Grease The Wheels Podcast

Grease The Wheels
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Automotive
  • Updated weekly

A Master Technician, a microphone, 30 years of experience in the Automotive Industry: buckle up! Come along as we take a look at the current state of the automotive industry from the point of view of the guys and gals turning the wrenches. So no matter what you fix, how you fix it, or how many tools you have to fix it with: welcome to the Grease the Wheels Nation. Also once in a while we take a look at the makes and models of cars we work on through the lenses of history, economics, politics, our own personal experiences and the experiences of our listeners. Special thanks to The Wrenching Network, Curien, Surfwrench, and Murray the dog.

  1. 2 hr ago

    Episode 368: You Better Think

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we get into the imaging of the mechanical trades. What do owners think of mechanics? What about our families and friends? This is mostly a vibes podcast and Uncle Jimmy completely ignores the entire life work of Edward Bernays.  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  2. 1 Oct

    Episode 367: Gemini Hallucinations

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s meandering episode of Grease the Wheels, we sick AI onto some of the big ideas when it comes to automotive fixed operations. One of the best questions anyone has asked an AI in a long time is “what is the NADA, and what do they do?” The real meat of the episode revolves around Service Advisors, and the often woeful sink or swim training that they receive from dealerships. The esoteric question of, “is it better to have a brand new service advisor or get one with some experience (and baggage)?” Is a good one and almost completely revolves around what your dealership needs right now. If you have an urgent need, one with some experience is probably the best bet. If you are willing to put some time in to them and willing to risk that you train them so well that they get picked up by the competition — that is the other option. The bottom line is that training needs to get better, and most likely along the lines of the Technician oriented K-Plan. It’s a weird one!  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  3. 24 Sept

    Episode 366: That Yota Hero

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we take on one of the hot button topics of the industry - ThatYotaGuy. We are a big fan of Austin’s work in the freedom of speech category, and refusing to yield when major corporations are telling you to take down media that you created and feel strongly about takes a tremendous amount of balls. We also get in an obligatory amount of Aftermarket Warranty bashing. This is a good one, and might be the first of many!  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  4. 17 Sept

    Episode 365: History Lesson

    Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy does a deep, AI Driven Dive into the Cash For Clunkers Program. This is, what the economists called at the time, “pump priming” economic stimulus with some environmental goals attached. We also get into the metrics, what got taken off the road, and what was it replaced by. Lots of small SUV’s got turned into Toyota Corolla’s and Honda Accords. We also get into some of the more interesting casualties of the program, as well as some of the cars that resisted the hangman’s noose for far longer than anyone expected! It was interesting, but we will probably never see anything like it ever again - and that is a good thing because of some of the longer term effects on the used car market that we are going to be dealing with many years to come. This is some interesting stuff, but we want to know about your experience  with the program. What was coming in, what was going out, and what simply refused to die?  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  5. 27 Aug

    Episode 364: Supply-less Demand

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, Uncle Jimmy has a sit-down with Gemini to get to the heart of the Technician shortage. We also get into some more nefarious ideas of price fixing when it comes to technician wages, which it wouldn’t give us an answer to, which became a major league red flag. The nuts and bolts of the technician shortage are stark and simple. The industry is getting older, the cars are getting harder to work on, and less people are willing to do this as a career path for many obvious reasons. We also get into some of the numbers when it comes to replacing this aging workforce, and what happens when you are the only Gen Z who can fix stuff. An inflection point for the industry is coming, but the fact remains, well run and managed shops are not going to experience the Technician shortage, while poorly run ones are going to continue to suffer and likely close as this problem becomes even more dire.     Also Uncle Jimmy becomes the Patron Saint of Shitboxes.  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  6. 27 Aug

    Episode 363: Shit Hitting the Fan

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we talk about the polar opposite of the Great Replacement Theory that is going on across shops all over this country. Quite Simply put, there is real hard evidence and thousands of anecdotes that tell us that Gen Z might not have the cognitive skills, mechanical aptitude, or overall gumption (to borrow an insanely Boomer term) to get the job done in the shops and dealerships across the world. The real winner here though are going to be the few and proud that do make it in this industry, because between an aging workforce and cars that just keep getting harder and harder to work on, these kids are going to be rolling in it! It doesn’t look good, especially considering the state of many of the other major trades across the blue collar world offering lower barriers to entry, and way smarter management! Long Story Short, if you have a solid apprentice, a good relationship with a tech school, or lube guys with even an ounce of brains - foster them and keep them in the business as long as you can!  Also Uncle Jimmy names his new punk band, “Evap Core Arachnophobe”  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  7. 13 Aug

    Episode 362: For The Instructors

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grease The Wheels, we talk about one of the major unsung heroes of the entire industry - the men and women who teach us seemingly un-teachable lot what’s going on. Weather you are an associate professor at a small state school, to a hyper-focused product expert working for a manufacturer, the knowledge that you have and your ability to parlay that knowledge through our often dense skulls is what keeps the entire industry moving forward. Every little tip, trick, or procedure that you can impart on the next generation of technicians is going to keep them safe, keep them profitable, and keep the entire world moving forward. We thank everyone in this space from the bottom of our hearts, because you make such an incredible difference! Also, if you are looking for help when it comes to teaching Video MPI - Uncle Jimmy has you covered, just check out the second link in the description!  GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

  8. 5 Aug

    Episode 361: Pissing Match Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we get into some of the statistics of the “should technicians get paid for Video MPI’s” debate — and if this were an election, they would call it a landslide. Even the majority of Management and instructors are on the side of “pay the technicians for Video MPI’s”. When it comes right down to it, the foreword thinking management that wants to pay for Video MPI’s is actually giving themselves leverage as to their quality, branding, and brand voice that is utilized in direct digital communications with their customers. This gives them a massive advantage over companies who don’t, and thus, get what they pay for. We also read off some of the better comments from Technicians themselves (who were 100% united behind the idea that they should be getting paid for them) as well as echo some of the ideas and systems that we promote at Surfwrench! It's not hard to find if you want to metaphorically throw rotten fruit at this tool, search "Video MPI" over on LinkedIn and look for the dude getting lit up.     Also Uncle Jimmy uses feminism to bludgeon the OP, and decides it might just be time for a combo of LinkedIn/GlassDoor for Mechanics. GTW MERCH: greasethewheels.store This Episode of Grease the Wheels is brought to you in partnership with Surfwrench Digital! For more on Video MPI Training Visit https://www.surfwrench.com/video-mpi-training-landing/ to learn more. Video MPI Training built in the shop, by your Uncle Jimmy. Use code “GTW” for 50% off your training access!

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About

A Master Technician, a microphone, 30 years of experience in the Automotive Industry: buckle up! Come along as we take a look at the current state of the automotive industry from the point of view of the guys and gals turning the wrenches. So no matter what you fix, how you fix it, or how many tools you have to fix it with: welcome to the Grease the Wheels Nation. Also once in a while we take a look at the makes and models of cars we work on through the lenses of history, economics, politics, our own personal experiences and the experiences of our listeners. Special thanks to The Wrenching Network, Curien, Surfwrench, and Murray the dog.

Information

  • Creator
    Grease The Wheels
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    374
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Grease The Wheels Podcast
  • Show Website
    Grease The Wheels Podcast

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