- SC
-
- Abbreviation for Supercharged Engine
- An API oil designation for typical gasoline engines of 1964 to 1967 and replaces the SB designated oil. Oils designed for this service provide control of high and low temperature deposits, wear, rust, and corrosion in gasoline engines. It was later superseded by SD designated oil. However, engines of that vintage can now use the modern SM oil.
- Scale
-
- The accumulation of rust and minerals within the cooling system.
- A discoloring or oxidation on the surface of hot forged metal objects.
- A series of evenly spaced marks or values used to represent the quantity or quality of something.
- Scale free system
- Eliminates deposits in condensers by picking up electrical energy from water, allowing deposits to be carried through the system and disposed.
- Scan
- A feature of modern radios which plays a few moments of each station before proceeding to the next one. Also called Frequency scan button
- Scan button
- A radio button which, when pressed, causes the tuner to scan the frequencies of stations with sufficient signal strength and plays that station for about 5 seconds before going to the next one. When the driver or passenger wants to listen to the currently played selection, he can press the same button (or a different one) to select that station. Also called Frequency scan button
- Scanimet
- A nickel-silicon-carbide coating for particularly wear-resistant cylinder walls. Compare Nicasil
- Scatter shield
- A steel or nylon guard placed around the bell or clutch housing to protect the driver and spectator from flying parts in the event of part failure at high rpm. Such a shield is often placed around the transmissions and differential units. See
- Scavenge
- A feature in a two-stroke engine to clear away or expel exhaust gas from a cylinder and to fill the cylinder with a fresh charge. These processes take place simultaneously in a two-stroke engine.
- Scavenging
- The removal of the exhaust gases from the cylinder by using the momentum of the exhaust gases in a long exhaust pipe or by taking advantage of the pressure waves set up in the exhaust pipe by the discharge of the gases.
- Scavenging efficiency
- In a two-cycle engine, the ratio of a new air charge, trapped in the cylinder, to the total volume of air and exhaust gases in the cylinder at port closing position.
- Scavenging jet
- The jet of fresh charge supplied into the cylinder, the shape and direction of which determine the effectiveness of the scavenging process
- Scavenging losses
- If the exhaust gases remain in the cylinder, they prevent a full charge of fresh mixture from entering; the power output is thus reduced
- Scavenging passage
- The passage inside a two-stroke engine that serves to scavenge the exhaust gas from the engine; in most cases it refers to the transfer passage, as the gas column supplied across the transfer port initiates the scavenging process
- Scavenging picture
- In experimental two-stroke engine development, a map of the scavenging air velocity distribution and the scavenging jet orientation inside a cylinder
- Scavenging pump
- An oil pump in a dry sump system which returns oil from the crankcase to the main oil reservoir
- Scavenging valve
- In evaporative emission control systems, a valve in the purge line between the activated charcoal canister and inlet manifold which controls the purge air flow that regenerates the charcoal filter
- SCC
-
- Abbreviation for Spark control computer.
- Abbreviation for Safety compliance certification
- Schematic
- A drawing system for portraying the components and wires in a vehicle electrical system using standardized symbols
- Schematic electrical diagram
- A diagram showing, by means of graphic symbols, the electrical connections and functions of a specific circuit arrangement. The Schematic Diagram facilitates tracing the circuit and its functions without regard to the actual physical size, shape or location of the component devices or parts.
- Schematic - Ladder Form electrical diagram
- A diagram drawn in the form of a vertical ladder. The outer vertical lines represent the electrical supply conductors. The horizontal steps represent each individual circuit with all component devices or parts.
- School Bus
- Any bus contracted by any public or private school or school district to provide transportation to its pupils.
- Schrader valve
-
Schrader valve
- A valve with a spring-loaded pin, in which the pin is depressed to open the valve. It is used at each automobile tire, most air conditioning systems, and on some fuel injection systems. Schrader is the original manufacturer of this type of valve.
- A spring-loaded valve which permits air or fluid flow in one direction when a center pin is depressed and holds it back when a pressure difference exists.
- A bicycle tire valve similar to the type found on automobile tires. Compare Presta valve.
- A spring loaded valve, similar to a tire valve, located inside the service valve fitting to hold refrigerant in the system. Special adapters with built-in depressors must be used to attach service hoses to Schrader valves.
- Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program
- (SR&ED) This program provides generous incentives for industrial research and development in Canada. The program allows individuals and companies to deduct 100 percent of qualified current SR and ED expenditures and capital SR and ED expenditures.
- Scion
-
Scion
- Scissors jack
-
Scissors jack
- Scissors Lift
- A cargo body which is used to lift materials to a higher surface, such as lifting shingles to a roof.

- Scooter
-
- A two-wheel motorcycle usually with a small engine and a step-through frame.
- A small three or four wheeled vehicle designed for a disabled person and is usually powered by two 12-volt batteries (producing 24 volts). Called a mobility scooter.
See
- Scope
- A colloquial term for Oscilloscope
- Score
-
- A scratch or groove on a finished surface. It is usually caused by dirt or some other object which mars the Finish. cylinder walls, for instance, can be scored by broken rings or a Piston pin clip which has come loose.
- (SCORE) An abbreviation for Supplier Cost Reduction Effort.
- Scoring
-
- Grooves or deep scratches on a friction surface caused by metal-to-metal contact (worn-out brake pads or shoes) or debris caught between the friction material and the friction surface.
- Irregular grooves in the friction surfaces of brake drums or rotors caused by contamination or worn-out linings.
- Scotch yoke
- Mechanism used to change reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice-versa. Used to connect crankshaft to piston in refrigeration compressor.
- SCR
-
- Abbreviation for Silicon Controlled Rectifier.
- Abbreviation for Selective Catalytic Reduction
- Abbreviation for Segregated Cycle Route
- Scramble crosswalk
-
Scramble crosswalk
- Scrap dealer
- A person or company which collects and recycles metal, especially from unusable vehicles.
- Scraper ring
- An Oil scraper ring
- Scrap pile
- Discarded Tire casings having service life exhausted through wear or damage.
- Screamer
- Slang for a high-performance car, possibly due to the reaction of passengers with an over-enthusiastic driver.
- Screening
- The process of mechanically sifting used road sand through a mesh to separate out particles and debris so that the sand can be reused
- Screw
-
- A spiral path along a cylinder.
- A fastening device sometimes used incorrectly for a bolt. Screws can be one of four major types:
- A screw is like an Inclined plane wrapped up. It can take a rotating force and change it into a much larger straight-line force.
See- Adjusting screw
- Air screw
- Allen screw
- Bendix screw
- Bleeder screw
- Bleed screw
- Button-headed Screws
- Bypass air screw
- Cap screw
- Capstan-head Screw
- Capstan screw
- Captive screw
- Countersunk screw
- Cross-head screw
- Curb-idle Stop Screw
- Dowel screw
- Drive Screw
- Edison screw
- Fast idle screw
- Fillister screw
- Grub screw
- Headlight adjusting screw
- High Lead Screw
- Horsepower screw
- Idle air bleed screw
- Idle mixture screw
- Idle speed screw
- Machine screw
- Metallic drive screw
- Phillips head screw
- Phillips screw
- Piston extension screw
- Pump Screw
- Robertson screw
- Self-tapping screw
- Set Screw
- Spanner Screws
- Thread-cutting screw
- Valve adjusting screw
- Volume control screw
- Screw clamp
- A hose fastener composed of a band with a series of slots to allow the thread of a screw to move up and down the band. See
- Screwdriver
- A device used to remove or install screws. See
- Angle screwdriver
- Ball end hexagon screwdriver
- Chubby screwdriver
- Cross-head screwdriver
- Cross-point screwdriver
- Electrical screwdriver
- Electric screwdriver
- Flat-bladed screwdriver
- Impact screwdriver
- Magnetic screwdriver
- Offset screwdriver
- Phillips screwdriver
- Pozidriv screwdriver
- Ratchet screwdriver
- Screw-holding screwdriver
- Stubby screwdriver
- Torque screwdriver
- Screwdriver bit
- A hex shank with a screwdriver tip at one or both ends to loosen and tighten recessed screws; designed for use with magnetic or power-driven screwdrivers
- Screw-holding screwdriver
- A tool used to hold screws for easy placement in extremely tight places; also appropriate for loosening and tightening
- Screw pitch gauge
- A measuring tool used to identify thread sizes, featuring a selection of blades with different thread profiles to determine screw pitch
- Screw pump
-
- Compressor constructed of two mated revolving screws.
- Pump having two interlocking screws rotating in a housing.
- Screw starter
- A tool used to hold screws for easy placement in extremely tight places; also appropriate for loosening and tightening
- Screw Stock
- Metal in the form of wire or rod, ordinarily a free-machining type of alloy, used for making screw machine products.
- Screw-thread
- A ridge of uniform section in the form of a helix on the external or internal surface of a cone or frustum of a cone. A thread formed on a cylinder is known as a straight or parallel thread, to distinguish it from a taper thread which is formed on a cone or frustum of a cone.
- Scribe
- To cut or scratch with a pointed instrument, e.g., (in) a painted surface, for testing purposes or to mark the position of a part
- Scrubber
- Flue-gas desulfurization unit equipment used to remove sulfur oxides from the combustion gases of a boiler plant before discharge to the atmosphere. Chemicals such as lime are used as the scrubbing media.
- Scrubbing
- A heavy wear on a tire caused by sliding sideways across the road surface, as when skidding
- Scrub coat
- Road crews apply a liquid asphalt and sand mixture to fill holes and ruts in a road's surface. This process is usually done prior to repaving a road.
- Scrub radius
- The distance from the point where the Steering axis intersects the ground to the longitudinal line that runs through the center of the tire's Contact patch. Also called steering offset.
- Scuttle
-
- A small circular or oval opening fitted in decks to provide access.
- A British term for Cowl
- Scuttle panel
- A British term for Cowl
- Scuttle section
- A subassembly of the body shell that includes the bulkhead, scuttle, and windscreen pillars; it is preassembled in the factory and spot-welded with the other subassemblies to form the body shell
- Scuttle shake
- A typical vibration exhibited by convertibles on rough roads due to lack of torsional stiffness