A survey of motorists by Cosan, the parent company of Comma Oil, has found that 46% of consumers haven’t got a clue what goes on when their car is serviced. The study also found that 85% of consumers are happy to trust their workshop to select parts of the right quality to meet their servicing needs.

In response to these findings Comma has issued some important advice to garages on how they can provide information to their customers that can help them maximise service revenue opportunities. Comma says that highlighting genuine maintenance tasks that need to be undertaken can help boost sales and increase customer confidence. The company believes this is especially important when in it comes to critical fluids in the vehicle.

Of vital importance is explaining to customers the need to use the right oil, at the right level and not to exceed service intervals, with the same principle now applying to coolant. Comma points out that if the wrong oil or coolant grade is being used, or the service interval has been exceeded, the safest thing to do might be a complete flush and refill with the right product. This will help remove harmful contaminants before the fluid change and will also inhibit the build-up of harmful deposits in the future.

As modern cars consume more oil, Comma believes garages also have a good sales and customer care opportunity by offering drivers a correct specification 1 litre oil top up pack to keep in the vehicle as the correct oil is not always available in emergency situations.

Brake fluid is another area where garages can assist motorists. In a 750 vehicle study it was found that around 33% of vehicles had brake fluid boiling points of below 180°C, which is the minimum recommended. This means the fluid is faulty and potentially dangerous. Comma says by testing fluid at each service, garages can boost revenue and enhance safety, while once again increasing consumer confidence. 

Comma also believes that many garages miss out on business by not checking other critical fluids such as gearbox oils, ATF and Power Steering fluid. Even a simple job such as topping up the screenwash with a good quality product will also enhance the level of customer satisfaction while  improving visibility and safety.