How's the lube business in your area?

Was it just a fad that car washes got into the lube business or had the market changed a valiant attempt to join the two industries?

It has worked out very well for us out here. We have 2 lube shops ( different locations ) one of the lube shops shares a lot but not a building with an express exterior tunnell. All 3 businesses are run independant of each other but we all fall under the same company. Each lube facility offers a free basic wash with every lube oil and filter service. They in turn come to the car wash to redeem the coupon. They have worked very well going hand in hand with each other for 6 years now. The car wash is one of the busiest in the state and the lube shops are some of the busiest in the state as well. I believe they compliment each other very well but I believe that they do need to be run seperate from each other while working together. Hope this helps. we also in our area have 2 other lube and car wash centers but the carwashes are run under the lube shop as an after thought. both of those locations struggle to do business and both are located in high traffic areas. Let me know if I can help out in any other way Jim. Jeremy

Keepy steady... not too much change.. We are a Car Wash, Lube, & Detailing..

I think you will continue to see car washes add oil change facilities BUT at a much more modest pace. There is no question that the two services compliment each other, particularly with a full service car wash. HOWEVER, the fast oil change industry has been changing, primarily because of the extended drain intervals. Several manufacturers are now recommending 7,500 mile oil change intervals and the days of the 3,000 mile oil change are long gone. Additionally, synthetic, synthetic blends and even conventional oil with additives are being promoted to last longer between oil changes. Plus, the cost of oil has skyrocketed the past few years, which has negatively impacted the oil change profit margin. I believe that the stand alone lube center will have much more difficulty competing against the facility that can offer both a high quality oil change service along with a discounted or free car wash.
...the only constant is change....

Doug