PT Cruises to Fewer Oil Changes

Newport Beach, CA, May 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The mechanics at Phil’s Pro Auto in Garden City, Colo., know that changing your oil “every 3,000 miles” is an out-of-date rule of thumb. Technological advancements in engine design and motor oil composition have changed the rules. Most new cars can extend oil changes to 5,000 or even 7,500 miles without harming the car or voiding the warranty. But even those are averages. The correct time to change the oil is when your oil tells you it’s time … and it’s different for every car or truck.

Owner Phil White has made customer satisfaction the main priority at Phil’s Pro Auto for more than 25 years. The shop’s team of mechanics is knowledgeable and friendly and is one reason why the shop has so many devoted, repeat customers. The shop’s courtesy car – a 2005 PT Cruiser – is an added perk for customers and, with its bright paint job, a source of publicity for the shop. It is important to Phil to keep the PT Cruiser running smoothly, so that he and his mechanics can focus their time and attention on their customers.

In 2007 Phil discovered IntelliStick, an innovative new “intelligent dipstick” that monitors the PT Cruiser’s true oil condition. Phil now saves time and money by only changing the oil when it needs to be done.

Gerry Suppes, the lead mechanic at Phil’s, said that IntelliStick is a piece of cake … easy to install and use. The PT Cruiser’s data is transmitted to a computer via a wireless Bluetooth® connection, where the IntelliStick software creates graphs showing the good additives being used and harmful oxidation.

The data from the IntelliStick onboard Phil’s PT Cruiser creates a perfect “Kauffman Curve,” IntelliStick’s measurement of oil life. The oil uses the additives and slowly starts to oxidize. They watch the curve to make sure that the oil’s viscosity doesn’t rise, which would indicate that the engine was being harmed.

The mechanics at Phil’s originally changed the oil on the Cruiser every 3,000 miles. They extended the range to 3,500 miles, then 4,200 and now to 4,600 miles between oil changes. In the third interval they saw their Kauffman Curve begin to level off, indicating a rise in viscosity. This let them know that they had reached the point where they needed to change the oil to avoid engine damage.

Phil now has the best value from his oil while ensuring that the engine does not incur any damage beyond the typical polishing wear caused by partly oxidized oil. Racers and big rigs often prefer to change the oil earlier on Kauffman curve. IntelliStick allows drivers to determine what’s best for their vehicle’s use and engine oil.

In the third oil change, Phil’s mechanics supplemented the oil with BG MOA additives. This accounts for the steep bump in the Kauffman Curve. The IntelliStick shows that with the extra additives the oil takes much longer to start to oxidize, which means the additives are providing better protection for the PT Cruiser’s engine.

Now Phil is considering switching to a different brand of oil, possibly a synthetic, and he knows that IntelliStick will help him compare brands and results.

Using the IntelliStick provides the mechanics at Phil’s Pro Auto with the information they need to make the smart condition-based maintenance decisions that keep the shop’s PT Cruiser up and running, while still focusing on the most important thing – their customers.

IntelliStick purchase has a fast pay-back with a limited-time Gas Rebate offer. Extended payment plan also available through PayPal. See www.intellistick.com for details.

For in-depth product information, high-resolution images or access to IntelliStick representatives, please call Sam Jones at (949) 812-5107, or email customerservice@intellistick.com. [www.intellistick.com]

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