[EMAIL] OilMedic
24 September 2000
OilMedic Inc. 4322 Anderson Road Orlando, Florida 32812 (407) 658-0512 (407) 482-5691 FAX <www.OilMedic.htm>www.OilMedic.com Press Release Orlando, Florida September 2, 2000 Opening of the OilMedic.com Web Site We are pleased to announce the launch of the OilMedic.com website on September 1, 2000. This website provides an oil testing service aimed at providing the retail customer with an analysis of his or her car's physical condition. No mechanic can provide an assessment of an engine's or automatic transmission's current condition and also provide a prediction of its expected life. With OilMedic's state-of-the-art oil testing and test result assessment capabilities, we can provide the consumer with the answers to such questions as: · If I repair the transmission, will the engine last long enough for that repair to make sense? · The car looks and sounds good, but is the high mileage "really" highway miles? · What condition is my car's engine and transmission really in? · How can I make my car last as long as possible? · Should I keep my car or trade it? By analyzing your engine's oil, we can provide you with a state-of-the-art analysis and provide an unbiased assessment of your vehicle. Frequently asked questions include the following: Q: How does the service work? A: Once you have filled out the customer information, you will receive a customer number. With this number, you can order the bottle(s) required to sample your oil. Once you receive the bottles, follow these easy steps: 1. Fill them with a sample of your vehicle's oil. (Directions and all necessary supplies are included.) 2. Fill out your vehicle information and affix that label to the correct bottle. 3. Place the bottle in the supplied envelope and affix the mailing label. 4. Deposit the envelope at your nearest Post Office. In 2-3 days, the sample will be received at our laboratory. When the sample is received, you will be notified by e-mail that the sample was received and what specific analyses were requested. If there are any errors on our end, they may be corrected at that time. Within 48 hours of the receipt of your sample, the results of your tests are e-mailed to you at the email address provided in your customer information. Q: What is the cost of the service? A: The cost of the service is as follows: Basic Analysis $35.00 Extended Analysis $55.00 Premium Analysis $85.00 Details of the specific tests included in these analyses are detailed on our website at www.OilMedic.com. Q: I am buying a car with 50,000 or more miles on the odometer. I would like to make sure that the car is in good shape. I have had it inspected by a local mechanic and/or inspection service. Can I do more? A: When purchasing any used vehicle, it is impossible to visually determine the degree of care that the former owner paid to the automobile. More and more often, vehicles on the used car lot are lease expirations, car rental company returns or other such varieties of automobiles. The used car dealers then purchase these vehicles at auctions or via other agreements. Unfortunately, there is no way that the dealer can determine the quality of care that the vehicle has been given. Although the rental car companies have an excellent history of maintaining their vehicles, they cannot verify the care and patience that previous owners have given to the vehicle. Even if a private owner offers the vehicle for sale, historically one of the most positive means of purchasing a used vehicle, you still cannot be sure. By sampling the engine and transmission oils of the vehicle, OilMedic can at least tell you the condition of the engine and automatic transmission. We always recommend the Basic level of analysis, since we assume that the vehicle at least appears to be a good purchase. But, what if the price is too low? What if you have some other concerns? In the past, and most often now, we would recommend that you find another vehicle. But, what if that car is exactly what you wanted? What if the price is too low to pass up? Again, our Basic analysis will give you most of the answers that you need to make your decision. Q: What happens if the OilMedic Basic analysis is not conclusive and I still have questions? A: We have found that over 95% of our test results provide clear and concise conclusions. However, on occasion, the results of the Basic Analysis are not conclusive. This can occur with an automobile for many reasons, too numerous to discuss here. OilMedic retains your sample for at least two weeks after your analysis is reported. If you need additional tests conducted on the samples, we can provide either an extended or premium analysis of your sample for the difference in price between the levels of analysis. Q: How can I tell if the results are not conclusive? A: The results of the Basic analysis are just what we named it -- basic. They provide an excellent level of information for many of the engines and transmissions that are out on the street. But there are times that the basic set of tests are not conclusive, or more likely, conflict with the visual appearance of the automobile. You can tell that the results are inconclusive if the test report indicates: 1. That the results of the tests are not within the generally accepted norms for your engine or transmission 2. That the test results appear to conflict with the known or assumed condition of the vehicle. Unfortunately, there are many engines and/or transmissions that operate well while having oil components that are outside of the norms. This can be compared to patients whose blood test results report that they are dead. This happens in oil testing also. Then, what do you do? 1. Have either the Extended or Premium analyses conducted on the sample(s). 2. E-mail us for additional information relative to your test results. We will get back to you within 24 hours. 3. Email OilMD@OilMedic.com Q: I do not know how to obtain a sample of my oil(s). Can you help? A: Directions are included in with the sample kit that you receive. However, you can always click on the sampling directions button on our website and it will show you step by step how to collect that sample. Alternatively, you can ask a friend or have your repair shop, dealership or quick-change oil center obtain the sample(s). Q: What is the correct procedure for obtaining the sample? 1. Start up the engine and bring the engine to normal operating temperature. You can tell that it is at the correct temperature when the water coolant gauge quits rising. If you do not have a coolant gauge, then 5 minutes of running the engine is usually sufficient. 2. Turn off the engine. 3. Remove the dipstick from either the engine or automatic transmission. 4. Insert the supplied clear tubing into the dipstick port until it appears that the tubing is well within the engine. 5. Attach either the pump or syringe to the tubing. 6. Begin to draw suction on the tube by either operating the pump or withdrawing the syringe plunger. 7. If no oil appears, try again. If you are using the syringe, this will require disconnecting the tubing, replacing the plunger, reconnecting the tubing and withdrawing the plunger. 8. If no oil is being drawn, slide the tubing further into the engine or transmission. 9. With the pump, the oil is drawn directly into the supplied bottle. All you have to do is keep operating the pump until the bottle is relatively full. 10. The syringe only collects 2 ounces of sample. So, you have to fill one syringe, disconnect it from the tubing and empty that into the bottle, and then reconnect the syringe and collect a second sample. 11. If you are concerned with being around the engine while it is operating, you can accomplish the sampling after the engine has warmed up but then turn off the engine. Just make sure that you try to collect the sample as quickly as possible after the engine is turned off. 12. After you have filled the appropriate bottles; fill out the bottle label. 13. Place the bottle(s) in the envelope provided. 14. Drop the envelope at the nearest Post Office. 15. You can either dispose of the syringe and tubing or clean them with a water and dishwashing detergent mixture, just as if you were washing dishes. Just a few syringes and both should be clean for your next use. Q: You are very clear on how to sample the engine and automatic transmission oils, but how do you sample the All Wheel Drive (AWD) transfer case? A: Unfortunately, the transfer case does not have a dipstick. A mechanic must collect samples from the AWD transfer case. Q: This may sound stupid, but how do I open my hood? Where are the dipsticks in my car? A: This is not such a stupid question, since I just recently learned how to open the hood of my car and I still cannot find the dipstick on my mother's car. This information is located in your car's owner's manual. Many automobiles have a hood release inside your vehicle, but there is still a hood release under the hood that must be disengaged to actually open the hood. Once you open the hood, be careful! Earlier vintage cars had hood springs that kept the hood open. No more! When you open the hood, you must find the support that keeps the hood open. This support must be properly secured prior to working under the hood. Directions to do this are also included in your owner's manual. Q: Can I get the analyses done faster? I am purchasing a vehicle and the owner/dealer does not want to wait! You can Overnight Mail the sample to our laboratory using the same information on the label provided. This is an additional cost that you will incur directly. Again, the test data will be e-mailed to you within 48 hours of the sample's receipt. Want to know more? Point your browser to www.OilMedic.com. Not on the web? Call, mail or fax us at: OilMedic 4322 Anderson Road Orlando, Florida 32812 407-306-0666 407-484-5663 FAX Sincerely, Michael Paul Bahor