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SAE 10W40 is a low HTHS and only has to be over 2.9 cS. That is the same specification for 10W30. An ACEA A3/B3 or A3/B4 (BMW's LL-01 for example) has to be greater than 3.5cS
This is SAE's specs.
http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/Auto_oils/oil_viscosity_explained.htm
Now go back and compare the ACEA linked above.
http://www.bodyshopbusiness.com/asa-survey-tech-shortage-insurer-issues-continue-to-be-nagging-issues-for-body-shops/
As far as the Carfax lawsuit the article seems to suggest that one of the body shop's employee's might be generating the reports which Carfax pays them for. It's also a little disturbing that consumers would turn around and frown on the shop if they were making proper reports to Carfax. I remember when they contacted me and wanted me tp sign up with them. It really didn't seem to be worth my time to get involved for what they wanted to pay, but if someone wanted to generate dozens of reports it would start to add up.
This is an extension of the tenet that has developed due to the easy of transferring information: "If it is easy to do, it is acceptable to do." Just like people think stealing music is acceptable, and they think that only because of the ease of doing it.
All of the schools should be teaching ethics and morals, and such would never happen on a widespread basis.
One cannot stay off the grid because as soon as they go in a store and give the business personal information, it is immediateley stored in a database. We used to think of paying cash as staying off the grid as credit was the first big aggregate database, but not anymore.
Many of the items listed as "facts" by the repair shop owner, due to his investigation, could have been sourced elsewhere. He just doesn't know. He doesn't even know if his customer has given him complete and accurate information.
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In my own case, I bought a car with a "clean" CARFAX only to have an "ACCIDENT!" to show up 3 years after I bought it--an accident that occurred 2 years BEFORE I bought the car!
CARFAX basically told me to pound sand, even after I told them no evidence of accident was on the car.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20170128/RETAIL06/301299985/1147
Carlisle surveyed more than 22,000 technicians in September to get their take on the business. In short, many of them are unhappy.
Hollenberg said service technicians' biggest concern is their compensation structure, followed by work/family balance and feeling valued. He said many technicians feel unimportant.
Implementing four-day workweeks with 10- or 11-hour days would help build morale, but few dealerships have done so. Technicians, especially millennial techs, want flexible hours.
Meanwhile, Hollenberg said only 15 percent of technicians would recommend their careers to others, while 65 percent are "strongly against" recommending it.
Sales people like rah-rah events but technical people eschew them like the Bubonic plague. If you hug the technician they most likely will get perturbed. This is a problem, these CEOs only think like sales people. Why does he not talk to his techs and ask them how they would like to participate in a rah-rah event? The looks on the techs' faces will tell all.
Technical people get their jollies from solving problems and getting paid for solving problems. Give them both, then give them hug-free space to do what they enjoy.
A 4-day work week would be good from the aspect of allowing young techs to work a second job to build up the much needed capital. Call me a conspiracy theorist but this is the exact reason why the 4-day work week will not become widespread in this case.
Cars that cannot be fixed are a boon to the sales chain. So no I do not think these people have any reason to be serious about this issue.
You have described the life of a tech Doc, and it does not have to be a poor one, with the perpetual struggle to purchase the next needed tool. Despite poor wages problems can be overcome from the spending side. I would suggest that techs read "The Millionaire Next Door", and immediately implement all of the habits contained within.
From my experience over the years with these shops, the best techs have obviously come from Europe--not that they "knew everything" (they didn't), but their relationship to cars, to tools and to procedure was markedly superior.
http://www.capegazette.com/article/neighbors-sue-stop-auto-repairs-harbeson-home/114001
This one includes a video.
http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/neighbors-sue-man-for-working-on-cars-in-his-own-garage/?cid=syn_taboola_0526_desk_trend-06&pid=tab:msn-msn
It won't be long and I'll be fully retired from wrenching. Just this week we officially started building a pole garage that will house all of my tools and someday maybe be just like what this fellow has. Lucky for us our zoning is AG-7 which permits a home based business, but no employees which is fine with me since I have never had any desire to be someone else's boss. However I simply cannot continue working on cars much because of how the physical demands for producing labor hours is simply getting to be too much for me. For now I can still do enough to keep my skills sharp which ultimately pays dividends towards the teaching gig. But, to that end, I don't need to keep spending over 2K a month just to continue to run a part time garage in town. (Accountant says I've been losing about 15K a year for the last two years, I'd like to stick that little detail in a few people's faces who went out of their way over the years to try and shame us for trying to earn a living) Heck the credit card processing fees cost us more then the credit card charges that we ran through the business a couple times this past year so there is nothing but good to come from making this change and closing the shop.
But then I see this video. I've heard it said that "the truth" is always somewhere in the middle. Is he trying to run a full repair shop in violation of the zoning? Are the neighbors just being bad neighbors, or are they right?
My position is that unless he and his buddies are really obnoxious, with burn-outs, air hammers going night and day, hot rods speeding up and down the road, fires burning in oil barrels, Harleys zooming around, loud music, late night barbies----that can be annoying and ruin the peace---but unless that's going on, I kind of agree with the judge---what harm it is doing to YOU---let it be, try to get along.
Don't you just love research like this?
A shortage of technicians is curbing dealerships’ service department growth, a survey of dealers principal, general managers and fixed ops managers shows. But is enough attention being paid to recruiting? The survey was conducted in late 2016 by Carlisle & Co., of Concord, Mass., in conjunction with Fixed Ops Journal. Some findings
It's going to take more than just recruiting to encourage the next generation to consider becoming an automotive mechanic/technician. We could do a very straightforward poll right here.
Who would consider a career change right now to try and become one of the 2.7 technicians that most dealers are looking for?
Who would encourage your kids/grandkids to become a technician?
Who would advise against such a choice?
I read with interest reports from a former technician who went into management quite a few years back, who now finds himself back in the bays and while he hasn't come straight out and said it, he is realizing that he wouldn't be employable by his own expectations. Since he owns the place and lost the technician that was working for him he doesn't have much choice but the things that are taking him to task wouldn't even get noticed as requiring any knowledge/talent when being performed by skilled hands.
While you are there... Another article talks about a mass production concept for doing oil changes. Akin to the quick lube concepts these ideas can be great for consumer convenience and even pricing up to a point, but they pay no attention to the need to have a viable apprenticeship program for future technicians. How long do you think it will be before they finally realize what the long term implications are to the trade because of these quick revenue and traffic fixes?
Ever try to get your used laptop computer fixed? Usually it costs more than the unit is even worth. That day is coming for cars, too.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
I still wonder how the VoTech school are doing enrollment wise?
But then we have the little problem that a new laptop can be purchased for about $400-$800 depending on what exactly you need in a new computer and a new pick-up truck or car costs?????
I'm sure that if you had to pull the dashboard out of a 2017 car someday you are going to charge a boatload of money to do that.
I was just thinking about this yesterday.
My Dodge 4X4 needs ball joints and a CV axle shaft. I know how to do this. I know exactly how to do this.
A shop would charge me about $1000 for all that work---so why not DIY?
OK---I'll need:
A floor jack
jackstands
ball joint press
pickle fork
heavy hammer
torque wrench
air wrench (optional but oh so handy)
air chisel or grinding tool
breaker bar
swivel extension
socket set, 1/2"
penetrating lube
anti-seize compound
4 new ball joints
one rebuilt axle shaft
new brake pads (I mean, why not, I'm in there)
bungee cord
rags
gloves
Nice gravy ticket. Depending on the model the flat rate labor would come in around five to six hours. Warranty time would pay around 2.5 hours and I would have no problem beating even that. OK---I'll need:
A floor jack
jackstands
Ewww. Thank heavens for hoists. For me that alone is three different kits that cost a combined total of some $900. They make pullers for that. Almost never use a pickle fork anymore. Maybe on the hammer, the other two are absolute requirements. Can't beat impact flex sockets for tight to reach fasteners, until you look at what they cost that is. (Average about $40 a piece and usually come in sets of 10 sizes) Bottom joints, very likely. The uppers are probably serviced as control arm assemblies depending on make, model, year.
Point is---to gear up, the DIYer is better off just paying someone. Some jobs are not worth doing--like oil changes.
If there was ever a bargain in the auto repair industry, it's paying someone to change your oil. (and no, I don't mean one of those quik-lube places...I'd never go there).
The smartest thing I did was simplify my oil inventory; now all of the BMWs get BMW 5W-30 while the Jeep and the two ZTR mowers use 10W-30 Mobil 1.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDHrWc3kLjE
Ohio: New fronts in dealer-factory war over warranty reimbursement
Jim Appleton, president of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, says retail reimbursement benefits consumers. Because automakers "chisel" dealers on warranty work to keep reimbursement at a minimum, dealerships must raise prices for other repair work, he says.
When they start talking about what warranty rates do to how the technicians are compensated and not just from the perspective of making even greater profits for the dealer then they will start making some progress.
"If OEMs have to pay the retail rate, it should be the true retail rate," Gage said. "In the end, costs go up for all consumers."
Warranties aren't free, they are included in the price of the car.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/technology/sd-fi-wrench-sd-20170302-story.html
"“I'm not a car guy. You’re not going to find me in the driveway, head under the hood, rebuilding an old car on Saturdays,” said Ed Petersen, the chief executive of Wrench"
That statement explains a lot.....
"A standard diagnostics visit costs $75, for instance, but that fee is waived if the resulting maintenance is booked through Wrench."
That makes me wonder what a "standard diagnostics" visit is.
As one tech pointed out in one of the forums picture yourself getting directed to a client and driving half an hour to get to the vehicle. Now spend the time required to analyze the vehicle problem which means you would have a significant expense in your own diagnostic equipment akin to what you have seen demonstrated in some of the other posts. Let's say that it is relatively simple and takes a half an hour. Now imagine the repair also takes half an hour to do without even considering any delay for the parts to be acquired. Then there is the time to travel either onto the next job or back home if there isn't another one on the schedule.
That's at least two hours (probably more) of the day for one vehicle that generated a half an hour paid time and fits this statement.
"It’s still early days for the company. In San Diego, for instance, Wrench employs just two mechanics who complete around three jobs per day"
https://getwrench.com/press
Check out the press releases, or are they really paid advertisements?