Inquiring about Oil Change Service
A customer notices their car needs an oil change and asks the gas station attendant if they offer this service and its cost.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
oil change
A service where the old engine oil in a car is replaced with new oil to keep the engine running smoothly. It's a regular maintenance task for cars.
synthetic
A type of engine oil made from chemicals in a lab, which is better for modern cars as it provides better protection and lasts longer than regular oil.
conventional
Refers to standard or traditional engine oil made from natural minerals; it's cheaper but not as good for newer cars as synthetic oil.
filter
Short for oil filter, a part in the car that removes dirt and impurities from the engine oil during an oil change.
bay
A service bay is a specific area in a garage or gas station where mechanics work on cars, like for repairs or oil changes.
lube
Short for lubrication; in this context, it means a quick oil change service at a gas station to lubricate the car's engine.
due for
Means it's time for something to happen or be done, like maintenance; for example, your car is due for an oil change every few months.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I was wondering if you offer oil change services here?
This is a polite way to ask if a place provides a specific service. 'I was wondering' makes it softer and more indirect, useful for starting conversations at service places. Use it when inquiring about availability.
What kind of car do you have?
A simple question to get details about a customer's vehicle for service purposes. It's direct and common in car-related situations; the grammar uses 'what kind' for types or models.
Do you offer different types of oil, like synthetic?
This asks about options available, using 'like' to give an example. It's useful for checking varieties in products or services; the structure is a yes/no question with examples.
It costs around $75 for a full synthetic change, including the filter.
This explains the price of a service, with 'around' for approximate amounts and 'including' to specify what's covered. Helpful for giving cost details; note the use of prepositions for clarity.
How long does it usually take?
A practical question about time for a task. 'Usually' indicates average time; use this in service scenarios to plan your schedule. It's a wh-question focusing on duration.
If there's no line, we can usually get it done in about 20-30 minutes.
This gives an estimated time with conditions ('if there's no line'). 'Get it done' is an informal idiom for completing a task; useful for reassuring customers about wait times.
Just pull forward to the bay door on your left.
Directions for parking or moving a car. 'Pull forward' means drive ahead slowly; use imperative sentences like this for giving simple instructions in driving or service contexts.