For the last six months, Morris Lubricants has been running training days to educate technicians about the importance of using the correct oil. With a vast knowledge covering 149 years of the lubricant industry, the company wants to pass on as much information to help garages choose the right oil for their customers’ vehicles.
Automotive Product Manager Adrian Hill, of Ask Ade fame, has developed a selection of training modules to help customers understand specific features of lubricants and lubrication, with great feedback coming from those that have attended the courses.
When asked about the training seminars and why he feels it is so important to pass on his years of experience to those in repair trade, Adrian had the following to say.
PMM: Why do you feel training is beneficial to technicians?
AH: One of the end goals of this training is to provide distributors and garages enough useful information to enable them to make an informed decision when it comes to selecting the correct grade of oil for the job. Even more importantly, however, is being able to explain what can happen if an incorrect lubricant is used. The automotive lubricant world is filled with hieroglyphics, but a good basic understanding of what it all means and why there are differences can make the technician more confident.
PMM: What do you enjoy about the training?
AH: For me the enjoyable part of the training is about passing on information that I’ve lived with and sorted out in my head over the last 30 years, so that others don’t have to go through the ‘pain’ of all that. Most of our attendees are excellent technicians, and helping them see how the world of mechanical systems and lubricants fit together is very satisfying. After all, it’s not rocket science, but for most people it has never been correctly explained. There is a simple logic to it once you know how.
PMM: How do you strike a balance between supplying technical information and not making it too complicated?
AH: I think it’s human nature to wax lyrical about your chosen field of expertise, but I’ve never wanted lubricant technology to appear as a foreign language to our customers. If our customers can see the structure behind it and are able to make a ‘real world’ connection, then my job is done. I’m no different when I’m enquiring about subjects outside of my comfort zone. A simplified and practical introduction usually whets my appetite and then I want to know more.
