How Much for an Oil Change?

We may need to educate customer's more on gas mileage (and ourselves). Many of you are very familiar with Car Care Council, however, if you are not, check out their web site. I have included some graphics illustrating how much money one could save on gasoline over a 3,000 mile interval based upon gas prices, miles per gallon, and an underestimation of the increase in mpg by three (there are more) concerns.

Clean Motor Oil

The Car Care Council states that one could add up to 1 mile per gallon by having clean motor oil. I used 1/2 mile for the calculations to the left. For example, if one gets approximately 20 mpg and gas prices per gallon are $3.00, one would save $13.50 over a 3,000 mile interval. 3000/20mpg)=150 gallons of gas. 150*3%(increase in mpg)=4.5 gallons. 4.5 gallons @ $3.00 per gallon=$13.50.

Clean Air Filter

A clean Air Filter could add up to 10% to ones mpg! I used 6% for the calculations to the right. For example, if one gets approximately 20 mpg and gas prices per gallon are $3.00, one would save $27.00 over a 3,000 mile interval. 3000/20mpg)=150 gallons of gas. 150*6%(increase in mpg)=9 gallons. 9 gallons @ $3.00 per gallon=$27.00.

Proper Tire Pressure

Proper Tire Pressure could add up to 4% to ones mpg! I used 3% for the calculations to the left. For example, if one gets approximately 20 mpg and gas prices per gallon are $3.00, one would save $13.50 over a 3,000 mile interval. 3000/20mpg)=150 gallons of gas. 150*3%(increase in mpg)=4.5 gallons. 4.5 gallons @ $3.00 per gallon=$13.50.

Express Lane Time?

What is an Express Lane? An Express Lane - Rapid Lane - Whatever You Call It Lane - Could be a $20 Full Service with NO oil & NO oil filter. Perhaps it would take 5 minutes and consist of (for my examples above), checking the air filter, oil level & tire pressure, brakes, etc..

Ecologically & monetarily, it should make sense to your customers. Just the numbers above, at 25 mpg and $3.00 per gallon computes to $43.20 gas savings every 3,000 miles. The 3,000 mile Oil Change is free!

Back to the Express Lane. I have six vehicles, all of which receive a 3,000 to 3,500 mile oil change. I have had 6 rotors and one radiator replaced during the past SIX months. I have also had one tire blow & a serpentine belt break while on the interstate. I need a Fast Lane - $20 is cheap for a monthly "walk through" by a professional for each of my vehicles. If I spent $20 per month, $34 every third month, and an additional $15 (air filter) once a year, that would be a total of $311. My Savings on gas (25 mpg - $3.00/gal) for the same period of time would be $172.80 (total of each chart above * 4). If I take what I spent with you $311, subtract gas savings of $172.80, that means my net costs were $138.20 for 12 services. I also could have prevented some very costly repairs.

Another view. If you perform 12 Full Service Oil Changes, all take 10 minutes each, and all costs $34, you make (12*34)/(12*10)=$3.04 per minute (and you have product costs). Express Lane would make you (8*20)/(8*5)=$4.00 per minute (little product costs).

What do you think? Let's help one another with some ideas.