Oftentimes, the difference between winning or losing and succeeding or failing is in the details. If you apply this principle to your shop, you’ll find that you won’t have to search far for ways to grow your business. Take preventive vehicle maintenance, for example. Every vehicle that enters your bays represents an opportunity to better serve your customers with thorough vehicle inspections and recommendations for necessary component replacement. The degree of conviction by which you promote and provide regular vehicle maintenance, can mean the difference between lifetime customers and occasional customers. If you’re not actively involved in this service venue, what are you waiting for? Here are some details that should make you, and your customers, preventive maintenance believers:

• Drivers lament paying today’s average of $2.00 per gallon of gas, yet are likely unaware that fuel economy goes out the window with loose gas caps, underinflated tires, faulty thermostats, worn spark plugs, malfunctioning engine controls, dirty oil, a slipping automatic transmission and poor wheel alignment. According to the Car Care Council, these poor vehicle conditions contribute to millions of dollars in wasted fuel each day – or a mile or two per gallon on cars that normally deliver 20 miles per gallon.
• Consumers are slow to realize that routine maintenance can promote fuel economy, vehicle longevity, safety, increased vehicle performance and more. A recent survey by the Car Care Council found that 54% of vehicles whose owners participated in voluntary vehicle inspections had low tire pressure; 38% has low or dirty engine oil; 28% had inadequate cooling protection; 19% needed new belts; 16% had dirty air filters; and 10% had low or contaminated brake fluid.
• Seasonal services can help promote preventive maintenance year-round. Most of your customers probably don’t realize that they can prolong the life of critical vehicle systems by having these key areas checked regularly: Engine performance; battery and electrical system; oil and filter; cooling system; tires; and the exhaust system.
• Your customers are also probably unaware that six fluids require periodic replenishment or replacement in most vehicles: Engine oil; transmission fluid; antifreeze/coolant; windshield washer solvent; fuel; and brake fluid (the most often neglected).

These facts should underscore the need for customer education on preventive maintenance. As providers of professional vehicle repairs, extend your expertise and wave the preventive maintenance banner. Paying attention to the details of preventive maintenance pays dividends. Why not let your shop reap the rewards?