Why are car parts made of plastic?

Plastics are a very appealing material for automobiles because their use leads to greater fuel efficiency: It has been determined that every 10 percent drop in vehicle weight equals a 5 percent to 7 percent decrease in fuel usage.

What car parts are made of plastic?

It’s not surprising because plastics are durable, cheap to make and can be turned into just about anything. Your dashboard, gauges, dials, switches, air conditioner vents, door handles, floor mats, seat belts, airbags and many other parts are all made from different types of plastics.

Why are OEM parts so expensive?

Because OEM parts are made by a specific manufacturer to align with a vehicle’s exact specifications, they fit perfectly into that space. They are more expensive than aftermarket parts as a result.

Why do new cars have so much plastic?

Vehicle manufacturers have been able to make huge reductions in car weight by employing plastics as substitutes for metal and glass. By reducing weight they are able to gain more kilometers/miles per gallon, fuel economy being high on consumer concerns, especially in Europe where much of this development happened.

Why do designers prefer to use plastic instead of steel for certain parts of cars give four reasons?

Parts made of plastics are resistant to corrosion, offer flexibility and resilience for added safety, have very good thermal insulation, reduce noise and allow optimum space utilization. So, let’s have a closer look at these four advantages of plastics and polymers for the car manufacturing industry.

How can you tell if a car is plastic?

3 Ways to Identify Plastic

1. Look at the color of the raw plastic. If it’s black or gray, generally it’s a thermoplastic.
2. Look for the ID mark on the back of the bumper cover (pictured above). There should be a 2-3 letter ID that you can look up.
3. Lightly grind the plastic to see if it smears or powders.

How much plastic is in the car?

In 2016, the typical car was made with 151 kg of plastics and composites. This represents about 8\% of the car’s weight and about 50\% of the volume of materials in the car. In the U.S., cars will need even more plastics to reduce weight if they are to meet fuel economy standards.

How can you tell the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which means the parts are made by the same company that makes the vehicle. Meanwhile, aftermarket parts are produced by a different parts company and are often designed to be compatible with as many makes and/or models as possible.

Why are parts so expensive when buying a car?

The main reason is probably “because they can be” – you buy your car, a few years later, part of it breaks, and you really need it to fix it so it works properly. You need the parts, so the car company can charge a higher price for them – because not buying the part isn’t an option. There are a few other reasons.

Why is a Porsche so expensive to maintain?

Parts and labor will cost you a fair amount. As noted elsewhere, oil changes are expensive due to the complexity of the engine and the fact that the car needs 10 quarts of Porsche-approved synthetic oil every 5000 mile If you intent to maintain the car to factory specifications it will cost you more than a less complex car.

How long does a car need a parts supply?

Either way, you have to realize that a particular model year of car might only be built for a year or two – but it will require a parts supply for 10 (or more!) years. This is why there are often “third-party” suppliers of auto parts.