It's a MACHINE...

It's a machine!

Certainly, a machine we often take for granted. Nevertheless, it is perhaps one of the most complicated machines we interact with on a daily basis.

It is a truly dynamic 'organism' with its own cardio-vascular system, skeletal structure, neuro-muscular movement and feedback capability, and intelligence - albeit, artificial.

Like fingerprints and snowflakes, no two vehicles are alike. Even if they were, the fact that every driver is unique to the vehicle and driving conditions can vary as much as they do from place to place and driver to driver, makes it impossible to generalize.

Nevertheless, there are at least a few assumptions we can make. First, just about every organism on the planet consumes at least a minimal amount of energy to exist. Energy implies fuel and regardless of how efficient an organism might be it is unlikely if not impossible that it will be 100% efficient. In other words, there will be 'exhaust:' unused or partially consumed 'fuel,' as well as other waste materials and contaminants.

We can also assume that use will ultimately result in both stress and wear. That means there is a need for the organism to repair or replenish itself. It also means that something is likely to wear out or break inevitably. This is as much an irrefutable truth for machines as it is for you and me.

Productive Maintenance for your vehicle is nothing more or less than paying attention to that restorative process: the process of repair and/or restoring the machine to as close to like-new condition as possible.

Everything we do - 'we' being the automotive service professionals you entrust your vehicles to - should be focused on that single purpose.  

If you are concerned that safety is not mentioned above, don't be. If the vehicle was designed properly and manufactured with enough care - and, if it is in as close to like-new condition as it can be maintained - it will be as safe as it was designed to be which hopefully is safe enough!

From that point forward it is a simple matter of 'regular checkups' and caring for  the unforeseen and unavoidable 'illnesses' that are bound to occur.

The regular checkups, if designed properly, seek to ensure roadworthiness through regularly scheduled and structured inspection of critical systems in much the same way your doctor looks into your eyes, checks your weight, height, glands, temperature and blood pressure (and, more depending upon the nature of your visit).

We drain and refill the oil and replace the filter, look at the level and condition of critical fluids and vehicle systems, check brakes, tires and suspension and then road test the vehicle to ensure ‘little problems’ don't have the opportunity to grow into ‘big, ugly problems’ as a result of lack of care or awareness.

The next few posts will be focused on specific systems and their respective maintenance requirements. For now, however, I'd like to finish up with this.

Just like you need to exercise and watch your diet to ensure the benefits of a long and productive life, so too will you need to take care of your vehicles if you want to experience the longest service life delivered at the lowest possible service cost. 

Perhaps more important, it is the only way people who do what I do can be certain we’ve done everything we can to eliminate if not avoid the possibility of being stuck or stranded and the unplanned and unbudgeted expense that generally accompanies finding yourself stuck somewhere.

Until next time, stay well and take care…

The Battle Between Suggested & Required

They say that information is power and I'm not sure it would be prudent to disagree.

The more you know the less likely it is for anyone to take advantage of what you don't know. That's one of the reasons professionals in the repair community work so hard to ensure you understand not only what needs to be done when they are making a service recommendation, but why it's important to do it... and, why doing it now makes sense: not only for them, but for you as well. 

The benefit of "doing it now" when you're talking about any 'for pay' service on your vehicle is fairly obvious from the service facility's point of view. The critical issue is and will always be, does it make any sense to you.

Because the benefit is so obvious to the service provider the question of motivation is almost certain to raise its ugly head. 

Is the guy behind the service counter trying to 'sell' me some superfluous or unnecessary service to round out a 'good' week or is this something I really should consider doing?

Before I answer that question I'd like to reinforce whatever it is you know about automotive service or maintenance with a bit of information - remember, information is power! I hope you will find useful. It is the difference between Suggested and Required and how these two fundamental principles are almost certain to impact you. 

The first element of automotive service or maintenance to consider whenever it's time for you to bring your vehicle in is Required. It's also the easiest to explain. If the service recommendation can be found in the Owner's Manual and its performance is necessary in order to keep the vehicle in warranty - it's Required.

Sure, you can argue that some of the services are superfluous: but, realistically your argument isn't likely to hold up. The vehicle manufacturer wants desperately for you to believe that the purchase and subsequent ownership of that vehicle was among the best and most intelligent decisions you've ever made because they desperately want you to buy another one when this one is 'used up!' They recognize that in order for that to happen you must feel that ownership is cost effective over the life of the vehicle. 

You can translate that into not spending a penny more than you have to in order to keep that vehicle on the road. Consequently,  it is reasonable to assume there is no service called out in the manual - regardless of what that service may be - that is unnecessary or superfluous.

In other words, if it's in the book it's there for a reason.

Things aren't quite so 'Black & White' when it comes to Suggested. These are services that do not appear in the Owner's Manual, but are recommended by the dealership service department or responsible independent service professionals for a number of different reasons, not the least of which is personal experience. There are services that many of us have come to realize can and will both lower overall cost of ownership while extending the service life of the vehicle. 

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, there are times when spending more will actually cost you less in the long run!

Over the next few weeks I'll be talking about some of the Suggested services most commonly recommended: how and why they make sense...

Until then, stay well and take care... And, remember, if there is something specific you'd like ask or a burning automotive service question you'd like answered, let me know. I promise to do my best to get you an answer that makes sense to you.