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    Wrench Tales #13: "What Goes in Must Come Out" w/Oscar Gomez

    Jan. 14, 2025
    I can't think of a more efficient way of locating an elusive driveability fault than through exhaust 5-gas analysis!

    In our first episode of Wrench Tales for 2025, Master driveability diagnostician Brandon Steckler interviews his long-time friend and President of Master Automotive Training, Oscar Gomez! Join us in this episode and see how Oscar takes an unconventional approach to a driveability concern, just to prove it can be done.

    Facing a misfiring concern on a 2008 Mazda 3, Oscar was not the first technician to address the driveability concern. The car recently had the engine’s timing components replaced. The car was now in the shop for a pesky P0300 “random misfire” DTC. After questioning the customer, the fault seemed to surface on cold starts only. With little other information to go by, Oscar’s team was tasked with finding a solution to the root cause of the fault accurately and efficiently.

    Leveraging the power of 5-gas engine exhaust analyzer Oscar used to machine’s ability to display the chemistry taking place from the operation of the spark-ignition internal combustion engine. It’s the fact that the chemistry is applicable to all internal combustion engines that makes this testing technique so widely useable and efficient.

    Join Motor Age Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler and Oscar Gomez and find out how they quickly and preliminary determined what the engine was lacking. Learn how the information presented in the gas analysis report allowed them to implement an experiment that proved the fault before a repair was suggested.

    This is an episode you don’t want to miss. Join us and take your knowledge of exhaust gas analysis to the next level, only on Motor Age’s Wrench Tales!

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    Due to factors beyond the control of Endeavor Business Media, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information or improper use of this information. Endeavor Business Media assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Endeavor Business Media recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Endeavor Business Media, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Endeavor Business Media.

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    About the Author

    Brandon Steckler | Technical Editor | Motor Age

    Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.

    Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability. 

    Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.

    Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).

    He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.  

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