Well I haven’t seen a snowflake in the GTA since the last one earlier this month. That doesn’t mean its a good idea to put off getting your car ready for winter. I was in Edmonton 2 weeks ago and they had plenty to share. One of the questions I have been asked lately is, “what kind of oil is right for my car?” Seems like a simple question, but when you watch TV the answer seems complicated. The only real answer is in your owners manual, you know that book buried in the glove compartment underneath receipts, napkins and parking tickets, it should be like brand new because no one ever reads them. However inside that book is a ton of good information that will actually save you money, look up the maintenance schedule and compare that to what you are being told you need wherever you are getting your car serviced. If they don’t match, its a good idea to ask why. As far as oil quality goes, conventional motor oil is great for you folks that get it changed on a regular basis, for the rest of us absent minded folks, think about moving up to synthetic oil. That way if you are a little late getting it done, well at least the product can handle it.

As always, the right people will give you the right advice. However it wouldn’t hurt to give that manual a minute or two in the daylight once in awhile.

Dave Lush

President and CEO

Prime CarCare Group (Speedy Auto and Minute Muffler)

Starting his career on the shop floor as a Class A Mechanic and moving up through the ranks of a number of major auto service providers such as Canadian Tire, Ford and Midas gives Dave a unique insight into the auto service world in North America.

I swear I saw one today, standing outside one of our Speedy stores there it was….a snowflake!

So that means it’s time to think about your tires and the pending winter weather. The problem most people face is they really don’t know enough about tires to make an informed decision. Early in my career, I worked for a major tire company and two things have stuck with me for all these years.

Number 1, make sure you have the right tire for the application In other words, where you drive and how you drive matters. Ensure the tire you purchase suits your needs.

Number 2, every tire design is a compromise. Winter tires are great in the winter but perform terribly on dry roads. Performance tires are outstanding in warm dry conditions and can be downright dangerous in winter conditions.

Hence why all season tires were created. They were created to be used in all sorts of conditions. Read between the lines here, all season tires are mediocre in all conditions. They aren’t winter tires and they aren’t performance tires. In fairness they still might be right for you.

So before the snow flies, go online and do some research or find someone you can trust and get some good advice. If you are going to be driving in snow, buy some winter tires and change your tires each spring and fall. Buy 4 and not just 2. There are all sorts of ways to save money on car repairs and maintenance, however your tires are not the place to cut corners.

Be careful about big tire sales and dare I say big box stores. Just because a tire is on sale doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you.  Do your homework and when you do discuss your tire needs; be honest about your driving habits. Get the right tire and you will notice the difference. So here’s my shameless plug, our stores have access to all the major brands and tires types so they can help you with your decision.

My final point; ok, maybe more of a question. Have you ever noticed that during the worst snow storms the vehicles in the ditches are almost always SUV’s? Just because you have enough traction with your four wheel drive to go fast, doesn’t mean you can stop or turn. Listen to what the police always say, “Stay off the roads when the weather turns bad”. Travel safe everyone.

Dave Lush

President and CEO

Prime CarCare Group (Speedy Auto and Minute Muffler)

Starting his career on the shop floor as a Class A Mechanic and moving up through the ranks of a number of major auto service providers such as Canadian Tire, Ford and Midas gives Dave a unique insight into the auto service world in North America.

There seems to be an advertising war in oil change land.

The Toyota Dealers of Ontario are running a radio campaign which asks the question “is a nine minute oil change a good thing?” A reasonable question. The campaign is in obvious response to the recent Mr Lube tv and radio campaigns that take a cleverly nasty shot at Toyota BIG DEALERSHIP service. The Mr. Lube TV spots appear to have been shot inside a Toyota Dealership. That, I figure, is what got Toyota all riled up. The Mr. Lube commercials and (radio Ads) certainly highlight many people’s perception of big dealerships.

Personally I enjoy watching companies duke it out through the media. However, as a consumer, how do you know who is right? What’s best for you? The simple answer is: it depends. Your driving habits, the age of your vehicle and the amount you drive all factor into what’s right for you. For example, if you own a 2 year old vehicle and have a 30 to 45 minute commute to work each day, it is in your best interest to stay on top of the maintenance schedule. However, it is now late August and you just drove your child back to University racking up the miles in a short period of time. I say take it to a Quick Lube and get the oil changed. Better safe than sorry. On the other hand, if it takes you 6 months to run up 5000 kilometers, you might be better off taking it to a full service facility and have someone qualified give it a good look over.

Here is the advice I give my friends and family: if your car is 1 year old or less, stick with the dealer. No ifs, ands or buts. After the first year though, all bets are off. You might then consider finding an alternative full service location, like, ummm, maybe Speedy for example (this will be my only plug).  For the next 2 to 3 years if you are a busy commuter, alternate between your trusted full service facility and a quick lube location if convenience is a necessity. You absolutely need to get your tires rotated and get a maintenance inspection each time you go to your full service facility. The tire rotation and inspection will save you money in the long run.  Once your vehicle is 4 years old, find someone at a full service facility (ok, maybe one more plug for Speedy here) that you trust and work with them to maintain, repair and/or replace only what is required. A good relationship will not only give you peace of mind but will save you money over time. Whether that relationship is with your car dealer or with an independent full service facility is up to you.

And no matter how good the ads are for the Lube shop, and I like those ads, a Lube shop just won’t fit the bill.

Dave Lush

President and CEO

Prime CarCare Group (Speedy Auto and Minute Muffler)

Starting his career on the shop floor as a Class A Mechanic and moving up through the ranks of a number of major auto service providers such as Canadian Tire, Ford and Midas gives Dave a unique insight into the auto service world in North America.