Many urban myths surround the automotive repair industry, ranging from repair costs to whether a specific fluid needs changing.
In today’s world, repair costs, like everything else, have increased exponentially. Labor costs, rent expense, employee health insurance, and other aspects of the benefits packages which make a business competitively attractive to potential candidates all affect the total price of a repair. Profit margins, as a percentage, for healthy business operations haven’t changed in 25 years. Any business must maintain some type of profit margin to stay operational. A hospital, restaurant, or an automotive repair business are no different.
Certain fluid maintenance tasks must be conducted to maintain the health of any automobile system. Brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and gear oils are all subject to moisture contamination due to condensation. These hydraulic fluids are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb surrounding water. This must happen to protect the internal steel or other metal components against the effects of water which causes rust or corrosion.
The only reason an automotive manufacturing company would suggest that a certain fluid is a “lifetime” fluid is to keep the average annual repair cost listed on the Monroney label or window sticker. This price of annual repair costs is a competitive aspect of the new car industry and plays a huge part in how car companies market to the consumer.
BUYER BEWARE!
