At the first ever Oil Change Day in the Morton East auto shop, more than 20 cars, trucks, and vans were serviced by students and staff on May 7 and 8.
The event gave students hands-on experience while helping staff members with vehicle maintenance. According to automotive instructor Paul Martinez, the success of the event has led to even bigger plans for next school year. Beginning in 2026-2027, the Morton East auto shop will open during the school day two days a week to help teachers and staff with car repairs and diagnostics. Staff members will be able to bring in vehicles for services such as brake repairs, oil changes, and engine light diagnostics. The shop is located in rooms 172 and 174 and will continue to be supervised by automotive instructors and experienced technicians.
“We had over 20 cars, trucks, and vans come through to get their oil changed, and we had a blast,” said Martinez.
The new program will also allow students to continue gaining real-world automotive experience while working alongside instructors and former automotive technicians. More information about scheduling services and appointments will be released in September.
“Believe it or not, your auto shop is a running and fully functioning car repair spot right here in the school and we would love to service your car and save you some money,” said Martinez.
In addition to the repair services, the Morton East auto department will also host an Adult Automotive class on Mondays after school next year. The class will focus on vehicle maintenance skills such as changing tires, checking fluids, and completing oil changes. Staff members will also be able to request lessons on other automotive topics.
