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A Mechanic's Life - Tales From Under the Hood

2938 messages,  Last post on May 24, 2013 at 1:09 PM

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Messages Page 119 of 295

#1172 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [steve_] by thecardoc3

Feb 04, 2013 (6:58 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 04, 2013 6:51 am)
And I'm glad to see you do agree that you can't tell anything about the condition of oil by looking at it.
 
But I don't approve of the tainted use of the information, its often implied to only mean if the oil is dark and that's not accurate. If an oil displays clear characteristics that it is no longer maintaining its viscosity, then by appearance it is time to have it replaced and be perfectly justified in the reccomendation.
 
According to the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act, the onus would be on GM or another automaker to prove that a non-manufacturer oil damaged the engine
 
That has to deal with warranty issues. These engines should outlast their warranty by two to three times. Stressing the warranty part fails the consumer in the long term when the issue isn't fully explained. BTW, it is very easy for the manufactuers to prove if the correct oil was used or not should they choose to go that route. One only has to use the wrong product one time and the results are actually quite obvious. Which brings us to the next important point. Exactly what consitutes "an equivelant"?

#1173 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [steve_] by thecardoc3

Feb 04, 2013 (7:00 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 04, 2013 6:51 am)
I think the push back is already happening and we'll get back to fewer and simpler choices for oil change options
 
There has always been pressure to do the job wrong.

#1174 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

Feb 04, 2013 (7:25 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 04, 2013 7:00 am)
There has always been pressure to do the job wrong.
 
Like the unscrupulous people who show someone their dipstick and say it must be changed because it's black? Or worse, the engine must be flushed. I don't hear too many tales of the grease on the shock absorbers any more.
 
See, you're not only fighting consumer perceptions, you're also having to read about how crooks in your business harm your reputation.

#1175 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [steve_] by thecardoc3

Feb 04, 2013 (7:39 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 04, 2013 7:25 am)
See, you're not only fighting consumer perceptions, you're also having to read about how crooks in your business harm your reputation
 
So how does this pertain to the debate taking place? Does this somehow make the facts that I have written less trustworthy? You have Ron's story linked here, and you have information from the Valvoline page that you linked to. Now are they giving the consumers the whole story or not? If not, why not?

#1176 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

Feb 04, 2013 (7:45 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 04, 2013 7:39 am)
Which debate? Consumers have to buy oil that only has the manufacturer's label on it?
 
Or you comment that your oil was "clear", as if that meant something?
 
(btw, is your shop closed today? ).

#1177 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [steve_] by thecardoc3

Feb 04, 2013 (7:44 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 04, 2013 7:25 am)
Like the unscrupulous people who show someone their dipstick and say it must be changed because it's black? Or worse, the engine must be flushed.
 
Unscrupulous. Nice word. Exactly who created and sold those engine flush machines and when did Edmunds ever do a story on how they and their use was presented as real training for the shops and technicians?
 
Is there never a time to use such a piece of equipment? Does it have no value at all? (FWIW, I don't own one)
 
You really need to follow through with the SynPower 5W30 MST issue as I outlined. You wouldn't want to appear to be unscrupulous would you?

#1178 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

Feb 04, 2013 (7:48 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 04, 2013 7:44 am)
No thanks, I just want to be able to buy jugs off the shelf at Walmart without having to take my owner's manual and a magnifying glass into the store to read the labels.
 
If I wanted to spend years talking about the minutia of motor oil, I could have been hanging out in Engine Oil - A slippery subject Part 2 all this time.

#1179 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [steve_] by thecardoc3

Feb 04, 2013 (8:35 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 04, 2013 7:48 am)
No thanks, I just want to be able to buy jugs off the shelf at Walmart without having to take my owner's manual and a magnifying glass into the store to read the labels.
 
Perfect, then you should be praising GM for the dexos1 licensing. You only need to look at the front of the bottle and you are assured to be purchasing the correct product. (Or not)
 
The exercise is critical to properly explain the differences in the oil products to the consumers. They can walk in the door and buy Valvoline SynPower 5W30, but is it the North American version, or is it the European one. They are completely different products. Both are good products, and will serve the consumers well but only if they know how to choose the one that matches their car. Your refusal to assit the consumer in this matter is puzzling. BTW, where is Ron? Maybe he will explain it. Unless of course someone has something to hide.

#1180 of 2938 Re: Here's a good one [steve_] by thecardoc3

Feb 04, 2013 (9:32 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 04, 2013 7:45 am)
Nope, it's a blessing to be able to type at some 2000wph.
 
The list of what I have already completed today includes an 5000 mile service on a 2000 Accord, replaced and programmed a PCM on a 2001 Taurus, brake inspection on another Honda, it needs the front pads and the rotors machined. Plus the LH engine mount on a silverado 4WD 8.1l.
 
Which debate? Consumers have to buy oil that only has the manufacturer's label on it
 
Nope, that is distorting the issue. Consumers need to buy the products for their cars that meet the manufactures specifications. The problem is "How do they know for sure which products do, and which ones do not meet the specs for their car" Is there a reason why you repeatedly have to try and attempt to misrepresent the real issue?
 
I really don't want to be a pr!(& here, but its time that consumers, and any shops/techs who may wander through here are told what they really need to know, and not the polished version one sided version that they have been getting fed. This also works for things like the engine flush. It takes a lot of nerve to bash the shops who made the investment, because they thought they were doing right by their customers, only to find out in a back handed way that it was not a good choice. Why didn't Edmunds address the issue in a way that might have prevented some of these shops from buying the machine in the first place? They (you) have no problem assailing it but you never tried to prevent the idea from catching on. What was that word you used, "Unscrup...."???
 
BTW I just got a call from another shop for a SKIM issue on a Chrysler. I'll be hitting the road for an hour or so to address it for them. See if Ron can post and explain those Euro specs and how one oil meets all of them before I have to.

Messages Page 119 of 295

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