By Fat Quarter Cafe August 23, 2013
I unknowingly pumped contaminated flex fuel in my car on 8/13/13 at the HEB Plus in Kyle that was delivered by and from Mission Petroleum. Today is 8/23/13 and while Mission has taken responsibility they have not offered to rent me a car and are using (in my opinion) delay tactics to resolve this issue. Beware of Mission Petroleum products. ...read more
By valden April 08, 2013
Would have rated Alliance less than 1 star if possible. We provided road side service to Alliance Transport, and made the mistake of believing Alliance were reputable and let our service driver come back to the shop ...read more
By rdhambeck December 03, 2012
Thanks guys. ...read more
Consumer ReportsTouts Maintenance According to a survey of almost 350,000 vehicle owners conducted by Consumer Reports last year, people who used independent mechanics were generally more satisfied than those who had their car serviced at a dealership. A car will usually signal that something isn't right long before it has a major failure, and according to a recent report byConsumer Reportsmagazine, that is the time to have it fixed. If early warning signs are ignored, small problems could lead to expensive repairs in the future or even leave drivers stranded on the side of the road. As people are keeping their cars longer, maintenance and repairs are becoming a more pressing concern. Nearly half of the respondents to the 2009 Consumer Reports Car Brand Perceptions Survey reported that they have delayed the purchase of a new vehicle. "Following the recommended maintenance schedule in your vehicle owner's manual is the best way to avert many large problems," said David Champion, senior director,Consumer Reports Auto TestCenter. "But taking immediate action when you hear a noise or feel something wrong can save you thousands of dollars on avoidable repairs." Simply putting off a $30 oil change for 11,000 miles or more can be devastating to a driver's car and wallet, the magazine reported, noting that in some cases sludge buildup can lead to failure of the engine, which can cost as much as $6,000 to replace. Similarly, an oil leak caught early can be an inexpensive fix, but ignoring it can lead to a lack of proper engine lubrication and ultimately engine failure.Timing belt replacementis another routine service that can lead to engine failure. Replacing a car's timing belt on schedule, usually between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, will cost around $600. Monitoring and repairing other leaks, liketransmission fluid, can also save drivers money. Having the transmission rebuilt can cost $3,000 - as much as 10 times more than repairing the initial leak. Other common fixes that can save car owners cash include: •Replacing brake pads($100 to $200). Ignoring squealing brakes can require replacement of thebrake rotors, which can cost four times as much. • Regular tuneups ($300). An engine that is not running properly can overtax thecatalytic converter, causing it to fail. Replacement can cost $900. •Tire rotation(about $20 per rotation every 6,000 miles). Replacing tires costs between $250 and $400. • Repairing windshield cracks (about $60). Over time, chips in the windshield turn into long cracks that require replacement. By repairing a crack, drivers can save over $350. According to a survey of almost 350,000 vehicle owners conducted by Consumer Reports last year, people who used independent mechanics were generally more satisfied than those who had their car serviced at a dealership. ...read more
By The Oil Exchange September 21, 2009
There is little doubt that, barring Congressional or judicial intervention, as many as 2,000 new-car dealerships could close or be forced to close this year, with many hundreds more on the chopping block for 2010. What this means for the fast lube industry is a topic of intense debate among operators and industry experts. "There's a lot of fat to trim from the Big Three dealer networks," said David Kunkel, manager of Marketing&Direct Sales for CITGO Petroleum Corp. and a 30-year veteran of the lubricants and fast lube industries, with stops at Gulf Oil, Jiffy Lube and other companies. Kunkel noted that 881 dealerships ceased operations in 2008, which represented 4.2 percent of the total in operation at the end of 2007. Chrysler recently announced that 789 of its dealers would close as part of its bankruptcy filing, roughly 25 percent of the approximately 3,200 dealerships in operation at the start of 2009. General Motors wants to close 1,675 of its dealerships this year and hundreds more in 2010. Even Ford, in much better financial shape than the bankrupt Chrysler or GM, has seen 700 of its dealerships close through attrition since 2005. . "And with 3,700 dealers remaining, you'll see Ford make more cuts in the future," Kunkel said. Audit firm Grant Thorton LLP estimated last year that 3,800 dealerships would need to close to maintain per-dealer sales at 2008 levels. The only problem with such a presumption is the auto industry may not see 2008 sales levels in the near future, meaning even more dealerships would need to close. Currently, the United States is on track to see less than 10 million new cars and light trucks sold this year, a number that would be a historic drop off. If automakers thought 2008 was bad when they moved 13.2 million vehicles (an 18 percent drop from 2007 sales of 16.1 million vehicles), 2009 could prove to be a killer — and maybe the start of a long-lived trend. "We're seeing a lot of trends affect the auto and service industries," Kunkel said. "Miles driven in 2009 are down even though gas prices are down compared with last year. We could be seeing a permanent correction in what consumers will use their cars for and the amount of travelling they will do by car." The problem hitting the car dealers the hardest — slumping new car sales — is only accentuated by the fact that people are keeping their cars longer. A variety of studies indicate that the average age of the American vehicle fleet is at a record number of years. If that is so, if American consumers do decide to keep their cars longer and the auto industry struggles to maintain annual sales of 10 million units for several years, the long-term prognosis for many dealerships would be bleak indeed. And if thousands more dealerships close on top of the thousands already closed or slated to close, how would that impact the fast lube industry? "It could be perhaps the most dramatic change in consumer automotive service behavior in the history of the automotive industry," Kunkel said, as potentially millions of consumers look for new automotive service providers. But dealerships slated for closure are not likely to simply close up shop. According to a new study, many of the nearly 2,000 new-car dealerships being shut down by GM and Chrysler may try their hand in the independent service market.ByGarrett McKinnonNOLN Staff Writer ...read more
By The Oil Exchange July 16, 2009
Fuel Economy Regulations Tightened President Barack Obama recently announced a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducinggreenhouse gas pollutionfor all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. The new standards, covering model years 2012-2016, and ultimately requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016, are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900million metric tonsingreenhouse gas emissions. This would surpass theCorporate Average Fuel Economy(CAFE) law passed by Congress in 2007 required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020. This policy represents an unprecedented collaboration between theDepartment of Transportation, theEnvironmental Protection Agency, the world's largest auto manufacturers, theUnited Auto Workers, leaders in the environmental community, the State of California and other state governments. The standards will largely mean the countrywide adoption of standards first adopted byCalifornia. The averagepassenger carwill have to achieve a fuel economy rating of 39miles per gallonby 2016, whilelight truckswill need to achieve 30 mpg, or roughly 30 percent morefuel efficiencythan that achieved by the current fleet. Safety advocates oppose the move, as it will likely mean smaller, less powerful cars and trucks that sacrifice weight, and thus passenger safety, in the name of fuel economy. The only 2009 models that meet the proposed 2016 standard are theHonda Insightand Civic hybrids, and theToyota Priushybrid. ...read more
By The Oil Exchange July 01, 2009
It is crucial to make sure that your select the right SUV tires for your vehicle, since SUV's are multi-purpose vehicles. When having to shop for SUV tires for your SUV it can be a little more difficult than a regular car because they need to be able to got through all types of terrain such as ra... ...read more
