Harry Hartkorn of LIQUI MOLY explains how a standard service can be turned into a lucrative transaction.
An oil change is a standard service provided by garages: interchangeable and often not particularly lucrative. Because it is such a routine operation, it is easy to overlook the possibilities for additional sales that it offers on a day-to-day basis. After all, the oil change not only generates regular trade but it offers upselling opportunities, too. The more it is adapted to customer needs, the more successful it can be.
Liqui Moly additives offer a wide range of options for additional trade with a high profit margin. Harry Hartkorn, head of application technology at Liqui Moly, understands how a variety of service packages can be put together, individually tailoring them to the vehicle, and the wishes and budget of the customer.
One example of this is a performance oil change as it not only generates additional sales but also upgrades the oil change from a standard, replaceable service to a premium service that sets the garage apart from the competition. It is made up of three components: cleaning the oil circuit, the actual oil change and extra wear protection. Implementation is simple and takes no longer than a normal oil change.
Cleaning the oil circuit
The oil circuit is cleaned with Pro-Line Engine Flush by Liqui Moly. The agent is added to the old oil before the oil change and the engine is left to idle for 10-15 minutes.
During this time, the active ingredients dissolve deposits and dirt, which are then drained along with the old oil allowing the fresh oil enters a clean engine and can then achieve maximum performance.
The oil change
Nowadays, it is important to use the right oil when carrying out an oil change. The result might be that “only” the exhaust gas aftertreatment system is damaged – or the entire engine may be destroyed. A look at the company’s oil guide helps ensure no mistakes are made here.
Liqui Moly provides the oil cabinet to enable the different types of oil to be stored safely and cleanly. It can hold two 60-litre drums and eight 20-litre canisters. The latter are stored horizontally in the cabinet so that the required quantity can be dispensed conveniently. If there is any spill, this is caught by the integrated spill pan and can also be locked to prevent oil from being removed.
Extra protection
Once the oil has been changed it is time for the third part of the performance oil change, the extra wear protection. For this, a can of Liqui Moly Cera Tec is added to the fresh motor oil. Cera Tec is a wear-and-tear protection additive that provides dual protection for the engine. On the one hand, chemically through so-called friction modifiers, it smooths the smallest irregularities of the metal surfaces, and on the other hand, tiny ceramic particles, which are placed on the metal, reduce the direct contact of metal on metal. Both reduce friction so that the engine can deliver more power to the road. Less friction also means less wear, and less wear reduces the need for repairs and increases the service life of the engine.
To round off this performance oil Change, the garage can also offer its customers additives for their own use, for example the injection cleaner. This is a cleaning additive for the injection system.
To finish off, Harry offers one last tip: “It’s crucial that any additional services should make sense from the technical point of view, be explained to the customer and also fit their budget, the better the garage is able to do this, the more turnover it will generate and the more satisfied its customers will be.”
