Gas Prices are Rising. Are Your Customers’ Cars Ready?

A record number of travelers are about to hit the road with their families as Memorial Day comes closer…and it happens without fail.

As a long weekend approaches, the prices at the pumps creep higher and higher. Even though gas prices are already on the rise nationwide, you’ll see them spike surrounding precious long weekends.

There’s not much you can do to combat rising gas prices. You can’t barter for a lower price per gallon, after all. But there’s something you can do for your dealership’s service customers to help them make the most out of every drop of fuel.

Of course, there’s a maintenance schedule to follow, mostly by oil life monitoring systems in today’s vehicles. But there are plenty of customers who prefer to work from tried-and-true mileage-based maintenance, and you can oblige guilt-free.

These items are checked during every multipoint inspection, but you can emphasize their importance to getting the best fuel mileage.

Check their Tire Pressure

Just a 5PSI difference in tire pressure can result in a 2 percent drop in fuel efficiency. It’s not enough to set off the TPMS light either! Check and adjust tires to the optimal pressure every time, even if the TPMS light isn’t on. Then, tell your customers that it will help with their fuel efficiency!

Change the Air Filter

You know how important a clean air filter is to an engine’s efficiency, but do your customers? Use it as a tool to replace dirty air filters on those pre-trip inspections. And as always, keep the old air filter to show your customers why it needed to be changed.

Upgrade to Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil reduces friction in the engine, which we know means improved fuel consumption. For the fuel-conscious driver, mentioning the benefits of a synthetic oil upgrade for an oil change can yield a boost in parts sales. In addition, most people will stick with synthetic oil services for the life of their car once they start.

Fix Check Engine Lights

The biggest fuel-waster is the Check Engine light, and your customer needs to know! If a customer wants to ignore the repair, for now, ask, “Are you sure? When the Check Engine Light is on, your car is likely using significantly more fuel. Fixing it now can save you in the long run.” Who can argue with that logic?

Your pre-long weekend sales increase AND your customers will drive more efficient, more reliable vehicles. That’s a WIN-WIN.