ATLANTA AREA FORD MECHANIC -> Ford Performance Specialists
If you're looking for Ford (gas or diesel) work near Atlanta, GA, I have a new fave mechanic (for those times I'm driving out of Florida in a generally NW direction ;-). I found this guy on Transfer Flow's list of certified installers, simply because I preferred to find a mechanic *familiar* with the systems to help me diagnose a semi-related possible safety issue (mild gas fumes smell only when PUMP ON from Aux to Main tank), not because I expected or needed him to service or even diagnose my other Transfer Flow system issues (topic for a different thread). Yelpers, esp ford diesel guys or performance SHO types loved Doug and considered him very affordable. Anyway, I feel completely confident recommending (as do many Yelpers), Doug, proprietor of:
Ford Performance Specialists Inc.
351 Six Flags Pkwy SW, Mableton, GA. 770-949-7191,
https://www.mabletonautorepairservices.com/
Doug $95/hr. $500 spark plugs. 20 yrs in bus. Great educator!
Though he (actually his one assistant) only did an oil change ($35 for my V10, $125 for a diesel though) and a safety inspection addressing my particular questions, he responded spectacularly to my statement that I wanted to learn how best to care for the vehicle and learn as much as possible to monitor issues, respond in the field, etc. He spent at least an hour, over the course of my visit, just answering my questions, recommending best practices w/justifications, and providing a lot of technical detail to educate me on the whys and wherefors. He brought me in for another 10-15 minutes at the end with my van on the lift to point out a bunch of stuff, ID-ing components (I'm a noob), identifying seeps/leaks to watch, and which to leave alone until some other symptom (or check engine light) alerted me to the actual need for service, etc. I would have had him do my spark plugs (at $500), but he'd already squeezed me in last minute on that Friday and didn't have time.
All in all, his safety inspection with my particular points of interest resulted in his walkthru and:
- No *liquid* gas leaks/drips found (comforting!); Verified he smelled gas fumes too, during PMP ON. Said I need a vapor check to find it but ok-ed driving with it (which I had been doing for 15k miles). He hypothesized that maybe the charcoal cylinders/filters are saturated?
- Cooling systems (OK).
- Exhaust Manifold Studs (1 missing, don't service until I hear the 'clicking' of exhaust leak),
- Power Steering (OK, slow leak/seep of Transmission fluid; wait until there's a problem),
- Quigley Rear drivetrain / pumpkin after backing into tire-sized ditch (fine, “can't hurt it“).
- General Advice: CEL, or poor function, will tell you when work is needed; else wait to fix. Change oil every 3000 (frequency way more important than type of oil, supported with personal anecdotes ;-). Get tune-up @ 80k.
He ended up charging me an hour of time plus oil/oil filter parts cost ($21) which I considered money well spent for my goals and purposes, and the convenience of getting on this busy shop's schedule. [He'd had a Ford E-350 Quigley diesel on his lift the day I called for an appt.]
Why did I seek out service in Mableton, GA? I was hitting the road from SW FL to Seattle this past July, after finally having the chance to get organized and research/address some of my less urgent van issues or simply check/monitor some of those things (eg, rotting exhaust manifold studs) I'd been warned about on 2000 Ford E-350 V10s. I didn't have time for another round of service in FL, so checked out Transfer Flow installers along my route. Many TF installers aren't mechanic shops, so this guy stood out, esp given excellent user reviews. He amazingly squeezed me in on a days notice for Oil Change and 'safety inspection.'
