Ford's goal is total customer loyalty. The company wants its customers not only to buy a Ford, but to have Ford look after the vehicle throughout its life - and to be so pleased with the service they receive they won't hesitate to choose Ford again.

That's why Ford is making its dealers and their service prices more consistent and understandable through a scheme called Simple Service Pricing.

It enables customers to see at a glance exactly how much a service will cost. At the same time, through its development of Service Advice Centres, Ford is personalising its customer interface processes.

Customers are offered convenient appointment times and one-to-one consultations where they can discuss their needs with qualified staff and even see underneath their vehicle to gain a better understanding of what is involved.

This helps to make the often-stressful process of having a vehicle serviced or repaired as easy and rewarding as possible. Meanwhile, Ford Rapid Fit - voted Fast-Fit of the Year for the last two years in succession - is introducing a rationalised, scheduled servicing programme, providing clearer pricing, more convenience and added peace of mind for owners of older Fords.

Such improvements have been made possible, in no small part, by advances in engine oil technology which have had a direct, positive impact on engine performance, fuel efficiency and cost of ownership. As a result, almost all Ford vehicles built since September 1989 require a scheduled service only once every 10,000 miles or once a year.

The current Ford engine oil range is produced by Texaco to Ford engineering requirements and the mandatory viscosity for the majority of Ford models is SAE 5W-30. Today, more than ever before, it is vital to specify the correct oil.

This will not only provide optimum engine performance and reliability; it will also ensure continued customer satisfaction and greater loyalty. In short, everyone wins.