Why Calculate Fuel Economy and How

Calculating fuel economy

A lot of people may know how to calculate fuel economy or have a built in average gas mileage meter in their vehicle. But just in case you need some tips on how to calculate fuel economy I have a short post to follow on the subject. If your goal is to increase your miles per gallon then accurate logs of gas mileage should be kept to gage progress.

Calculate fuel economy

When getting your base line measurement of fuel economy it is best to use the same gas station and fuel pump if possible. The first step is to fill your vehicle’s gas tank all the way, and write down the odometer mileage reading and clear your trip odometer if you have one. Special note to pump until the nozzle turns of automatically and do not attempt to top off or round up the numbers.

The next step is to drive the vehicle the way you would normally for a few days and then refill the tank as stated above and record the exact amount of gallons installed. Next you write the mileage down above the mileage that you originally recorded and subtract. This will give you the miles traveled and you can check this against your trip odometer.

The final step is to divide the number of miles you went by the number of gallons you just filled up with. This will give you a very accurate mpg figure. Basically the formula is number of miles driven divided by the number of gallons at second fill up. Personally I purchased the scan gage pictured to the left that plugs into your vehicles diagnostic connector and provides both instant and average fuel economy. This motivates me to keep my foot off the gas and shows me when my hypermiling is being effective instantly.

Why keep track of Miles Per Gallon

Now we are on the same page on how to calculate fuel economy. The next question is why we should always do this. The answer is it keeps us focused on saving fuel and driving accordingly. When you see your numbers go down you know you will have to be more conservative in your driving habits. Also if you try gas mileage enhancing products or techniques you can measure results.

This procedure was information I pulled from the 08 fuel saving guide. This package includes all of the popular stuff floating around the net about the gas saving subject. Among other things included are the plans to build the hydro star system or better known as water to gas. Another handy report included in the package was all about hybrid cars. This report compares prices and fuel economy as well as tax incentives that vary greatly from model to model. Learn more about hypermiling and the 08 gas saving guides content.

Saving Money on Gas 5 Tips

Saving money on gas sounds like an impossibility, but don’t give up just yet! The best ways to save money on gas starts with changing your driving habits before you arrive at the pump.

Hypermilers get criticized for radical gas saving maneuvers, like shutting off the engine and turning without power. You don’t have to do anything that’s potentially unsafe to save gas. These are simple, safe ways to conserve gas and save money:

1. Avoid idling with the motor on. If you dash into a convenience store, don’t leave the motor running. While waiting to pick up the children at school, don’t idle in the long pickup line. Park the car and walk over to pick up the children. You’ll also get some exercise.

2. Identify the shortest, most efficient route to work, school and grocery store. The main street may look shorter but not if there’s several traffic lights. A back road, even at a slower but consistent speed might be the best gas saving route.

Saving money on gas means planning multiple stops along the way. Think twice before jumping into the car to drive across town for a $5 savings. With gas prices so high, you can spend more driving to get a sale price than in what you actually save.

3. Slide, don’t slam. Whenever possible, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car gradually decelerate before reaching a stop sign or red light. Let gravity work in your favor instead of racing to the light only to slam on the brake. That wastes gas and wears out your tires faster.

4. A well-maintained car operates more efficiently on less gas. Keep your engine tuned, oil changed and fluids at proper levels. Something as simple as keeping the proper vehicle maintenance up to date and using the right viscosity oil can improve operational efficiency.

If the engine strains to function, get an engine diagnostic scan to make certain that things like the valve timing, fuel pump and ignition are operating properly. Spending money on regular tune-ups is cheaper in the long run than the extra cost of gas plus wear and tear on the vehicle.

5. Saving money on gas means driving cautious. Changing your driving habits is the cheapest and easiest way to improve fuel economy for any type of vehicle. Don’t race away from the traffic light – instead, make a gradual acceleration. When going downhill, let gravity instead of gas power the descent, coasting is key to saving on gas. Reduce your use of the air conditioner. Open the windows to let out hot air before turning on the air conditioner.

Remember, saving money on gas starts when you fill up at the pump, make note of the amount of gas, price per gallon and current vehicle mileage. You need to monitor the gas usage to evaluate which gas saving techniques work best for your vehicle.

You can also watch the prices of gas stations on your regular driving route. The same brand name station on the Main Street or highway entrance is usually more expensive per gallon than the station that’s a few blocks off the main route.

These tips are from my friends at the 2008 ultimate gas saving guide. There package includes: 'Water2Gas' Run Car On Water Hho, Software, Hypermiling Guide, Bio-diesel Guide, Gas Saver Guide, Lowest Price Guide, Hybrid Buyers Guide, Mileage Calculator, Bonuses: Energy Saving Guide, And More!

More tips for hypermiling and the plans for the water2gas system are available at 2008 gas saver guide website

Finding Trucks Accessories on the Web

The realm of all the trucks accessories is huge. If you're new to the customization scene, it can all be a little overwhelming. A search on the net could yield more choices for the vast trucks accessories than you could possibly sift through in one sitting. One site that could help you to get started is Enjoythedrive.com. Their motto is, "Customize your vehicle for the way you live." The site helps you do just that, filled with tips on custom car accessories, where to find accessories, and how to use them.

Enjoythedrive.com was created by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) as an educational search tool for any kind of improvement, from auto safety devices to custom car accessories. They don't sell anything online but instead offer friendly, courteous, and professional advice on what truck accessories would be perfect for your vehicle.

They break down their search for any trucks accessories based on three categories: "I Drive…," which has you select the kind of vehicle you have, "I Use My Vehicle For…," which has selections like The Great Outdoors or Daily Commute, and "Let's Improve…," which ranges from play time to security and every possibility you can fathom.

As you explore deeper into these various sections, you'll find several custom car accessory options that would fit your vehicle and suggestions on where to find these items. For example, if you select "Let's Improve Play Time," you'll come to a short article that begs the question, "What do you like to do?" If you click on Mobile Entertainment System, Enjoythedrive.com asks pertinent questions to narrow down your search. Depending on what you click, the site will give you choices.

At first glance, this site may seem chaotic, but it really is a wealth of information for anyone looking for truck and car accessories. The search engine is easy to understand and the explanations are straightforward.

However, this resource doesn't stop there. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for or if you have issues with you vehicle in general, the SEMA Expert's Advice found on the right hand side is the place to check out. Skilled professionals who are members of SEMA usually offer advice, and they'll point you in the right direction when searching for trucks accessories.

A handy "Who Makes It?" section will aid you in putting your finger on who made that great custom car accessory you saw on TV, if you can't think of the name of the company. This resource is comprehensive list of -800 SEMA member manufacturers and, in some selections, appears overwhelming, considering the number of companies that can pop up depending on how general your description is. Yet, the site will try its best to help you find any manufacturer's trucks accessories you're looking for.

Enjoytheride.com provides a quick and easy one-stop information resource for those new to the subject of trucks accessories, and they'll help out the pros as well. If you're looking for custom car accessories, tips on how to make that stereo installation easier, or local laws on exhaust systems, this site is the one for you.

Another dead car battery

The first thing to address is how long will a car battery last. On average, a car battery will last for about three to five years. In most cases you will find that the battery will last towards the shorter end of this scale and need to be replaced at the three-year mark.

There are many variables that will determine how long your car battery will last. Some of the things that will send a battery to an early grave are as follows. Many short trips on a daily basis can reduce the life of your battery. If your vehicle has an average run time of less than 20 minutes, your alternator will not have the opportunity to recharge the battery fully.

Many starting cycles, coupled with short run time will leave your battery below the ideal charged specification for most of it’s shortened life. Another reason for a dead car battery would be exposures to extreme temperatures. The power from your car battery is created by a chemical reaction.

The outside temperature affects this chemical reaction. This is why you will find that most batteries are encased in an insulated jacket. This allows the battery to go through its normal temperature changes slowly. One of the big mistakes that the do-it-yourself and professional mechanics will make is when they replace the battery they will discard this insulated cover. This will also shorten the car battery life span. The manufacture put this insulated battery cover on for a reason so you don’t want to forget to reinstall it

For more information about car batteries and jump boxes give our main site a visit

Government demands more fuel economy

Automotive news stories

New source for automotive news stories. In poking around the web to find out what is going on in my favorite industry I have come across 3 stories I thought would be nice to share with other automotive fans.

These stories are from the news wire and are related to auto repair and pure automotive news. Enjoy the stories and stop back for more. I will add only the best automotive news stories and they will be added 4 times a month.

Fast Repair Diagrams Printable Online Auto Repair Manuals Free DIY Demo Try Before You Buy www.All-Data-DIY.com Have A Car Question? High Quality Quick In-Depth Answers From Tested Professional Mechanics www.JustAnswer.com Learn About Car Auctions Fast Friendly Website for Online Government Auto and Home Auctions www.StateAuctions.org Buying a used car? One Simple Inspection Can Save You Thousands In Expensive Hidden Repairs PocketCarInspector.com

Buy a used rental car and save

Buy used rental car cheep and get good transportation and fair pricing. It is an old wives tale that rental cars are beat to death and not maintained well.

When you are looking to buy a car this buy used rental car option should be seriously considered.

I have had some dealings with turned in rental cars from the two largest rental car fleets. The land based car auction center I worked for received more then 50% of its total inventory from just these two suppliers.

These vehicles where checked out by my department and in almost every case the vehicle was maintained very well.
The rental car agencies have strict guidelines on performing regular maintenance to their fleet. This is for many reasons.

They need to protect their investment in each and every vehicle. Also they need to protect themselves from lawsuits related to vehicle accidents.

Many times if the renter gets into an accident they will blame the car. The rental car company must maintain safety check inspections and maintenance records to prove its vigilance in maintaining the safe operation of the vehicle.

As a side note your current vehicle may be an ex rental car. The cars that where sold at the auction I worked for where purchased by dealers all over the country.
When I ran the free vin check on my fathers doge caravan guess what? It was a retired rental car. You can Get a FREE VIN Check from AutoCheck®.


If you buy used rental car from the major players like enterprise the vehicles are certified and inspected before delivery.

If you’re looking to buy a car from enterprise you also get a 7-day money back guarantee. And a rigorous 109-point inspection for your peace of mind.

Enterprise certifies and inspects every used car it sells. Including the proper operation of the engine and power train systems, a complete brake inspection and the condition of the seats and exterior finish.

You can be confident that all their certified used cars have passed the 109-point saftey inspection performed by an independently trained ASE-Certified mechanic.

Enterprise Car Sales also offers no-haggle pricing policy so you can avoid stressful and unpleasant negotiations and typical sales games.

You'll be pleased with their professional sales people and low-pressure sales approach. Every vehicle they sell comes with their Perfect Used Car Package® to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Also a CARFAX Vehicle History Report is included with every vehicle.

Buy used rental car with confidence. Verify that your next vehicle wasn't previously involved in a major accident or natural disaster.

Enterprise provides a this report on every vehicle they sell, at no additional cost to you.

I have no affiliation or motivation to send you to enterprises web site. I am recommending it as a courtesy to my loyal web site visitors.

The web site offers free articles and provides an in-depth look at one of the largest rental car fleets in the United States.

They have also provided a complete list of exactly what their 109-point inspection covers and how and when this safety check is performed.

Enterprises web site buy used rental car : http://www.enterprisecarsales.com/carsales/home.do

Another advantage that happens when you buy used rental car (s) from any company is that you receive the balance of the factory warranty.

You can also buy an extended warranty that covers just the power train components or buy a full coverage warranty that covers all major components.

This can add additional piece of mind and confidence in your buy rental car experience


Tip pages: http://www.auto-facts.org/buyusedcaronline.html

Are we all treated equal ?

Before I tell you about the actual stories of people I have helped and the details of their problems and solutions, I would like to review some strategies for women motorists.My wife has been proof reading and editing the book for me. She has told me that even though I have tried to strike a balance in the presentation that I have leaned toward the side of how a man would handle the service situation. So we discussed this at great length and decided to add a section for the female motorist.Service department personnel treat women differently and I don’t want to act like it’s not true when it is true. I wish I could say that automotive repair shops treat everyone the same, but I can’t.Women can be considered easy targets for auto repair rip-offs and scams. Most shops will see a woman as an easy sell because of a lack of automotive knowledge and an increased need for a feeling of safety. This is most definitely one of those situations were women must work harder then men to get the same treatment. Your automotive knowledge base must be very strong and your automotive vocabulary strong as well.Women can win this battle just like men. Go back to last chapter and click on the two links provided for the free educational materials. Learn at your own pace, but take the time to learn the information provided. I will be glad to help in anyway I can. mrg@certifiedmastertech.com My wife tells me that I must provide an alternative method to the kick ass and take names approach that I recommend. She says that women will not be comfortable at getting tough with the hardened career service managers and service writers. The alternative is knowledge about the subject being addressed by the service center. You won’t have to yell or get tough when you know the material being negotiated. When I was on the debate team in high school the women on the debate team had the advantage. This was in most cases due to their superior verbal skills and public speaking confidence. This can be the case as well when negotiating with the shop, but being prepared to debate is the key.

See more about my book on this free auto repair information page

Learn about cars for Free!

I would like to make you aware of the best FREE web site I know of for learning about how the automotive engine operates and more.

This site is 100% free and really makes learning the basics easy. You can study up on this topic and appear knowledgeable to your repair shop staff.

The how stuff works web site is amazing and can teach you more then just how engines work.

The start page for the FREE automotive section is located at the following link http://auto.howstuffworks.com the free articles section is impressive. I have listed just a few of the available topics you can research at the above link.


How Air Bags Work
How Air-Powered Cars Will Work
How Anti-Lock Brakes Work
How Automatic Transmissions Work
How Automobile Ignition Systems Work
How Automobiles Work
How Biodiesel Works
How Brakes Work
How Camshafts Work
How can I measure the drag on a car?
How Car Computers Work
How Car Cooling Systems Work
How Car Engines Work
How Car Financing Works
How Car Insurance Works
How Car Steering Works
How Car Suspensions Work
How Car Washes Work
How Cars Work
How Catalytic Converters Work
How Champ Cars Work
How Child Car Seats Work
How Clutches Work
How Convertibles Work
How Crash Testing Works
How CVTs Work
How Diesel Engines Work
How Diesel Two-Stroke Engines Work
How Differentials Work
How Disc Brakes Work
How do 30 pounds of air in your tires hold up 2 tons of car?

This free training might be time consuming but it is not only interesting but can make you appear very knowledgeable to your auto repair shop.

If this information was helpful please bookmark my blog and visit my new web site at the link below ( I need the traffic! ) Thank you

More valuable information at my auto repair web site

Basic vehicle skills

Learning some basic automotive skills will make you feel more confident about going in for auto service. The service writer or service manager will instantly recognize this confidence.

A consumer that understands the vehicle and how the auto service business works is usually passed over when it comes time to apply the rip offs and scams.

Just like a lion out hunting the shop goes after the weak for an easy kill. But also like the lion when the shop gets hungry enough it may attack even the strong.

This is when we will break out everything we have learned and make the shop sorry they came after us.

In this chapter my goal is to teach you about the technical aspects of the automobile.

In my research about the subject and how to deliver the information I found two FREE premium websites that let you learn as much or as little as you want.

You can learn at your own pace as in the material is in bite size sections. The links to these sites are to follow in this chapter.

When I went through the material I noticed two key factors were missing.

So before I provide the links to these web sites I want to hit the basic principal of opening your hood and what you will see when the hood is open.

It very important to demonstrate this ability to you repair shop to change the way the shop thinks of you during the service procedure

The number 1 essential skill is to learn how to open your hood. Your owner’s manual explains how to do this in detail. But the basics are that there is a primary and secondary latching system.

This is to prevent the hood from flying up into the windshield while driving.

If the primary release is triggered or fails the secondary latch will catch the hood striker and hold it down.

To open the hood both the primary and secondary latches must be released.

The primary release is inside the vehicle usually to the left of the driver and down toward the foot well.

The secondary release is harder to find. In most cases the hood will have to be lifted up slightly to see the secondary release and is usually located towards the center of the hood.

Again your owner’s manual will give exact details to the location and operation of the latches.

You could also roll in to your local brand dealership and ask a sales person to show you how to open the hood (even if you didn’t buy the car there).

When you get the hood open take your time and look around and get familiar with the easy stuff first.

Things like fluid reservoirs are clearly labeled and marked. Your owner’s manual has a detailed break down of the location of these critical fluid locations and instructions on how to confirm proper levels.


Find your washer fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid; coolant reservoirs engine oil dipstick and transmission fluid dipstick.

On the next page is a picture of a modern engine out of the vehicle so things are easier to see. This is an example of what engines look like these days.

Inside the vehicle things can get hard to see because they really pack the engine in on the latest models.

You may be able to find pictures of your exact engine in your vehicle by going to google and searching for your model vehicle plus the key words engine picture.

Come see my new Automotive and car repair web site

Confirm The Repairs Where Actually Done

I know what your thinking asking for the old parts back is my solution to this problem. Yes it is but I have a twist up my sleeve and I want to talk about asking for the old parts back in more depth.

The problems with asking for the old parts back are many. Number one what you are really saying is I don’t trust you, right to your shops face.

Another problem is if you ask for the old parts back from lets say a tune up you may get six old spark plugs and a smelly fuel soaked fuel filter.

You do not want to carry around a wet fuel filter. And when it comes to the old spark plugs they could be out of anybody’s vehicle.

And some times the part numbers on the old spark plugs is hard to read on very old plugs. If you can read the part number you can call a parts store to verify the spark plug part number belongs in your vehicle.

When you are talking about getting the old parts back when the repair is brake job, trust me you do not want the old brake pads back.

They are in most cases unidentifiable and very dirty and dusty. Plus there is no readable part Number to verify if they are off of your vehicle.

So again they could be off someone else’s car. (Quick story) I remember one time my sister had her car repaired when she was out of town.

She was driving and her check engine light came on. She called me in a panic. I told her to take it to a chain store and hope for the best but to ask for the old parts back.

The shop said the vehicle needed an o2 sensor and my sister confirmed the light was out and received the old part.

When she got back in town I asked to see her old part, it was not an o2 sensor but an egr valve off of a large diesel engine. Definitely not from her little economy car gas engine.

When I looked under her car the old original o2 sensor was still in the exhaust stream.

To make a long story short the shop just cleared the codes and let her go after confirming with her she was heading back to her home state.


Two things to learn from this. One if you have out of state tags tell the shop you just moved to the state your in and have not changed your tags yet.

The shop knows that if you are a transient customer that they will never see you again and can give you the royal screw over with no problems.

The second lesson is if you ask for the old parts back know what the part looks like.

Have the shop show you the old part on the car before they remove it so you can confirm it is the part quoted in the repair estimate.

Ok here is my twist on this ask for the old parts problem.

Don’t ask for the old parts but instead ask for the boxes from the new parts that were installed. Now confirming part numbers with a third party parts store is easy.

You will not have to deal with dirty smelly old parts.

You still have the trust issue to get around but we can be creative on this subject. We can tell the repair shop we collect automotive boxes for your box collection.

Yes they will think your weird but they will not think that you don’t trust them.

Or tell them you want the new boxes so when you need those parts again you know the correct part numbers.

Its funny when even a known felon will get mad at you when you do not trust him.

When it comes to larger more expensive parts you can tell the shop you want to save the box for warranty purposes just in case the new part fails.

This will make it easier for both you and the shop to receive credit should there be a parts warranty issue in the future.


Learn more about the automotive repair business

Do I Need A Tune- Up?

On to the next scam the good old tune up. In the mid 90’s the tune up service started to change due to technology changes in the automotive industry.

This is one case were the manufacturer has taken your side as opposed to what was good for the repair shop.

In the seventy’s and eighty’s tune up items like fuel filters and spark plugs required changing every 30,000 miles. With the frequency and profit margins so high once again we saw whole businesses built around just this repair.

On modern vehicles from the mid 90’s on up we saw the common deployment of platinum tipped spark plugs and canister type fuel filters.

The manufacture did not do this for your benefit but instead to meet increasingly tougher fuel economy and emission standards. This did as a side effect help the consumer.

Platinum spark plugs can go up to 100,000 miles before replacement is required. Canister type fuel filters can go as long as 60,000 miles before changing them is needed.

This doubles the life span of theses tune up items. Check your owner’s manual to see when tune up parts are recommended to be replaced.

The repair centers always considered maintenance tune-ups as a gravy job. This term means easy to completed and high profit margins to be had.

With the advent of fuel injection and increasingly reliable computer control systems the shop finds it harder to make profits in the tune up business.

But the repair centers have came up with other slick services to sell you to replace the less needed tune up.

The most popular up sell service is the fuel injection cleaning service. The service is rarely required and not recommended by the manufacturer in most cases.

The reason is that the improvement of the fuel filter system efficiency has reduced the amount of dirt and debris that will be distributed through the fuel system.

Also believe it or not gas companies have improved the quality of their product. In the instant of plus and super grade fuels system cleaners are included in the gas. Does this mean you never have to clean the fuel system?

Well yes and no. If the vehicle develops a rough running condition coupled with turning on the service engine soon lamp there may be a fuel system malfunction.

Fuel injectors by and large are very dependable but I have seen just a few cases were injectors have failed.

Again this is not common but can happen. The fuel injection service should not be performed if there is no drivability condition present in the vehicle.

The best way to protect your fuel system is never run your vehicle below a quarter of a tank.

The bottom of the tank contains almost all the dirt and sediment. When you hit a quarter tank go ahead and fill up, this can eliminate fuel system troubles.

Get the Whole Book At www.CertifiedMasterTech.com

Introduction

I should have known I was in for trouble from my first day in the business. I was 16 years old and working at a gas station in New Jersey.

The state of New Jersey only has full service gas pumps. You are not allowed to pump your own Gas.

My first job in the automotive business, I was a petroleum transfer engineer or better known as a gas pumper. Sounds simple enough but it wasn’t.

After about an hour into my first day the station owner came over to me and stated you must ask everyone that comes in for gas if they want there engine oil checked.

If they say yes pull the stick and tell them it’s a quart low even if its not.

Tell them oil is $2.50 a quart installed. Add the money to the fuel charge. Walk up to vehicle proudly displaying the oil bottle and act like your pouring the oil in.

Do not actually put oil in the vehicle. Take the top off and fake poor the oil in. Recheck the dipstick and tell them it’s now filled to its proper level.

It being my first day and only being 16 years old I complied with the large owners wishes.

I will never forget how innocence was lost on that day. I went from being a good kid to aiding and assisting a known thief.

This was also the first time anybody used intimidation tactics on me. The owner of the shop was a real big guy About 6’4 300lbs and was a master at the art of intimidation.

He would get real close to you and stare right in your eyes looking right into your soul with a very stern look and would speak loud and angry.

He used this technique on his employees, customers and even his wife that worked in the office.

Very few people had the courage to say no to him. He made a lot of money and retired at age 50 from this small gas station and 3 bay shop using these techniques.

One day my own father came in for gas and as I pumped it the owner came up and started yelling at me.

My dad got out of his car and used the same techniques of intimidation right back on the owner. He was shocked and backed down real fast.

Few people stood up to this guy and if you did he would instantly back down for a variety of reason I would later come to understand and I will explain in detail in this book.

Well after a few days of pumping gas and not pulling the oil scam I was fired. The owner counted on making this extra 2.50 per vehicle and would not tolerate any gas pumper that refused to apply his technique.

The owner of this gas station also had 3 mechanics working for him. They all had no problem using a variety of scams on their lifeblood the customer.

I remember hearing them talk about it with no remorse. They would say things like she has plenty of money or her father is loaded with cash.

Whenever someone got ripped off they had a way of justifying it to themselves so they could sleep at night.

The owner of this shop would support and encourage the thievery that was going on by awarding under the table cash bonuses to his motley crew.

I was determined to be a mechanic and I was hoping that my first experience with this gas station was an isolated incident.

So I trained hard and spent a lot of money in training and tools to be a mechanic.

As I progressed through the years as a mechanic, service advisor, service manager and service director I found that most automotive repair shops were like the first one I had seen (rotten to the core).

I don’t want to scare you or make you think there is no hope of finding a trust worthy repair center.

Some reliable honest people are in this business. And that is what this book is about. You will learn how to find the good shops and how to scare the hell out of the shops that try and screw you over.

In most cases a dishonest shop is also lacking in other areas besides truth and honesty.

You will find that if a shop doesn’t care about customer satisfaction and fair business practices.

The same shop will also not care about EPA regulations and shop safety requirements (OSHA) mandated by state and local governments either.

These deficiencies can easily lead to a shop closing its doors and also a possibility of heavy fines or even jail time for the owner.

It is very easy for an informed customer to blow the whistle on a bad shop.

How easy. Just google OSHA or EPA regulations they can point you in the direction of people that would be very interested in your anonymous tip.

In the next chapter I want to go over the ground floor basics of how this business works.

Because when you understand this foundation and it’s principals the rest of the book and the techniques explained in the book will be easily understood.

It will also be much easier to apply the solutions that this guide provides to the common auto repair shop rip-offs and scams you will be faced with.


More Auto Service Info Here

Auto service story

I want to start this chapter out with a recent personal story. I moved across the country to secure my new government job. This was actually about two years ago.

I got to town before my tools arrived and the long trip put me past due for my recommended maintenance on my newer truck that now had about 6,000 miles on it.

My owner’s manual states to change the engine oil every 3,000 miles or three months.

My manual states failure to comply with this could void my warranty and I know this is not true and I will explain why in this chapter.

I decided to go to the local dealer and explain to them I was a certified master technician without my tools and needed an oil change.

The dealer service advisor wrote me up and I waited for the vehicle in their state of the art customer conference room.

While I was in the waiting area I read the sales flier of what was to be included in my $34.95 oil change.

Boy all kinds of good stuff. I was tempted to go outside and watch the mechanic perform the service.

But I was comfortable and decided to relax, have some coffee and watch TV.

This was a mistake and against my better judgment.

I do strongly recommend that you watch the mechanic perform the service when waiting for your vehicle.

Even if you don’t know what your watching. The mechanic may not like it but that’s to bad it is your right to watch.

This usually keeps the mechanic honest. As in he is less likely to skip things like checking tire pressure and filling fluids.

Well I received a page that my vehicle was done and to proceed to the cashier.

I paid my bill and my truck was pulled up to the drive through. I decided to check the service right there.

Oh my god the horror. Nothing in the flier was done except just the oil change and they screwed that up also.

They overfilled the engine oil by more than a quart, which is bad for the engine.

They did not lube the front end; they did not top off the fluids, check the tire pressure or even fill my washer fluid.

They even crossed threaded the oil fill cap and broke it.

My blood pressure went through the roof. I went to the service advisor and asked to see the service manager.

To my surprise he pointed to the service managers office, instead of trying to handle the complaint, as a good service advisor should do.

I knocked on the service manager’s door and he yelled what in a very aggressive manner.

I entered and introduced myself and said I just moved to town and was looking for a reliable dealer and was interested in being a long-term customer of this establishment.

I explained to the service manager my disappointment on how my simple oil change was completely botched. He said why and I went down the long list.

He got defensive and put on his angry face and said what makes you so smart.

I explained my expertise in the field and why I didn’t do the service myself.

He went out to my near new vehicle and I showed him every last detail that went wrong on the simple service.

After a few more attempts to get tough on me which I immediately used against him he surrendered and agreed the service was done horribly.

There was no defending anything because the poor service was so obvious.

He stated his lube guy was a trainee and he would have the service straightened out by his best master tech and refund my money.

He lived up to his promise but I was there for about 5 hours total.

I know this was a long story but I wanted you to understand I know what you face as a customer and as a mechanic.

More Auto repair info at www.certifiedmastertech.com

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