The Pit Tech
by Al Ratcliffe
CBS 42 News
2007-11-02 20:00:00.0
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Have you ever wondered who does that job that nobody else wants to do? That job where everyone has dirt under their fingernails and messy clothes. CBS 42's Al Ratcliffe goes underground and under the hood in this "Somebody's Got to Do It" report.
"Lube oil and filter on bay two." You've heard his voice. "Plug tight bay two." He's the pit tech at your local oil change business. For eight to ten hours a day he stands in a hole pulling oil plugs and changing oil filters.
“We usually run about anywhere from 70 to 90 cars."
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Shawn Wallner has worked for Express Oil Change for nearly a year and he's got the battle scars to prove it: burns.
“Anything can burn you if you're not careful. Different models have different positions in the exhaust," said Wallner.
Wallner believes this is what he's supposed to do. He's been changing oil most of his life and he really loves what he does.
"It's always something different. Good, bad it's always something different you see a lot of fun stuff," said Wallner.
And without critical workers like Wallner, automotive businesses like this one couldn't even function.
"It's the back bone of the stores. You can't get the oil change done with out a qualified pit tech."
Store manager Bill Stacy says it takes a lot of hard work to get good at it. The pit techs even go to school to learn their area of expertise.
"We've got what we call pit tech university. They go through a program, I think it's about a six week program," said Stacy.
Roy, the assistant manager and former pit guy, is going to help me try this out. First we pull the oil plug.
"Pull your pan back because it's going to shoot pretty far. Don't be scared of it. I don't want to get burned," said Roy.
Next we find the right oil filter then move on to the lubricating the chassis.
"Get the gun, stick it up, you can maneuver it around and grease.”
While this is going on in the pit, the hood techs are up top checking everything else.
"Don't get the car dirty, and work your way around checking all the fluids."
And when all of this is done it's time to refill the engine with oil.
"Clear for oil on bay one.”
And to finish, it's the safety inspection. And we're done.
Now, there was a lot more to what these guys do that we can't show in a short story. They can also do a full transmission service in 20 minutes.
And they do get plenty dirty. In just my few minutes in the pit I ruined this shirt, these pants and a pair of shoes, and these guys do it five days a week. Luckily, their uniforms are provided by the company.
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