North American Lubricants, CO.-April 2008 Monthly Newsletter

BE A 4-STAR BUSINESS GENERAL
Business is war, a series of strategic battles to win. To become a successful business general and build a thriving company, you must win more battles that you lose. General George S. Patton once said, “War is simple, direct and ruthless.” Just as in times of war, there are parallel principles that apply to the business world of today.

EXECUTE A STRATEGIC BATTLE PLAN
To succeed in business, you must know where you are going and how you will get there. Your strategic battle plan should start with long-term objectives. Once you have a clear picture
of your destination, break down the objectives into short-term goals. Your short-term goals can then reached by dividing into monthly projects and daily activities. With any battle plan, execution is everything. Patton said, “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.”

	TRUST YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND Whether you run a small family-owned business or a billion-dollar corporate giant, each employee must have a defined role and assigned responsibilities. There must be distinct organizational structure. A clear chain of command will improve communication, add accountability and produce a scaleable model that will enable growth. One of the most important tasks of a business general is building their army, finding and developing the right person for the right position. Patton said, “Lead me, follow me or get out of my way.”
	TARGET-LOCK WITH LASER-POINT ACCURACY A business general must stay on top of what’s working and what’s not. When a problem is detected, they lock on the target with laser-point accuracy. They eagerly embrace the challenge and always assume there is a solution. Proactive problem solving is the essence of a business general. THE BEST DEFENSE IS AN EFFICIENT OFFENSE To build a successful business, a general must execute an ongoing offensive campaign. To rest in a comfortable position will eventually bring defeat. General Patton sums up this philosophy in two quotes, “In war, the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it” and “Fixed fortifications are monuments to man’s stupidity.” Business is war, a series of strategic battles to win. Fight each battle with determination and vigor. Do not get discouraged with short-term set-backs, stay focused on your strategic vision and enjoy the journey. General Patton explains the spirit of a true business general, “War is the supreme test of a man in which he rises to heights never approached in any other activity.” Shane Terry, President North American Lubricants, Co. info@nalube.com

Incorrect oil levels are being found in many 2002-2003 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. In most cases, the level is being misinterpreted because the oil level on the dipstick is not touching the top hash mark at the upper limit (or MAX mark), or it is partway down the crosshatch area. Ford is in the process of standardizing the marking across all vehicle lines. The markings shown in Figure 1 were scheduled to be upgraded to a refined marking, but both markings were still being used in many 2004 and 2005 models. Oil levels will continue to be recorded in the crosshatched area of the blade, between the upper and lower limit holes. Vehicles with engine oil levels falling within this area are acceptable and do not require topping off.			FIGURE ONE

SERVICE PROCEDURE
Ensure the vehicle is sitting on level ground. Set the parking brake and make sure the transmission selector lever is in the Park position or in First gear on manual transmissions. The engine must be off.

The best time for determining oil level is after the oil has had sufficient drain-back time to the sump. If the engine has been running, allow it to sit for a few minutes turned off. An oil drain-back period is required before taking an initial reading.

If the level falls below the lower hole, fill with one quart of oil. If one quart is insufficient to raise the level above the lower mark, add oil until it records within the crosshatch area. Use caution during this procedure as some time is needed for oil to drain down through the drain-back passages in the cylinder head to the oil pan. Adding oil a quart at a time repeatedly without sufficient drain-back may overfill the sump.

If the oil level falls between the upper and lower holes, do not add more oil. Adding an extra quart could cause over-filling and may result in aeration (foaming) causing eventual damage to vital bearing surfaces and moving parts inside. Over-filling will require some oil to be drained until the indicator shows the level between the upper and lower holes of the blade. An extra quart of oil should never be considered as additional lubrication protection for the engine.

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