A Grease Monkey franchisee in Illinois is rolling out electric vehicle services across his four stores in the state, as shared with NOLN in a press release.
Phil Scatena, owner of four Grease Monkey locations in Illinois, has expanded his team’s services to include routine maintenance for Tesla and other electric vehicles. His store in Lisle, Illinois, is the first to offer EV maintenance, with the other three locations to follow soon.
While EVs require less maintenance than gas cars, they still have routine maintenance needs that Scatena will be offering at his stores. The business has cited Tesla’s recommendations, which include checking brake fluid every four years, servicing the A/C desiccant bag at the same interval, and replacing the cabin air filter every two years.
Additionally, the stores plan to focus on the additional wear that EV tires undergo with tire rotations every 6,000 miles, as well as annually lubricating brake calipers—especially in regions which use road salt.
As part of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, routine maintenance can be performed by any qualified shop without drivers having to worry about losing their warranty, as long as it's done to manufacturer standards. Scatena and his team have invested in manufacturer-level repair manuals, hands-on training, and specialized tools to properly service EVs.
“Other than the dealership, EV owners don’t always know where to go for service, because most quick lubes and even many traditional repair shops don’t touch electric vehicles,” said Scatena. “Shops that actually service EVs are few and far between, and we’re proud to be among the first in the area leading the way. We’re currently seeing 3 to 4 EVs a month at our Lisle, Illinois location, but with more advertising and outreach, we plan to double that. It’s just a matter of building trust and showing EV drivers that they have a reliable, convenient alternative to the dealership.”
