New Maintenance Procedure At Work!

[Rob Taggs]

I was going through the maintenance log for one of the pick ups at work and noticed that the automatic transmission was due for a transmission fluid and filter change. Those are routinely done at every 24,000 miles. Well, I wrote up a 350 Form - Request for maintenance form and wrote up the transmission for maintenance. Boss informed me that on the pick ups in the fleet that transmissions will no longer have maintenance done on them as far as filters and fluid change until the fluid looks bad and smells burnt!

I asked why the sudden and stupid change to the maintenance procedure? Boss said this came down from the Head Mechanic. How dumb can you be? I answered back that if a transmission goes out on me due to this maintenance change that it better not fall on me, it better be the responsiblity of the head mechanic.

You have to understand that the Head Mechanic is not a so called qualified mechanic - He holds no certifications that I know of. I feel he is instituting his own warped practices of maintenance and not following guidelines. One belief that this mechanic follows on his own personal vehicles when it comes to oil changes is to not change the oil at all! He just changes the oil filter every so often and then tops off the oil! Says he has done this all his life. Hey, that may be o.k. for his vehicles but, when I'm not taking responsibility for something that goes wrong on a State vehicle that I operating when proper maintenance was not performed.

I have just had it with this guy. I'm going to email my higher ups and see if he is going by new practices or he is just using his own fouled up logic on the job.

 

[Tosh]

You're right, but you may have a hard time recommending more frequent service than the owner's manual suggests. Keep your nose clean, and don't offend the higher-ups, no matter how righteous (or clueless) they are. Study again what your obligations are for maintaining a vehicle you drive. I'm guessing you are responsible for at least servicing according to OM.

 

[Shannow]

that guy sounds like our CEO.

Try to get the direction in writing, and then follow it.

 

[ekpolk]

Yep, all you can do is cover your own "six." If all else fails, write down a, "just want to make sure I understand the new required procedure before I follow it" memo. Present it in whatever format to those who matter, first perhaps the head mech who seems to know it all. Of course, save yourself a couple copies in different places, with documentation that you actually sent it to those who matter. Then you can go back to work confident that if (when?) the poop hits the prop, they can't come back and say that it was your fault. Be happy. . .

 

[tom slick]

I would document it according to whatever regs govern it. let those above you make the call and sign off on the skipped maintenance.

 

[blupupher]

Yea, the guy probably says "well, we have not had any problems with the transmissions so why do we need to change the fluid and filters?".
Just makes you shake your head sometimes.

 

[TooManyWheels]

I wonder what Mr. Mechanic thinks is the cause of the burned smell? I suppose he feeels that a partially ruined trans is better than a fully ruined one. In my scheme that is like being slightly pregnant.

 

[brian fix]

This guy is not good,,,probaly uses cheap bid on lubricants as well,,,this is why we pay higher taxs on failures etc,,,,what a idiot,,,if he worked for me,(I work in a large healthcare hospital),,either get it straight ,record, quality lubes,etc,,, or the door ,i know how you are suffering as BITOG and know what is correct,,oh by the way for fun,we use all Mobil 1 products in everything ,vehicle and industrial, and Schaeffers in some other apps, with a strict intervals,,,,,,,,,BL

 

[Matt_S]

Rob, I'd just do what you need to cover your butt and follow the procedure. This will straighten itself out eventually when transmission rebuild costs start to skyrocket and the higher-ups start to take notice.

 

[Kestas]

Rob said this maintenance is for a State vehicle. This means if it breaks down prematurely and needs repair, the money is coming from the Kansas taxpayers. Therefore, anybody living in Kansas has the right to complain about this wasteful practise to the higher-ups, not just Rob. We can't advise Rob to just let it ride, thinking that it doesn't affect him.

 

[labman]

The word may have come down from the top to cut maintenance costs. I doubt there be many extra transmission failures before the election in November.

 

[robbobster]

I once jumped off of a two-story roof and I was not injured.

I therefore recommend that others try it. Not.