Scotland Ash News

Scotlands Ash Garage can revive blocked Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) with the new TerraClean EGR cleaning tool.

The new tool has emerged as a leading service for Scotlands Ash Garage, becoming extremely popular not just in the thorough cleaning of the EGR system, but with restoring air flow to inlet manifolds, improving swirl flap operation and, cleaning DPFs.

The visual inspection of DPFs has been added to MoT test criteria. The DPF works by absorbing harmful diesel particulate matter or soot and then burning these off during its regeneration cycle. For this cycle to complete successfully, the vehicle is required to run for a prolonged period or risk the DPF becoming clogged and ultimately fail. Other reasons for DPF failure include ineffective heater plugs or underlying engine problems.

It seems everywhere I look these days, people are talking about driverless or connected cars.

I’d say the connected car has been here for some time, given the amount of electronics and gadgetry on modern vehicles.

It’s funny, but since the start of the millennium, independent garages like Scotlands Ash have been told that we’ll be locked out of servicing cars because of the complexity of modern vehicles. Well, we haven’t yet – and we won’t be by parts complexity but computers are a different threat altogether.

If in the future, Vehicle Manufacturers are to Apple (closed technology) what the independent aftermarket is to Microsoft (open technology), it should come as no surprise to anyone that the VMs are going to do everything in their power to retain a motorist’s business – and so should we!

The economic recession taught us that consumers still have the power. While new car sales are up, there is a major demand for lower cost, more efficient and ultimately lower spec vehicles. These lower cost vehicles are still mechanical items, subject to wear and tear and require maintenance from a garage.

Which garage? Well the independent garage far outperforms the VM and dealer on location, service, choice and price.
But, the connected car has made me concentrate more on being connected to my customers. All too often a customer of 10 years will buy a new car and then I won’t see him for three years, possibly longer. Am I active enough in highlighting that he has a choice and by law can still come back to a garage of his choice? Probably not, but I’m going to start!

While the connected car represents a threat to the garage trade, it also serves as a reminder to myself and team at Scotlands Ash that we must continue to work hard to keep your business.

Thank you for your continued support of the garage and also myself and family over the past year.

Peter Welch

Scotlands Ash Garage is now offering a new air-conditioning service to motorists.

Modern Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems trap moisture.  This moisture creates a perfect habitat for mould, mildew and bacteria.  Spores from these micro-organisms are blown into the vehicle’s cabin creating a health concern for the occupants.

MiST is a professional in–car air quality system that converts an anti-microbial liquid into a nano-droplet mist and effectively treats the entire HVAC system and cabin surfaces, eliminating mould, mildew and bacteria and restoring the quality of air in a vehicle.

The service is very easy to perform and works in under 20 minutes.

The cost of a MiST Treatment is £25. An air-conditioning regas costs just £50 from Scotlands Ash Garage. All costs plus VAT

The Hon Member of Parliament for Didcot and Wantage, Ed Vaizey, has experienced the benefits of a TerraClean service, having taken his vehicle to the award winning Scotlands Ash Garage in West Hagbourne.

Mr Vaizey, who is also the Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy, visited the business on January 24 as part of a packed schedule that included seeing other businesses and organisations in his constituency.

The TerraClean service was carried out by Scotlands Ash Mechanic Steve Moxon. Steve said: “It was a real privilege to show Mr. Vaizey the work we do here and for him to come to an independent garage like our own was extremely rewarding.”

A TerraClean service provides motorists with a ‘noticeable’ driveway difference and works by removing carbon build-up from a vehicle’s engine. As a result, a TerraClean service can bring about increased MPG (miles per gallon), performance and reduced emissions.”

Scotland Ash Garage Proprietor, Peter Welch, added: “TerraClean is a really useful service for motorists that want to save money on fuel and ensure their vehicle is kinder to the environment by restoring the inside of the engine to as close to its original state as possible. We’ve carried out hundreds of TerraCleans now and are delighted to be playing a key role in contributing to a greener Oxfordshire with fewer vehicle emissions.”

Scotlands Ash Garage provides a FREE courtesy car with every service and for the duration of lengthy repairs, (subject to availability). The garage has continued to grow its fleet of vehicles  and there are now 28 vehicles available, which even includes a seven seater. Please state your preference at the time of booking and the garage will do its best to meet your exact needs.

Didcot based garage business Scotlands Ash Garage is bucking the trend and reporting increased sales across all areas of its business.

The independent garage has seen an increase in new business following its victory as garage of the year at the CAT awards. Under European legislation, car owners are no longer obliged to go their main dealer during the vehicle’s warranty period and the garage is proving that it can service vehicles leaving the warranty intact.

Scotlands Ash Garage has also grown sales of its TerraClean service, the deep engine cleaning service that is advertised across digital and satellite channels.

The upturn in business has seen the garage respond by investing in its business and a new website and enquiry system is being introduced shortly. What’s more the number of potential faults on modern vehicles extends well beyond traditional servicing and repair and Scotlands Ash has continued to invest in the latest vehicle diagnostics and equipment to ensure it offers motorists a cost effective solution to any problem.

Scotlands Ash Garage proprietor, Peter Welch, said: “We’re delighted as a small business to have the confidence of Oxfordshire motorists to effectively service and repair their vehicles. Most importantly, we want to continue to provide motorists with peace of mind and exceptional customer service whenever they visit our garage.”

Scotlands Ash Garage has invested in a new state of the art fuel tank draining machine that uses air pressure to remove the incorrect fuel from your vehicle’s tank without dismantling anything.

This also means that it is 100% safe as there is no power to it, therefore no risk of sparks and fires.

We also offer a recovery service so if you realise that you have put the wrong fuel into your car – and you’re still at the pumps – don’t start the vehicle, just give us a call on Tel: 01235 850 707.

Didcot based garage business Scotlands Ash Garage has won “Garage of the Year” at the Car & Accessory Trader (CAT) magazine 2014 awards.

The independent garage emerged victorious following a very competitive voting campaign, which saw the garage take to social media and local press to canvass votes.

The CAT awards are one of the largest of their kind in the automotive industry and Scotlands Ash Garage was up against two other garages throughout the UK.

Scotlands Ash Garage proprietor, Peter Welch, said: “It’s incredible. We’re a small business but we work hard to raise the profile of good car servicing and repair across Oxfordshire. To have so many people from the local area cast their vote for us is amazing and I’d like to say thanks to all of them for their support. And, to the Scotlands Ash Team, family, friends and customers, who have been with us on our journey, we thank them enormously.”

In addition to Peter, the Scotlands Ash Team comprises trained mechanics Steve Moxon,

Nathan Edwards, Jack Jones, Stuart Florey and administrative support Gillian Hyde.

The CAT awards ceremony took place in February at Twickenham Rugby Stadium, West London. CAT magazine is part of media giant Haymarket Media Group. Car & Accessory Trader is a leading business magazine aimed at the UK automotive aftermarket. Launched in 1979, CAT is widely regarded as the aftermarket’s most reliable source of information, business advice, news and views