Section § 13700

Explanation

This section defines various terms relevant to automotive products. It explains what is meant by 'automotive product', which includes engine coolants, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and diesel exhaust fluid. It also outlines definitions for specific categories like prediluted and non-prediluted coolants, as well as containers, cartons, and labels related to these products. Different types of fluids are clarified by their usage and standards, including specific definitions for transmission fluid and brake fluid. The section also describes labeling details such as the 'principal display panel', which is the label part seen most often when displayed or purchased.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms mean the following:
(a)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(a) “Automotive product” means engine coolant or antifreeze, prediluted engine coolant or prediluted antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and diesel exhaust fluid.
(b)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(b) “Transmission fluid” means a product intended for use in a motor vehicle as either a lubricant, coolant, or liquid medium in any type of transmission, or any other type of unit through which, or by which, force, energy, or power is transferred from a motor vehicle engine by hydraulic means to the driving assembly. Transmission fluid does not include manual transmission lubricant, as described in the latest revision of the SAE Information Report on axle and manual transmission lubricants, SAE International J308.
(c)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(c) “Brake fluid” means the fluid intended for use as the liquid medium through which force is transmitted in the hydraulic brake system of a vehicle operated upon the highways.
(d)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(d) “Carton” means the package or wrapping in which a number of containers are shipped or stored.
(e)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(e) “Container” means any receptacle in which a commodity is immediately contained when sold, but does not mean a carton or wrapping in which a number of receptacles are shipped or stored, or a tank car or truck.
(f)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(f) “Diesel exhaust fluid” or “DEF” means an aqueous urea solution used in selective catalytic reduction to lower oxides of nitrogen concentration in the exhaust emissions of diesel engines that meets the last version of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specification for DEF.
(g)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(g) “Engine coolant” or “antifreeze” means any substance or preparation, regardless of its origin, intended to be diluted before use as the cooling medium in the cooling system of an internal combustion engine to provide protection against freezing, overheating, and corrosion of the cooling system, or any product intended to be diluted before use that is labeled to indicate or imply that it will prevent freezing or overheating of the cooling system of an internal combustion engine.
(h)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(h) “Label” means all written, printed, or graphic representations, in any form whatsoever, imprinted upon or affixed to any container referred to in this chapter.
(i)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(i) “Prediluted engine coolant” or “prediluted antifreeze” means any substance or preparation, regardless of its origin, intended or labeled for use at full strength as the cooling medium or as a top off in the cooling system of an internal combustion engine to provide or supplement protection against freezing, overheating, or corrosion of the cooling system.
(j)CA Business and Professions Code § 13700(j) “Principal display panel” means that part of the label that is designed to most likely be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under normal and customary conditions of display and purchase.

Section § 13701

Explanation

This law states that any product sold as an additive for automatic transmission fluids must be compatible with the transmission fluid it's mixed with. The combination must meet the minimum quality standards set by the relevant department.

Any material offered for sale or sold as an additive to automatic transmission fluids shall be compatible with the automatic transmission fluid to which it is added, and the resulting mixture shall not fall below the minimum specifications for automatic transmission fluids, as established by the department.

Section § 13702

Explanation
This law states that any words or letters that need to be shown on a container must be easy to read.
Any words and letters required to be displayed on a container by this chapter shall be in legible type.