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A Mechanic's Life - Tales From Under the Hood

3515 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2013 at 2:06 PM

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     This topic is primarily for professional mechanics, current or retired, or ardent amateurs who would like to share the suprises, victories, tricks and challenges of working on the modern automobile. All Forums members are invited, of course, to ask technicians about their work, or comment on your own experiences dealing with mechanics.
 
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Messages Page 154 of 352

#1530 of 3515 Re: The solution... grin. [roadburner] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (3:08 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Feb 18, 2013 1:01 pm)
The indie shop that services my Jeep doesn't charge me to read the codes on my TJ or Mazda
 
Pulling codes isn't diagnostics and shouldn't be represented as such. The Free Diagnostics claims are at best a bait and switch. Pull the code for free and then guess a price and/or sell the real diagnostic fee. Or worse they may actually be expecting their techs to spend a legitimate amount of time that they ultimately won't be compensated for in one way or another. The trouble with that is eventually you lose the technician.

#1531 of 3515 Re: The solution... grin. [thecardoc3] by busiris

Feb 18, 2013 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 3:08 pm)
Pulling codes isn't diagnostics and shouldn't be represented as such. The Free Diagnostics claims are at best a bait and switch. Pull the code for free and then guess a price and/or sell the real diagnostic fee.
 
Sounds to me more like a way to sell non-needed air filters, etc., probably at inflated prices.

#1532 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by srs_49

Feb 18, 2013 (3:12 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 2:59 pm)
Ahhh- trick question! Gotta luv 'em.
 
Well, it may not have a separate cap, but it does look like it has something (neoprene rubber???) on the inside of the filler neck to seal off the intake orifice. So in that sense, it has a built in cap. Is that supposed to be better than a separate gas cap? Less chance for the consumer to get it wrong?
 
So, instead of "reseat the gas cap", how 'bout "jiggle the seal"? Would have to see one in person.
 
BTW, I did see where they sell after-market regular-style gas caps for Escapes.

#1533 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [srs_49] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 18, 2013 3:12 pm)
So, instead of "reseat the gas cap", how 'bout "jiggle the seal"? Would have to see one in person.
 
  
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28320

#1534 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by srs_49

Feb 18, 2013 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 3:35 pm)
Thanks for the link, but a graphic would have been nice.
 
Sounds needlessly complicated, particularly the part about sensing the size of the tube being inserted, IMM. A solution in search of a problem, so to speak.
 
What ever happened to KISS?

#1535 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [srs_49] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 18, 2013 3:54 pm)
What ever happened to KISS?
 
http://www.kissonline.com/

#1536 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by busiris

Feb 18, 2013 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 4:07 pm)
LOL!!!

#1538 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [busiris] by thecardoc3

Feb 19, 2013 (6:15 am)

Replying to: busiris (Feb 18, 2013 1:41 pm)
The disclaimer at the end pretty much summed it up... When in doubt, follow the instruction found in the owner's manual.
 
Was there any part of the article were a suggestion was made that the manual doesn't have to be followed exactly? You can read the lines, or inbetween them, just look to see if any doubts are suggested.

#1539 of 3515 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by thecardoc3

Feb 20, 2013 (6:35 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 19, 2013 6:15 am)
Well, that sure brought this all to a screeching halt. Nobody wanted to agree with that, but you can't find what you need to disagree with it there either. It's important to note that I've seen a little drama play out a few times once a problem really does arrise.
 
Advertising suggests that a given product meets a vehicles specs.
Customer, shop, or tech believing the advertising uses the product and if no problems occur, nobody cares. But when a problem eventually does occur, the manufacturer of the product simply points out that they had that disclaimer in their literature. Customer, shop, or tech ends up holding the bag. (Often-times it's the manufacturer of the vehicle anyway)
 
Busiris states it as "When in doubt, follow the instruction found in the owner's manual. " Meanwhile in the article you find this;
 
The language in some owner's manuals suggests that using an oil other than the one specified by the manufacturer will void the car's warranty. This is not the case, says Thom Smith, Valvoline's vice president of branded lubricant technology
 
These three paragrapghs are easy to read and not catch all of the details.
 
"If a customer uses a non-licensed engine oil that is simply ILSAC GF-5 quality, they will not enjoy the benefits of using a Dexos-licensed product," Read says. Those benefits could include better low-temperature performance, cleaner pistons and better aeration performance, he says. "This could be especially important as the engine oil ages."
 
Read's case for Dexos sounds compelling, but Valvoline's Smith isn't buying it.
 
"Our SynPower 5W-20, 5W-30 and DuraBlend 5W-30 went through all the Dexos testing and passed all the requirements," Smith says. "But we felt that carrying the Dexos name was not providing the consumer with any value."
 
At the same time this article was being written, Thom Smith of Valvoline has a quote in Lubes'n'Greases. Research his quote there regarding dexos and see if it is consistent with what was written here.
 
Lets repeat one of those paragraphs.
Our SynPower 5W-20, 5W-30 and DuraBlend 5W-30 went through all the Dexos testing and passed all the requirements,"
 
What is GM's pumping requirements specification for any approved product at -35f?
What is Valvolines pumping specification at -35f for the products listed?
 
From earlier in the article;
 
GM distanced itself from the API guidelines with the introduction of Dexos. According to GM, the Dexos oil specification will decrease harmful piston deposits by up to 28 percent and improve fuel efficiency by up to 0.3 percent compared to the older ILSAC GF-4 specifications.
 
Then later on there was this.
 
Smith says. "But we felt that carrying the Dexos name was not providing the consumer with any value."
 
"Dexos" isn't a name. dexos1 is a specification.
 
Now moving back to the top of the article;
 
The API and ILSAC standards are the baseline, says Timothy Miranda, senior engineer for race oil and field testing for Castrol Lubricants, which manufactures oil for automakers such as Audi, BMW and Volkswagen. Automakers are free to improve upon the standards as long as they meet the minimum requirements.
 
The funny thing however is to meet certain European specs some oils in fact do not meet ILSAC, which is OK provided a consumer doesn't choose a product for their car that does.
 
Now, don't just take what I have written here and say, yea or nay. Research the data and find out for yourself. If you have trouble I can provide some links for references. Keep in mind Valvoline has a lot of great products that meet the specs for many vehicles. This is about what a given customer needs to know in order to choose a product correctly.

Messages Page 154 of 352

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