Automotive Oil Changes and Auto Repair Rip-offs Revealed
Posted: Saturday, December 09, 2006
by Mark Gittelman
certifiedmastertech.com
The local auto repair shop
has an unlimited arsenal of scams to pull on un-educated consumers. In order to
get their shot at you they must catch your attention and pull you in their
spider web.
The easiest way to get you into the auto repair shop is to offer the common oil change special at a low-ball price.
Lets rename this article “ The oil change problem".
You may know that the most common service in the automotive service retail business is the simple oil change.
I want you to learn how the
repair facility views this common service so you can protect yourself.
There are many kinds of auto repair shops that perform this service. new car dealerships, chain stores, lube centers, independent mechanical shops and mobile services.
They all view the service as
a chance to up sell you something else.
The profit margin on an oil change service is very small. The auto repair shop considers this an acceptable loss. It provides them an opportunity to look your vehicle over carefully.
The automotive shop calls this an up at bat. And sometimes they strike out but most times they hit a homerun.
Being under your vehicle and
then in the engine compartment to refill the oil provides them with all the time needed to work up a big list.
Even the automotive lube centers that do not even have qualified technicians are selling services like coolant flushes transmission fluid changes fuel injection cleaning and more.
It made me laugh when they
started selling windshield services where they would apply a rain shedding
product and new wiper blades for about $60.00.
When I say that auto quick oil change centers do not employee qualified technicians I am being truthful.
These shops pay a very low
hourly rate and there fore most are unable to find a certified technician to
work for $6.00 - $10.00 an hour.
This could mean trouble for some customers. An oil change is a simple service but if done incorrectly major engine damage can result.
A short story I had a friend go into a quick lube and they sold her an air filter.
When replacing the air filter element the oil change tech wiped out the air box and got distracted and left the rag in side and under the air filter.
When he started up the engine
rag got sucked into the motor and bent an intake valve.
The auto repair shop did pay to have the engine fixed but the car never ran the same again. A flat rate mechanic at a new car dealership repaired the engine cutting corners and the car had multiple problems after the engine service.
Most auto mechanics are not
as good at putting engines together as the factory is. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to perform engine work
properly.
The oil change is a necessary evil. You should have this service completed as recommended by your automotive owner’s manual.
But be armed with the knowledge to defend your wallet when the auto repair shop starts throwing up sells that you may not need your way.
Mark Gittelman Is a Certified Master Technician with 23 years in the auto repair business.
You Can find many auto related articles at his Free Automotive Information Blog Spot
Also Visit his web site at www.CertifiedMasterTech.com to preview his new book A Mechanics Secrets Revealed
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