Page 20 - Fluid Rx Diagnostics POP Magazine

MARCH / APRIL 2014 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE MARCH / APRIL 2014 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE
One of these scenarios is manifesting
into a class action lawsuit against one One of these scenarios is manifesting
OEM for allegedly misrepresenting that into a class action lawsuit against one
certain models of their vehicles with au- OEM for allegedly misrepresenting that
tomatic transmissions supposedly do certain models of their vehicles with au-
not need to have the ATF replaced dur- tomatic transmissions supposedly do
ing the life of the vehicle. The OEM coins not need to have the ATF replaced dur-
this term “lifetime” uid. According to ing the life of the vehicle. The OEM coins
the lawsuit the “key selling feature” of this term “lifetime” uid. According to
these vehicles has been its Service and the lawsuit the “key selling feature” of
Warranty program, which “promises to these vehicles has been its Service and
‘maximize vehicle safety, reliability and Warranty program, which “promises to
documentation to the BAR supporting
resale value by minimizing breakdowns lead to expensive repairs or shorten the aftermarket demonstrated that the uid and inconvenience.’” It’s further allegedcomponent wear and damage that may their Service recommendations. The
resale value by minimizing breakdowns ‘maximize vehicle safety, reliability and
ing uids too late leads to premature
their Service recommendations. The resulting from wear, and minimizing costing uids too late leads to premature documentation to the BAR supporting
PREVENTATIVE PREVENTATIVE
MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE
PROLONGS THE PROLONGS THE
SERVICE LIFE OF A SERVICE LIFE OF A
speci c uids to be an excellent method Operations Departments to
to install and maintain integrity with our pro ts and instill trust, con dence and
VEHICLE. THEREFORE, VEHICLE. THEREFORE,
clientele.” loyalty in your customers. You are there to install and maintain integrity with our pro ts and instill trust, con dence and
to provide them with the services they clientele.” loyalty in your customers. You are there
A crackdown and investigation was re- need to maintain their vehicle’s perfor- to provide them with the services they
cently conducted by the California Bu- mance, reliability and service life -- IN- A crackdown and investigation was re- need to maintain their vehicle’s perfor-
reau of Automotive Repair (BAR) that fo- CLUDING FLUID SERVICES. After all, cently conducted by the California Bu- mance, reliability and service life -- IN-
cused on Service providers performing that’s why they came to you in the rst reau of Automotive Repair (BAR) that fo- CLUDING FLUID SERVICES. After all,
unwarranted uid services. The BAR’s place.
cused on Service providers performing that’s why they came to you in the rst
initial position on Service recommen- unwarranted uid services. The BAR’s place.
dations was taken directly from OEM initial position on Service recommen-
vehicle owner’s manuals. Any services dations was taken directly from OEM
performed outside these OEM speci - vehicle owner’s manuals. Any services
cations were suspect. Aftermarket as- performed outside these OEM speci -
sociations including Automotive Main- cations were suspect. Aftermarket as-
tenance and Repair Association (AMRA/ sociations including Automotive Main-
NO-MAINTENANCE NO-MAINTENANCE
PRACTICES ARE PRACTICES ARE
MORE LIKELY MORE LIKELY
MARKET-DRIVEN THAN MARKET-DRIVEN THAN
ENGINEERING-DRIVEN.” ENGINEERING-DRIVEN.”
MAP), California Automotive Business tenance and Repair Association (AMRA/
component wear and damage that may
resulting from wear, and minimizing cost useful lifetime of the vehicle. Replacing service recommendations being offered that failure to replace the transmissionlead to expensive repairs or shorten the aftermarket demonstrated that the uid
and inconvenience.’” It’s further alleged uids before they’re needed costs con- to consumers were in their best interest, uid leads to sudden and prematureuseful lifetime of the vehicle. Replacing service recommendations being offered
that failure to replace the transmission sumers millions of dollars each year and regardless of whether they were in align- catastrophic failure of the transmission uids before they’re needed costs con- to consumers were in their best interest,
uid leads to sudden and premature can be considered environmentally tax- ment with OEM recommendations. Con- and that the owners are forced to shellsumers millions of dollars each year and regardless of whether they were in align-
catastrophic failure of the transmission ing. With the advent and proliferation of sumer bene ts include prolonging the out the cost of repair / replacement de-can be considered environmentally tax- ment with OEM recommendations. Con-
and that the owners are forced to shell “ uid-science” and “instant lubricant di- vehicle’s useful service life, maintaining spite express instruction that replacinging. With the advent and proliferation of sumer bene ts include prolonging the
out the cost of repair / replacement de-
agnostics” tools, the landscape of pre- performance, maintaining ef ciency, re- “ uid-science” and “instant lubricant di- vehicle’s useful service life, maintaining
ventative maintenance has signi cantly ducing breakdowns and reducing over- agnostics” tools, the landscape of pre- performance, maintaining ef ciency, re-
changed to include uid condition as a all repair costs over the vehicle’s service ventative maintenance has signi cantly ducing breakdowns and reducing over-
qualifying standard for recommending life.
changed to include uid condition as a all repair costs over the vehicle’s service
uid services.
qualifying standard for recommending life. So how about “Lifetime Fluids”? Once
uid services.
“That’s why we’re now testing the uids again, does anyone really believe that So how about “Lifetime Fluids”? Once
for our customers and showing them the a car will last forever – especially if you “That’s why we’re now testing the uids again, does anyone really believe that
foroaucrtcuuasltocmonedrsitiaondosfhothweiinrgvtehheimclet’hsevitala cadrownil’ltlacshtanfogrevtehre– eusidpse?ciaAllryeifwyeoureally
uids” said Todd Renfro, Service Direc- expected to buy into and sell “To In n- actual condition of their vehicle’s vital don’t change the uids? Are we really
tor for the Buchanan Auto Stores, “so ity and Beyond” as the famous Disney uids” said Todd Renfro, Service Direc- expected to buy into and sell “To In n-
they can make an informed decision on character says?
tor for the Buchanan Auto Stores, “so ity and Beyond” as the famous Disney
the preventative maintenance of their
they can make an informed decision on character says?
cars. We see using uid diagnostics You’re in the automotive Service indus- the preventative maintenance of their
technology to identify the condition of try. Your Dealership relies on your Fixed cars. We see using uid diagnostics You’re in the automotive Service indus-
the uid was not “necessary”.
spite express instruction that replacing
the uid was not “necessary”.
“IT’S A SCIENTIFIC “IT’S A SCIENTIFIC
FACT THAT FLUID FACT THAT FLUID
generate technology to identify the condition of try. Your Dealership relies on your Fixed
speci c uids to be an excellent method Operations Departments to
generate
Ron McElroy is CEO and Founder of Fluid Rx Diagnostics by Mag- Coalition (CalABC), Automotive Oil na-Guard, Inc. He has received two “Best New Product Awards” Previousto“LifetimeFluids”OEM“timeMAP), California Automotive Business RonMcaEnldroyfoiusrC“EPOroadnudctFoInunodveartiofnFAluwidaRrdxsD”ifaogrncorsetaictsinbgyaMndagb-ringing
/ mileage” Service recommendations Previous to “Lifetime Fluids” OEM “time
try chemical and tool manufacturers
Change Association (AOCA) and indus-
Coalition (CalABC), Automotive Oil na-Guatrod,thIneca.uHtoemhoatsivrecmeaivrekedttiwnnoo“vBateivset NnewpPrroducttsAthwaatrhdasv”e revo-
and foulurti“oPnriozedducttheInwnoavyatwioeninAtwegaradtse”affoterrmcrearakteintgelaencdtrobnricnsgiingto OEM
were the industry standard. But replac-Change Association (AOCA) and indus-
to the asuytsotmemostivaenmd athrkaetthinanveovcahtiavnegneedwthperodyuncatms itchsatohf apverfroervmoi-ng uid / mileage” Service recommendations presented white papers and scienti clutionizepdretvheentwataivyewmeaintengarantceeasfetervrmiceasrk.et electronics into OEM
were the industry standard. But replac-
tool manufacturers
systems and that have changed the dynamics of performing uid preventativemaintenanceservices.
20
p. 40 p. 40
try chemical and
presented white papers and scienti c