At Greg’s Petroleum Service, we continue to take proactive steps where possible to ensure our employees are safe and to ensure the continuity of business operations including no disruption in supply and deliveries of our products or quality of service and support to our customers.

As many of you know, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a California statewide “Shelter-in-Place.” This will affect many companies and people across our state, however, Greg’s Petroleum Service is exempt from the “Shelter-in-Place” order because we are considered an “Essential Business.”

We have implemented several precautionary measures for both employees and visitors to reduce the risk of exposure to our workforce and the community.

Our office is in process of transitioning to service all customers primarily from remote, home offices with no in-person meetings. We will still be running business as usual, but we will be doing it from home with limited staff on-site. Please be prepared for more phone, email and video communication until further notice during these uncertain times. If you have any questions, please give us a call. If no one answers, follow the prompts and you will be directed to the person you need.

While we work on transitioning, we are practicing social distancing, consistent sanitization and minimal in-person contact in order to protect our staff, our customers and our families.

Please rest assured, we do not expect any disruption to our services. We remain committed to providing exceptional reliability and are taking several actions to help continue meeting your supply expectations.

Product Deliveries

• Delivery services will continue to operate as normal.
• Please contact your Sales representative or call our Warehouse to place orders.

Customer Pick-up Protocol

• We will be limiting in-office visits, please call ahead for pick-up orders.
• Dispatcher will issue pick-up time.
• Order will be staged and ready for pick-up.
• Customers should call us to notify when they arrive for the pick-up.
• Greg’s Petroleum Service employee will load the order.
• Customer will sign.
• Greg’s Petroleum Service employee to follow standard sanitary procedures after each transaction is complete.

CFN Cards

• For the time being, all CFN cards will be mailed directly to the customer.

We are part of an essential industry, and outside of health and safety, we take the servicing and support of our customers as our top priority. As always, please reach out to me directly or one of our team members if you have any questions or concerns.

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, and there is increasing concern and questions, Greg’s Petroleum Service will continue to keep communication high where necessary to avoid any concern or questions related to our business as there is enough to worry about already.

Stay safe and please let us know anything we can do to assist during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Ron Mariani
President
Greg's Petroleum Service

Many of our clients operate express lube and oil change services, and most feel frustrated at the lack of knowledge their customer base has about their vehicles.

A study of 2,000 Americans found that many were knowingly driving cars they knew needed repair work, and even more, were not confident in their ability to deal with a roadside emergency. Of those surveyed, 41% weren’t even sure what they were looking at when they popped the hood of their car, and only 33% were confident they could change their car’s oil.

It was once a common task in many households to perform basic vehicle maintenance, such as changing the oil and filling up the windshield wiper fluid. Now, most people prefer to leave basic maintenance to professionals, and when things go wrong, they sometimes wait until their car is about to break down before seeking help. In that same survey, nearly 54% said they felt intimidated when dealing with a car mechanic, and 4 in 10 said they actively avoid taking their car to a repair shop because they worry about cost.

The overall lack of knowledge can make it more difficult to communicate clearly with a customer about their vehicle’s needs and your maintenance recommendations. Customers don’t understand what works best for their vehicles. For the most part, customers indicate a greater concern about cost of the service, so they may forgo preventative maintenance options that could save their engines in the long run.

Havoline® has designed a program to help Havoline® Xpress Lube® operators, builders and installers provide better care for their customers. The Premium Product Bounce Back program is designed to offer financial incentives to customers who choose superior Havoline® products for their vehicle maintenance. These incentives will entice customers to use higher quality products that protect their engines and prevent costly maintenance in the future while helping customers save money. The incentive program will make it easier for Havoline® shops to demonstrate to their customers how these products are superior. These are the products featured:

• Havoline® ProDS Full Synthetic Motor Oil provides excellent protection for modern engines with turbochargers and direct injection technology. These engines tend to run faster and hotter, which can cause carbon deposits to form, leading to engine knocking and other issues. This product helps prevent these build-ups and increases the efficiency of the engine.
• Havoline® High Mileage motor oils are great for engines with significant mileage. Consumers are driving their cars for longer than ever before, and that can be very hard on the engine, especially in modern vehicles with direct injection technology. This motor oil helps protect against deposit formation and sludge while providing cleaning and seal conditioning agents to minimize oil leaks. It’s a great product to showcase to customers who want to keep their vehicles running for as long as possible.
• Techron® Fuel systems cleaners are a must for preventative maintenance. When used every 300 miles, these products can help flush out and clean engines of carbon deposits and other silt and grit that accumulates. It will keep the engine running more smoothly and prevent future problems. All three Techron® fuel system cleaner products, including the high mileage and diesel system cleaner, are eligible for the program.
• Delo® XSP Synthetic Motor Oil is an excellent recommendation for your business clients with heavy equipment machinery. This oil meets the 2017 greenhouse gas emissions standards, helps improve fuel economy and lowers C02 emissions. It helps to clean soot and deposits that form protecting pistons, rings, cylinders and other engine components to prevent maintenance issues.

How does the program work? It’s simple for you and your customers. When your customers come for service, recommend these products and encourage them to fill out an online claim. If they choose to use them for their service, they will receive a promotional check in the mail for their next service appointment. If they return to claim their check within 180 days of the issue date, they will receive a rebate on their service. The amount varies depending on the product.

It’s an excellent program for your business and your customers. They will receive superior products and see the difference they make in their vehicles. You will get repeat business from newly loyal customers claiming their rebate and be able to demonstrate how Havoline® products help to keep their cars in tip-top shape. Everyone wins.

You will be set up with promotional materials to help sell the program. There is even a Top Performer Incentive prize for the top three performers: an OXX COFFEEBOXX™ coffee dispenser. The promotion runs from March 1 to August 31, 2020.

Your customers are busier than ever and performing essential vehicle maintenance at home is no longer a priority for most. Instead, they turn to trusted experts to help them maintain their cars in the best condition. A little incentive can help you recommend exceptional Havoline® products that will work best for modern engines and help prevent future problems. Start signing your customers up today so they can see what Havoline® will do for their vehicle.

For more details on the promo, click here.

We want to showcase a new engine oil product that can be a game-changer for many of our clients. Recommending exceptional products that help our clients save money and improve fuel efficiency is a crucial part of our business.

Keep an eye out for this new product: Chevron’s Delo® 400 ZFA SAE 10W-30 engine oil. The research team at Chevron has designed another synthetic engine oil that offers superior protection for four-stroke gasoline and diesel engines.

To test the reliability of this oil, and the features that make it stand out, Chevron contacted a valued customer. Boaty’s Transport is a refrigeration company based out of Jackson, GA. They agreed to a field test of the new Delo® 400 ZFA SAE 10W-30 engine oil in one of their delivery trucks. The biggest concern they have for their fleet is to improve fuel economy and reliability for the delivery of their perishable goods.

Before we share the results of the test, here’s a quick breakdown of four-stroke engines. There are two main types of combustion engine designs—two-stroke and four-stroke. In a four-stroke engine, there are two piston strokes in each combustion cycle, a compression stroke and an exhaust stroke. A return stroke follows each movement. This process produces a total of four piston strokes each combustion cycle and is more efficient than a two-stroke engine. The fuel does not need to be premixed before entering the chamber, so the fuel burns faster and makes the engine more efficient.

This technology makes a four-stroke engine more efficient than a two-stroke engine, even though the engine weighs more. These engines offer higher torque and a lower RPM and tend to be a little quieter. Most modern gasoline engines use four-stroke technology because it is more environmentally friendly and provides better fuel economy. However, these engines are more prone to breakdowns because of all the moving parts, which can be expensive to repair.

Chevron Delo® 400 ZFA SAE 10W-30 oil is designed with the mechanics of a four-stroke engine in mind. Here are a few of the features that meet the demands:

• Improved fuel economy of up to 1.3%
• Exceptional deposit control to prevent resistance, improve thermal stability and minimize deposits on the pistons and turbochargers
• Improved anti-wear, deposit and soot control
• Better low temperature pumpability for cold starts and inclement weather driving

These features help provide superior protection in a four-stroke engine, especially in modern engines with turbochargers. These engines burn fuel faster and quicker, so they are more prone to deposit formations that can cause maintenance issues and wear down pistons and valves more quickly. The protection offered by this oil helps to reduce these buildups and reduce costly maintenance.

Boaty’s Transport relies on their trucks for efficient and fast deliveries. They deliver perishable produce goods with short delivery windows. For example, if one of their vehicles suffered a breakdown or delay while carrying a load of blueberries, which have a short shelf life, it can cost the business almost $100,000.

They used the oil for nearly 530,000 miles of deliveries on one of their trucks. Afterward, a full engine tear down was completed to see how the oil protected the engine components. The results showed clean rod bearings, pistons with little to no deposit formations and bearings that had no visible overlay. The technician even said she thought the truck could continue driving for well over a million miles of service! You can watch a video summary of the road test here.

Another added benefit of the oil test for Boaty’s Transport was the improved fuel efficiency and added savings. After the test, they reported a 2% improved fuel efficiency compared to the rest of their fleet. For a company that relies on its fleet so much, this was welcome news. Michael Boatwright, the owner of Boaty’s Transport, said switching to this oil saved his business $270,000 dollars in four years!

The best part about the Delo® 400 ZFA SAE 10W-30 oil is that it can be used in a wide variety of four-stroke engines. A whole inventory of vehicles can be serviced with this oil, which can save money, and time dispensing the oil. This product also comes with bumper to bumper warranty protection from the engine to the drivetrain to help cut back on maintenance costs even more.

Many of our clients are in the same position as Boaty’s Transport. They rely on their company fleet to operate. Vehicle breakdowns and delivery delays can cost a significant portion of their profits. Using engine oils like these from Chevron offer these companies the chance to save money and prevent costly maintenance, just like it did for Boaty’s Transport.

If you are ready to start saving some money on your overall operating costs, ask our team about this new engine oil and if it’s right for the vehicles in your fleet. Do your own road test and see what kind of fuel and operating costs savings you can get. It’s worth it to invest in superior products like Chevron’s Delo® engine oil. Order some today.

We were excited to join Eyewitness News Mornings (BakersfieldNow) to explain why we are supporting the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway for our third year in a row! It is a great opportunity to help support the mission of St. Jude and their mission in finding cures and saving children, not only in our community but around the world. It is a time where we can all come together to raise money to help save lives and to join the fight to end childhood cancer.

We encourage the community to join us in helping support St. Jude as each ticket purchased directly helps the kids and families of St. Jude. Since families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, food or housing; it's a time where your support can really make a difference.

Call 1-800-537-3464 or visit https://www.stjude.org/give/dream-home/bakersfield.html to purchase your ticket today! You could win a home, our prize of Fuel for a Year, or an assortment of other prizes.. but more importantly you will make a difference!

Click here to watch our live interview on why we are honored to continue our support of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway!

There are few things worse than a poorly organized shop or garage. Mess and clutter can be overwhelming, dangerous and can make it hard to work efficiently. It can be frustrating to search for something you need when there’s no system in place. It also wastes time and money. If your employees spend time rummaging around for supplies instead of working, that’s money out of your pocket.

One problem area for some businesses is the lubrication storage area. A proper lubrication supply area is essential for safety and efficiency for any business that consistently uses these supplies. If your space is in need of some organization, try these tips:

• Choose the right room. You need to make sure the space you’re using is large enough for proper storage and dispensation. It’s a good idea to select a location that is easily accessible for delivery.
• Invest in climate control. Temperature fluctuations can cause chemical breakdowns and oxidation. We suggest rotating your supplies regularly using a first-in/first-out system to ensure freshness.
• Invest in proper storage. Choose adequate cabinets or shelves to support the weight of the supplies, dispensers, grease guns and other materials you will need.
• Invest in safety measures. Spills and other safety issues can occur, and your business could be liable if you don’t have proper safety features. Make sure your storage area has proper spill containment, auto shut-off features, fire safety equipment and all necessary safety documentation.

If your business only requires a small inventory of lubricant and fuel supplies, you may not need to dedicate a whole room for storage. However, proper storage practices are still a must. These are basic storage principles you should always follow:

• Maintain a dedicated storage area. Even if it’s just a shelf in the shop, keep things in the same spot every time. It will save time and energy when you need to find and use supplies.
• Keep storage records. It can be very frustrating to pull a brand new container down only to discover that it has expired. Make sure to track the shelf life of all your products and rotate them regularly to ensure freshness.
• Use proper dispensing equipment. It’s easy to cause contamination or spills without appropriate dispensing equipment. Make sure you develop proper dispensing procedures for your employees to follow. Proper training can save time and money, and keeps everyone safe.
• Test for quality. Regular quality checks of your supplies can prevent maintenance issues and equipment breakdowns. If you need help with oil analysis testing, get in touch with us. We offer this service to help our customers reduce their maintenance costs over time.
• Follow proper labeling procedures. Safety labels save lives, time and money. Make sure your storage area has all the appropriate safety documentation and labeling required by law.
• Choose proper storage containers. Improper storage containers can lead to contamination and spills. If you want to protect your supplies, you need to invest in the right containers. Oil storage containers need to meet UL SU2258 standards for above ground non-metallic tanks for fuel and other combustible materials. Here is an excellent guide on choosing storage containers and the different available options.

Your lubricants are not the only supplies you need to worry about storing. Many businesses keep oil drums on their property. The same principles used for lubricant and other supply storage should be applied to oil drums. They should be stored inside to avoid contamination and kept away from any sources of humidity, dust or liquids. Avoid stacking drums on a factory floor as contamination could be a risk. Invest in proper shelving and storage and employ the first-in/first-out system to ensure freshness.

Oil drums have slightly different storage needs. The drums are very susceptible to temperature fluctuations and will expand and contract as the temperature changes. This process can make it easy for contamination to occur. Make sure to consistently check that drum bungs are sealed tight and use drum covers if possible. Keep drums in a room with a consistent temperature of 70° F.

Don’t waste time searching for the supplies you need. A little organization and investment into your fuel and lubricant storage practices will save your business time and money. If you create a dedicated fuel and storage room, you will reduce your risk of contamination, supply waste, minimize the risk of spills or safety issues, and improve your preventive equipment maintenance.

We are your partners in maintaining your fuel and lubricant supplies. Our order team works hard to help you stay on top of your inventory with detailed order reports. If you invest in proper storage practices, you will get the best return on investment for your fuel and lubricant needs. Put these principles into action, and you’ll see how it saves your business time and money.