subject: Greeley Car Repair [print this page] Hello everyoneHello everyone. I hope the past month has been good to you and your car (or truck, I hate to leave anyone out!). About a year ago I became aware of a consumer perception that gave me a great deal of concern. The issue is the general perception of the motoring public that an oil change is a risk free service that can easily be performed by almost anyone. Today, my hope is to cause you to question that perception.
Today's vehicles are true marvels of technology. They are extremely reliable, efficient and have many creature comforts we would not have dreamed of 30 years ago. They can stop on a dime, notify others about an accident when it happens, tell the driver their tires are low, heat the outside mirrors so they stay clear in bad weather and any number of additional things. The next step will be radar that is tied into braking, acceleration and steering for accident avoidance (and eventually self guidance). All of these things are tied together by a computer network. I am sure you know what that means: It is great when it works and hell when it doesn't.
So what does all of this have to do with the lowly oil change? Plenty, once you understand the relationship between all of this technology and the unchanged mechanical aspect of an automobile. Even with all of the computer controls on virtually every system a vehicle has, the underlying mechanical systems still need basic service and inspection at regular intervals. You also need to recognize that the level of technology has also affected the vehicle drive train. The design characteristics of the cooling and lubrication systems are much more precise than they were in days gone by. As a result the vehicle manufacturers have changed the requirements of the oils which they want used in their engines, transmissions, and the other components of the drive train. The oil change and the inspection which MUST accompany it is where it all starts.
So the question for today is: Does everyone you see that offers an oil change service have the necessary data, or understanding of that data, to perform that service correctly?
Sadly, the answer to that question is: No, they do not.
The first item on the list is the inspection which needs to be performed when the oil is changed. That report card is a long list which includes all of the fluids (level and condition), the vehicle lighting system, the battery condition, the shocks, struts and brakes, tire condition, tread depth, age and air pressure, and the integrity of the exhaust system. Many oil change providers will look at fluids and possibly lights, but they generally ignore much of the rest of that list.
The second issue is related to the fluids. They may be using the wrong type because they do not have the ability to identify what the manufacturer actually wants to be used.
Without access to factory service bulletins or a data base which compiles them it is not possible to stay up to date with what may be the correct fluid for your cars oil change. And this data can also be quite confusing. Volkswagon dealers in the United States were using the "wrong" oil in their oil change services in the late 90's and early 2000's due to a misunderstanding of what Volkswagon wanted them to use. Toyota had issues with extreme sludge levels in their engines in the late 90's because of the oil and actually had to replace some of them. These issues and others are why almost every manufacturer now has a specific specification which they require the oil to meet which is in addition to the API, ACEA or ILSAC spec (yup, there are three different standards organizations). So you not only need to make sure that the right "weight" oil is being put into an engine, you also need to make sure the oil meets the factory requirements. And this is where many providers fail. Without the data base to keep up with any changes that are made by the manufacturer they will continue to use the wrong oil.
So remember: Times have changed. Today, beyond being familiar with how to change a tire and monitoring oil levels and tire pressure between standard automotive checkups, there is not a lot even the most serious weekend mechanic can do. Computer controls and factory updates to data and procedures make it crucial to have your trusted technician perform your regular checkups. These experts not only keep your driving trouble-free, but they preserve your investment - all the more important in the current economy.
Next month, by popular request, I will be talking about the Pulstar "Pulse Plug"
