • Baldinis – Heavily worn/bald tyres.
  • Bench – A heavy metal platform used to restore a car’s structural geometry to factory specifications.
  • Breathing – Refers to an engine’s ability to fill its cylinders with the air-fuel mix and then expel exhaust.
  • Dive – The dipping of a car’s nose when brakes are applied.
  • Dyno – Short for “dynometer,” a device that measures an engine’s horsepower.
  • Gas Axe – Cutting torch.
  • Grease Monkey – Mechanic.
  • Hemi – Term that describes any engine with hemispherical combustion chambers on its cylinder head.
  • Kickdown – The downshift in an automatic transmission caused by depressing the throttle.
  • Knock – High frequency vibrations caused by inefficient fuel detonation in the engine.
  • LKQ – “Like Kind and Quality,” meaning a salvaged replacement part that appears to be as good as the original.
  • Menu Pricing – A bundled price for a repair job that includes both parts and labour.
  • Oversquare – An engine whose bore is larger than its stroke.
  • Pent-Roof – A combustion chamber whose upper surface resembles a shallow peaked roof.
  • Pickle Forks – Ball-joint separators.
  • Toe-In – The intentional non-parallel orientation of opposite wheels.

Still confused? No problem, at Auto Super Shoppe Mt Wellington we understand not everyone talks the talk which is why our team is committed to talking to you in plain terms about your car so you can understand what needs to be done, what has been done and why. If we do every slip up and throw in a term you don’t quite get – just let us know and will have another go at explaining it so you do understand. Contact the team today with any car servicing or car repair questions and our mechanics will be happy to help.