Parts, Tools & Tips New products, fitting tips & technical advice to ease fault-finding and installation
OIL CHECK CHALLENGE Castrol is launching an ‘Oil Check Challenge’ marketing campaign this autumn, encouraging car owners to take their vehicle to a workshop if they are unsure of how to assess the oil level of their car. The company has created a free marketing pack for workshops to help promote the campaign and to encourage customers and prospects to bring their car in for a check. The marketing kit includes email templates, digital advertising banners for use on a workshop’s website and Facebook page; posters for a reception area, leaflets that can be used at point of sale or mailed out and oil check reminder stickers for customer cars. Workshops can request the free marketing pack by visiting www.castrol.co.uk/occsignup.
PARTS, TOOLS & TIPS
Castrol commissioned nationwide research to explore consumer awareness of the need for regular oil level checks. Significantly, 32% of car owners say they would prefer a mechanic to check the oil level because they believe they would do a more effective job. Of those who don’t typically check the oil level themselves, 49% said they have never checked the oil level of their car’s engine (for their current car or any previous car), and 19% don’t know how to check the oil level of their current vehicle. Almost a third (32%) of all respondents say they have never topped up the engine oil for their current car or any previous car.
62
“The Oil Check Challenge provides a great opportunity for workshops to build positive awareness in their local communities, attract more consumers and increase revenue,” comments Shailendra Gupte, Marketing Director EMEA, at Castrol. “And it’s not just about finding new customers. The Challenge also helps workshops reconnect with lapsed customers and create a platform to sell top-up lubricants packs and identify additional service, maintenance and repair work.”
EQUIPMENT AUDITS Workshops are being encouraged to audit their existing emissions testing equipment as post-COVID MOT checks surge this autumn in order to prevent breakdowns and disruption. “We would advise all facility owners and operators that now is the time to calibrate your equipment and carry out essential maintenance, and nowhere is this more apparent than with emission testers”, says Roy Prosser, Product Manager at Continental sister brand Crypton. According to Roy, age and colder weather are the most common factors behind emission tester breakdowns, so replacing any impaired tools ahead of winter is vital. With new equipment now required by law to be connected to the Government’s cloud-based MOT Testing Service (MTS), garages and workshops opting for new models can also carry out tests quickly and more efficiently. “Because new equipment such as our own emissions analyser is linked to the MTS, possibility of human error through manual entry is eliminated, resulting in faster, more accurate checks and data,” Roy concludes. “With demand for vehicle tests expected to skyrocket, even a small time saving per test could have a big impact if replicated over the coming months, especially if these analysers also use vehicle communication interface units.” www.cryptontechnology.com/garage-equipment
WIN A TICKET TO AUTOTECH'S BIG WEEKEND! We have two one-day tickets to give away, simply email your preference (Friday or Saturday) to Nicola@ autotechnician.co.uk by Friday 22nd October to be in with a chance of winning a fantastic day out. Good luck! See page 8 for further information.
