Welcome to

Pete's Garage

 

I am part of the management team of a Jiffy Lube store in Tampa, Florida. On this page you find some answers to some often asked questions I get while at work and some tips and explanations for keeping your car in top shape.

 

I have loved cars since I was a kid and I care about keeping them running clean and safe. As I got older and bought my share of cars I realized just how much of an investment cars are for people. When I went to work for Jiffy Lube I found the perfect place for me to help people protect their investments by keeping their cars in good running condition.

First lets start with some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Q: Doesn't Jiffy Lube just do oil changes?

A: Not at all. Jiffy Lube Technicians are trained in many forms of preventive maintenance for your car. Besides our Signature Service, we also change fluids in automatic and manual transmissions, differentials and transfer cases. We replace serpentine belts (what used to be "fan" belts now operate several things in your engine!), drain and fill coolant systems (radiators), and offer a fuel injector cleaning service. In addition, we stock air filters, PCV valves, wiper blades, headlights, brake lights, and turn signal lights for most cars.

Q: How often should I change my oil?

A: The manufacturers of 95% of all cars recommend to change the oil and oil filter every 3000 miles. That's bare minimum. Included in our Signature Service is your choice of several kinds of oil, the oil filter, and we check the levels of your transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, washer fluid, battery water, clutch fluid and top them off. We will also alert you to the level of your brake fluid and condition of your air filter, belts, and PCV valve. As an extra courtesy, we also vacuum the inside of your car, wash the windshield, set your tires at the recommended air pressure and give you a printout of the manufacturer's recommendations for preventive maintenance at certain mileage limits.

Q: What will happen if I go over the 3000 miles?

A: If you are using regular oil, it will begin to break down and will not provide the protection that your engine needs to run efficiently.

 

Q: What other kind of oil is there than "regular oil?"

A: New, synthetic oils offer more protection than regular oil. It creates less "sludge" in your engine, allowing you to go longer between oil changes. Even with synthetic oils, most manufacturers recommend you change your oil every 3,000 miles, but it is not a disaster if you go longer, since you have extra protection.

 

Jiffy Lube is proud to offer both Quaker State and Pennzoil synthetic oils as well as a specialized synthetic blend for 4 X 4's.

 

Q: How often must I change the AIR filter? Why?

A: The manufacturers recommend that you change your air filter every 10 to 12,000 miles. Your engine is made to run on a mixture of oxygen and gasoline. When the air filter gets dirty, the engine will use more gas than it should to run. Your gas mileage will go down and the engine emissions will go up.

 

Q: What is a PCV valve and why should I change it?

A: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. This is a big fancy term meaning a valve that sends excess gas fumes back into the engine to be burned rather than released into the air. The PCV valve works in many ways like the air filter and should be changed every 15,000 miles.

 

Here are two of the best tips that I can give you.

First:

I'm sure that all of us at one time or another has heard someone boast that their car has over 200,000 miles on it. "How did they do that?" we ask. Those people will all say that they take good care of their car and they change the oil on schedule like clockwork. It sounds too simple to be true, right? Wrong. Taking good care of a well-built car is as simple as using good gas and keeping the engine serviced regularly.

Second:

Here's a coupon for you to use at my store. It's good at any store listed below.

 

Part of my job is to keep you aware and informed about your car and to help insure that your daily commute is a safe one. I'll answer any or all of your questions concerning preventative maintenance for your investment.

My name is Pete and I'm your local Jiffy Lube guy. Come and see me at: