What happened to "DIS" as we use to know them?

[Powerstroke2000]

For those of you who have been members of this site for a very long time, I would imagine most of you have either bought from, or at least remember <font color="blue"> Diesel Injection Service </font> or DIS, as most of us know it by. I remember Brent coming on this forum on several occassions and helping us out with different issues, which I was very glad to see at the time.
I'm just wondering why I haven't heard of DIS for quite some time?? Perhaps they have moved up to the Super Duty class of trucks??
I remember them going over and beyond the call of duty in helping many of us out with chips issues, and others.
I have bought many products from the Lubboc Texas location, albeit it's been a while now.
I peruse their site on ocassion, but not as often as I use to...possibly because of their lack of being on here as much, reminding me of their service.

Just wonderin' what happened to the DIS as we use to know it? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Dale...

[DozerDoug]

Been thinking the same thing lately Dale. I've bought several things from them in the past and Brent was always great to deal with. I was wondering why we haven't seen them around here anymore. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Patrick Feeley]

Yeah it looks like they've been up with the newer trucks (just like most other aftermarket suppliers [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] ). Brent has posted in our forum since March of 2002 when the clicking boost gauges were a much talked-about problem. Cheers!

[59 Vetteman]

I do see Mark Craig from DPPI and Jerry from GOS Racing in here quite often. In fact Jerry answered a question I had on idle controllers and exhaust brakes. With the info provided I was able to make a logical decision and I purchased a Western Diesel Turbo brake for my 95 and a SS complete exhaust for my 01. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

[twildman]

What was the solution to the clicking anyway? Mine does it.

[Patrick Feeley]

For some it was to put a small orifice of some type in the line. When I put mine in I purchased a line kit from DIS that was separate from the gauge. I think the tee has an orifice built in (no clicking on mine). Cheers!

[twildman]

Thanks Patrick, I will check the website for the line kit.

[Larry M]

[ QUOTE ]
I peruse their site on ocassion, but not as often as I use to...possibly because of their lack of being on here as much, reminding me of their service.

Just wonderin' what happened to the DIS as we use to know it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Dale,

I haven't seen too many posts by Brent lately either even in the 99+ forums and since they have been a long time sponsor, I think I'll move this over to the "Event, Comments and Suggestions" forum for better site wide visibility, but others might want to comment on this observation since this is kind of a site wide topic anyway.

However, I will note that I've never seen a post by Brian of BTS either who is also a sponsor [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img].

Thanks,

Larry M
Moderator

[Phil D.]

I just went down to the local DIS and picked up an injection pump. Friendly as ever.

Shoot, a few months ago, they let me in their shop to swap out the throttle linkage on another new pump I purchased because their mechanic was out sick.

Nice fellas. I won't do business with anyone else. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[JLester]

They still advertise with us, Brent just doesn't post as much as he used to.

Jason

[SmokeyWren]

I talked to Brent a month or so ago. He's not as active now as in the past for a couple of reasons. One, business is not good enough to justify a full-time person to handle just the internet sales part of the business, so he has to have other jobs too. Since 9-11, the west Texas economy has been in the doldrums - the oil business is way down, and the farmers are not making any money. And the Lubbock economy is based primarily on oil and cotton. And the other jobs are keeping him tied down so he doesn't have much free time to spend on the web.

Another reason is he strongly disagrees that vendors are allowed to push their products in the forums. He never did that. When asked a question, he would respond, but he would never jump on a thread unless someone specifically asked for either DIS or Brent to provide input. When he made his concerns known to "Management", no apparent change was made, so he no longer enjoys spending time in the forums - because the frustration causes his blood pressure to rise and he turns red in the face and he hollers at both Bonnie and Clyde (his dogs). [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

The excellent DIS customer service is still there. And if you have questions you can call DIS or post your question by email, and Brent will take care of you - just like always. But unless the internet sales business picks up a bit, you may not see much of him spending time on TheDieselStop forums.

[RichS]

Smokey,

I've noticed that they've been out of stock on a lot of the Racor stuff lately. I've had to buy some filters locally because of it.

Rich

[Powerstroke2000]

Thanks for the info Smokey! This economy thing isn't just in Texas, as up here in western Canada it's just as bad if not worse.
I believe it's inevidible, that many of our jobs now endure way more work than ever before. My own is no different, in that I have many many more duties now, with no pay change, which I'm sure we'll all find will happen more and more.
It seems that with the advent of computers doing alot of "people" tasks now, that there are few jobs, and most companies need the productivity to stay competitive with one another.
Sure would be nice to get back on track with the economy again...but who knows when that will happen.

Good to hear DIS is giving the same service as they always have! I do believe though, giving it less "net" time, will loose themselves customers to others though.
They are a top notch company giving incredible service, so we should at least give them a call if in need of parts they sell.

Thanks again...

Dale

[C_Worrel]

[ QUOTE ]
Smokey,

I've noticed that they've been out of stock on a lot of the Racor stuff lately. I've had to buy some filters locally because of it.

Rich

[/ QUOTE ]

I have noticed the same. Been out of stock or backordered for literally months. Must be tight.

[Robyn]

[ QUOTE ]
" ... Another reason is he strongly disagrees that vendors are allowed to push their products in the forums. He never did that. When asked a question, he would respond, but he would never jump on a thread unless someone specifically asked for either DIS or Brent to provide input. When he made his concerns known to "Management", no apparent change was made, so he no longer enjoys spending time in the forums - because the frustration causes his blood pressure to rise and he turns red in the face..."

[/ QUOTE ]

I've noticed this too, and spend less time here accordingly.

Nowadays, someone may post a driveability concern in the Engine &amp; Drivetrain forums (as distinctly opposed to the Upgrades and Aftermarket forums), and right away a sponsor will jump in and suggest that the poster check out their new Terrific All-purpose Gizmo, which suppossedly has had great success solving all sorts of PSD problems, including the concerns posted about, and keeps the truck cleaner and the tires brighter to boot.

I don't remember Brent doing that sort of thing 3-4 years ago when he used to post here regularly, and I lurked to read him. In fact, I rather miss the open "forum" spirit of people gathered around a metaphorical campfire sharing stories and helpful hints with nothing to gain but the satisfaction of having helped someone. Nowadays, it feels like we are at one of those typical trade shows, with hawkers sqwaking through clip-on microphones from booth tents at the corner of every subject aisle, and the next demo starts in 10 minutes. Only around here it's dyno.

The fact that DIS offered (and still offers) many products (at excellent prices) to help diesel owners make the most of their trucks, made Brent's self-governed forum participation all the more exemplary. It is quite possible that he helped a few of the folks in the beginning who have since gone on to become a new breed of vendors themselves. Today's vendors. The ones who take up 20 pages of thread space debating about whose infector "kit" was first. Whose kit is better, whose kit is faster, etc. There is most certainly plenty of room for that kind of debate here, I agree. After all, what other venue exists to discuss those issues? None.

But what I miss in these forums, amidst the quick sale sentences from vendors who urge every newbie needing solutions to "just call us for details"... are the genuine opinions and the experimentations of the un-average Joe, who tries things out and shares them just for the joy of it. Remember Roger Woebecki? THE originator of the sardine catch can alternative PCV system, alternatives of which are now sold by today's vendors as PCV "kits"? Notice Roger's last few posts of more than two years ago, and he since completely disappeared. I can only assume that his joy in particpating here vanished, perhaps like just like Brent's. Could it be due to a vendor-take-all climate that has permeated the forums?

What happened to Mark Kolvasky, to HutchinAugusta, to CoachDavis, and how about to Charlie Varon? Anyone still remember Charlie from 4-5 years ago? I know that some of us are sane enough to move on with our lives, but I still have to wonder if these forums are still as inviting of a place to exchange and explore enthusiast ideas, without every other thread turning into excuses for vendors to expound upon their wares and extrapolate sales.

I am reminded of the fallacy of the "PSR Tech" column in the PowerStroke Registry quarterly magazine. No matter what the question, the answers (often pointedly inaccurate in the past) penned by that column's exclusive "expert" author, invariably included the mantra "When you're ready..." (to employ the bevy of aftermarket gadgets recommended to resolve the issue of inquiry) "...give us a call at.." (his business, of course, which happens to be a two page advertiser in that increasingly useless rag, and which just happens to sell each and every one of the solutions suggested). It almost appears as though that PSR Tech column exists so that the author can generate business on aftermarket products and close the sales he opened by fulfilling the "needs" he perpetuated in answer to technical questions propounded by the less well-informed. And he is allowed to do so under the auspices of his pedestaled "expertise" and, quizically, under the legitimacy of a publication sponsored, in part, directly by the International and Ford Marketing groups. Lately however, his mantra has changed somewhat: The first answer in PSR Tech column in the most recent Fall 2003 issue states, in response to a transmission concern on a 2002 truck (presumably still under factory warranty), "When you're ready, give us or other vendors in the magazine a call; we've got them all in stock." I guess the other vendors finally got wise and made the necassary phone call.

But the point is, what's "in stock." Yep, an aftermarket transmission pan that they sell, which may not necessarily be the wisest first response to a transmission concern on a 2002 truck. My first response might have been to suggest that the letter writer first remove the aftermarket transmission control box, and any add-on PCM chips, and see if the problem duplicates itself. I would have reminded the letter writer that he already has two transmission coolers, and would have suggested that he take the Ford dealer up on their offer to replace the fan belt, since there have been not less than 2 TSBs on 1999-2002 7.3L slipping fan belt/length and tensioner issues. But alas, none of those suggestions would have put money in the pocket of a vendor that sells two varieties of deep aftermarket transmission pans. So the new transmission pan was suggested.

This typifies my concern about the direction of this website. When a new or non-mentally-possessed diesel truck owner posts a question on this site, it is only natural to presume that respondants who are the owners of vendor companies, with thousands of posts under their name, more than likely possess the most "expertise" to resolve their concern. When it behooves that vendor to only suggest a solution that they sell, then the reputation that this site once enjoyed for detailed, differing, and detached information sinks down a little further into hidden agenda land.

It is easy to see where Brent is coming from (as reported by Smokey's statement), with Brent having participated here under the strictures and limits (often admirably self-imposed) of the old "non-commercial" rules. Now that commerce rules here, it might be difficult to make the adjustment.

The foregoing is merely my perception, and I make generous allowances that this perception may not be accurate. One thing is true, however: This website still remains the most accessible source of user/owner information on Ford diesel light trucks that I am aware of. If there is a more accessible website, please send me a link through private messaging, so that I can see for myself.