This is the time of year when quick lube shops find themselves “in between.” Labor Day is about to appear in your rear view mirror, summer vacations are largely over, kids are heading back to school and fall weather is sneaking up on us. As such, managers and operators of quick lube locations find themselves “in between” — in between the summer travel season and the several-months-away winter driving season. So, absent these obvious seasonal conditions, what can quick lube shops promote and how should they promote it? Actually there are two ways you can approach this situation, and

Checking electrical connections and components while oil is draining can reveal problems or potential problems as hot summers put high demands on systems.

As spring turns to summer, owners, operators and technicians at quick lube facilities all know what that means — the first several weeks of warm weather will bring in customers by the droves. The challenge, of course, for the quick lube shop is to maximize throughput while affording each customer the care and attention their vehicle deserves.

This has been an unusually harsh winter across most of the country. Snow, ice, cinders and road salt have all combined to form a toxic environment for brake system components.

The change of seasons typically brings with it an awareness among motorists that it is an opportune time for routine maintenance on their car or SUV. This is prudent so their vehicle is as prepared as possible for the winter driving season. It is in this light that quick lube shops see an uptick in business after a slower summer season when folks are more focused on vacations than auto maintenance. The kids are back to school, the leaves start to fall and motorists start to think about the harsh conditions to come. Certainly, oil and filter changes rank

It’s an old song. Safety sells. It remains true, even today, and is sage advice for motorists, as well as for repair technicians. Some things never change — like the need to check tires for adequate tread depth, wear and proper inflation pressures. Quick lube shops typically have the opportunity to inspect the underside of the car for worn steering and suspension parts, as well as exhaust system integrity. Wiper blades and washer fluid are also important items to check. And, of course, there’s lighting. Shops have always included lighting checks as part of any safety inspection: to be