June, 2009 ISSUE 145
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Ivy Collins, once again, is our employee of the month. Ivy drives one of our "big" trucks all around the area. Congratulations Ivy!!!
OIL ANALYSIS
We have talked about this in the past, and in my opinion it is worth the effort to have your oil checked for any problems you may have or problems just starting. This program is "cheap" insurance for your fleet. I was just reading an article in fleet equipment magazine about just this subject and maximizing oil drain intervals. They surveyed various trucking companies and asked how they determine when to change oil. Out of 27 interviews, 10 based their intervals on oil analysis data. Some of them commented that they use quality oils along with oil analysis. If you have ever thought about analysis, this may be the time. For more information, see your Oakland representative.
SPEAKING OF OIL ANALYSIS
I just read about an instrument designed for you to analyze your own oil right at the shop. It is supposed to check for almost everything a lab would check for. You can contact them at www.spectronic.com for more information.
POWER STEERING FLUID EXCHANGE
This service is often overlooked by installers and customers alike. Power steering units hold betweeen 8 ounces and 32 ounces of fluid and should be changed at leat every 36,000 miles to hlep protect the mechanical system from pre-mature wear. If you stop and think, you have a small amount of fluid protecting a lot of moving parts and the degradation of the fluid starts the wearing out process. If you are not performing this service, you may want to offer this service in your shop for customer satisfaction and also to boost your bottom line. There are machines avaliable to make this service simple and fast.
HOW DO YOU ADVERTISE
If you use direct mail or newpapers, you should always talk features and benefits. Feature are the services you offer, such as a 32 point inspection. People will look at that and say ho-hum, but if you explain the benefits of the 32 point inspection that will arouse their interest. Offer an air cleaner for how many dollars is a feature, but the benefits are better fuel mileage, a cleaner engine which leads to longer engine life.
TID BITS
Every job is a self portrait of the one who did it. Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.
2010 IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
I am not talking about new years eve, but DEF. (diesel exhaust fluids) In 2010, diesel engines will be required to incorporate DEF into their deisel fuel to cut down on emissions. The DEF will be a combination of water and urea that will be sprayed into the trucks exhaust stream turning ozone causing oxides of nitrogen (NOx) into harmless nitrogen gas and water vapor. This process will make the air leaving an engine cleaner thant the air coming into an engine, thus cleaning the environment. Most of the truck engine manufacturers are where they want to be in producing the engines that will comply with the new regulations. As of now they will have urea packaged in 2 1/2 gallon jugs, 5 gallon pails, drums and totes. The mixure of DEF with diesel will be 5 to 1, one gallon of DEF to 5 gallons of diesel.
NEW PRODUCTS ON THE WAY
As you know, we carry the Tork line of paper towels and we will be adding three new products they have just introduced. Wet wipes and dry lint free specialty cloths for body shops and other applications where lint may be a problem. There will be two versions of the wet wipes, one for your hands and light cleaning and the other for harder to clean machine surfaces. The wet wipes will come in a handy re-sealable bucket holding 72 11x8 cloths. We will let you know when they arrive in our warehouse, or ask your sales representative.
ARE YOU USING THE RIGHT LUBRICANT
Did you just buy a used piece of equipment or machine that requires a lubricant, but no directions or information is to be found? Give us a call. We have the resoucese to help solve your dilemma. If you have been reading our newletter, we have discussed that all gear oils are not the same. All grease is not the same and not all transmission oils are the same. Give us a call for the right recommendations so you can avoid any problems down the road.
HOW ABOUT A SERVICE CLINIC
If you have an automibile service garage, you may be interested in having a service clinic for your customers. This would be where your customers bring their vehicle in and you inspect everthing from air cleaner to exhaust system and from bumper to bumper. I have information available on how to run a successful service clinic, along with check sheets and how to get your other vendors involved. This program is designed to create good will between you and your customers.
Call us for price and availability on any products you need -- we will be happy to serve you.
OAKLAND LUBRICATION COMPANY, INC.
1-800-828-1675
"YOUR COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL LUBRICANT LEADER OF THE OZARKS"