www.seafoamsales.
com
ALL
SHOOK UP
Despite Changes at the Top, Our 2011 Tops in the Industry Study Shows a Segment in Growth Mode
L
ongtime readers of National Oil & Lube News know that
if there is one thing in the fast oil change industry that
has proven to be consistent during the years it has been
our Tops in the Industry Rankings. Every year, we undertake an
extensive research project to identify and rank every chain of
fast lube stores in the nation.
We call this project, as mentioned above, the “Tops in the In-
dustry” list, and it has proven over the years to be remarkably
consistent. How consistent? Well, the top four oil change chains
(Jiffy Lube, Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change, Valvoline Instant Oil
Change and Texaco Xpress Lube) have remained unchanged since
2003, when Kwik Kar briefly supplanted Xpress Lube in the number
four spot. Save for a brief three-year stint from 2005-2007 when
Valvoline Express Care supplanted Kwik Kar in the number five
spot, the top five lube chains haven’t changed position since 2004.
But that’s not the case this year.
Before we delve into the numbers, however, we first have to de-
fine the terms we use in this study. For starters, what exactly is a
“fast lube” facility? Well, we classify a fast lube as any business that
derives the majority of its sales from quick, convenient oil changes
18 www.noln.net  
by Garrett McKinnon
NOLN Staff Writer
and other automotive preventive maintenance services. And while
there are a ton of companies out there offering quick oil change
services, many of them generate the majority of their sales from
services other than oil changes/auto maintenance. That’s why a
company like Walmart, whose Tire & Lube Express facilities gener-
ate only piddling sales compared to the company as a whole, is not
listed as a fast lube chain, but rather in a separate listing we call “oil
change-plus” chains. This oil change-plus list includes facilities like
tune-up shops, tire shops, carwashes, co-branded facilities, etc. that
perform quick oil changes, but generally not as a majority of their
overall sales.
We do not require that a fast lube meet the traditional architec-
tural definition of a quick lube, however. That is, it doesn’t necessar-
ily have to be a roll-in, roll-out multi-bay shop with a pit/basement
system. A converted muffler shop with 10 bays and nothing but lifts
would qualify as long as the primary focus of the business is pro-
viding consumers with quick oil changes and other maintenance
services. By our way of thinking, it’s still a fast lube.
This definition is, admittedly, broader than that used by some
entities, but we maintain that if a majority of a facility’s income is
 www.seafoamsales.com

derived from quick oil changes and other maintenance work, TOP FAST LUBE CHAINS — 2011 Growth Since Stores Projected
2/28/10 by 12/11
that facility should be called a fast lube.
The second term we must define is “chain.” For our purpos-
es, a fast lube chain is any six or more fast lube facilities owned
S
1
Jiffy Lube, TX
Total Stores: 1,963 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised:1,963 2010 Rank: 1 -1% 2,013

by the same company/individual/business entity and/or oper- S

2
alvoline Instant Oil Change, KY
V
Total Stores: 872 Co. Owned: 257 / Franchised: 615 2010 Rank: 3 3% 897

ated under the same or similar signage. That’s why a brand like
Havoline xpress lube (nee Texaco Xpress Lube), which is ac- S
3
Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change, TX
Total Stores: 750 † Independent: 750 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 2 n/a Unavailable
Projection

tually comprised of individual owner/operators who have en- S

4
Kwik Kar, TX
Total Stores: 390 Independent: 390 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 5 1% 395
tered into an agreement with Chevron to use Havoline xpress
lube signage, is grouped together as a chain. S
5
Havoline xpress lube, CA
Total Stores: 350 Independent: 350 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 4 *
Projection
Unavailable

Further, we frequently run across independent lube opera-

tions that might own six or more of these branded facilities. To
S
6
Valvoline Express Care, KY
Total Stores: 342 Independent: 342 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 6 2% 365

avoid double-counting those shops, we group them in a sepa- S

7
Mobil 1 Lube Express, VA
Total Stores: 330 Independent: 330 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 7 3% Unavailable
Projection

rate listing we call “Associated Lube Chains.”

We would be remiss not to mention the sponsorship of this S
8
ConocoPhillips Lube Shop, TX
Total Stores: 186 Independent: 186 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 11 0% Unavailable
Express Oil Change & Service Center, AL
Projection

year’s Tops in the Industry study, as well. Ordinarily, we pub- Total Stores: 186 Co. Owned: 76 / Franchised: 110 2010 Rank: 12 8% 201
lish only select data in the magazine, reserving information on Grease Monkey, CO
Total Stores: 186 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 186 2010 Rank: 10 -4% 196
oil change-plus companies, industry sales, overall store popu-
lation, etc. for a report available for sale or free to paid sub- S
11
CITGO Fast Lube, TX
Total Stores: 179 Independent: 179 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 9 -10% 194
scribers to the magazine. Thanks to Sea Foam’s sponsorship
of this year’s survey, however, we are able to bring readers the S
12
Shell Rapid Lube, TX
Total Stores: 175 † Independent: 175 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 8 n/a
Unavailable
Projection

full survey.
One final note before we examine the data: In most instanc-
S
13
Oil Can Henry’s, OR
Total Stores: 88 Co. Owned: 28 / Franchised: 60 2010 Rank: 13 1% 90

es, the information we publish was reported to us directly from S

14
Castrol Premium Lube Express, NJ
Total Stores: 81 Independent: 81 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 16 56%
Projection
Unavailable

the companies or from independent sources we deem reliable.

However, in a few instances where companies were unable to S
15
EZ Lube Fast Oil Change Experts, CA
Total Stores: 74 Co. Owned: 74 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 14 0% 74

furnish reliable data, we have used estimates based on our own S

16
American LubeFast, GA
Total Stores: 73 Co. Owned: 73 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 15 0% 73
proprietary database of fast lube facilities. All information is
believed accurate and current as of Feb. 28, 2011. S
17
Super Lube, FL
Total Stores: 50 Co. Owned: 31 / Franchised: 19 2010 Rank: 18 43% 51

And now on to the data.

S
18
Lube Stop, OH
Total Stores: 37 Co. Owned: 37 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 17 0% 39

Shakeup at the Top: Fast Lubes 2011 S

19
LubePro’s, IL
Total Stores:
Oil Changers, CA
34 Co. Owned: 15 / Franchised: 19 2010 Rank: 19 0% 39

As we mentioned above, the top five lube chains on our list

have not varied much in recent years, but this year four of the
five changed positions.
Fear not, as Jiffy Lube remains the nation’s largest fast lube
chain, but not even that status immunizes the company from S
22
Total Stores: 34 Co. Owned: 15 / Franchised: 19 2010 Rank: 19 0% 39
Victory Lane Quick Oil Change, MI
Total Stores: 34 Co. Owned: 3 / Franchised: 31 2010 Rank: 21 6% 37
Speed Lube, IL
Total Stores: 31 Co. Owned: 31 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 23 0% 31

feeling the effects of a sluggish economy, as the overall popula-

tion of Jiffy Lube facilities declined by 13 compared with last
S
23
Mystik Service Center, TX
Total Stores: 30 Independent: 30 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 50 400% 37

year despite aggressive growth by a number of Jiffy Lube fran-

chisees.
S
24
Performance Plus Quick Lube, MI
Total Stores:
Snappy Lube, NC
29 Co. Owned: 29 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 21 -9% 29

Total Stores: 29 Co. Owned: 29 / Franchised: 0 NEW 31

Where the changes start is in the second spot. Pennzoil Uncle Ed’s Oil Shoppe, MI
10-Minute Oil Change, Shell’s largest branded lube program, Total Stores: 29 Co. Owned: 29 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 24 0% 29
Take 5 Oil Change, LA
had held down the second spot on our Tops list since 1996.
However, based on internal estimates of the chain’s population, S
27 Total Stores: 25 Co. Owned: 25 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 25 4%
ilstop Drive-Thru Oil Center, CA
O
27

it has become clear the chain has declined in size in recent

S
28 Total Stores: 23 Co. Owned: 11 / Franchised: 12 2010 Rank: 26 5% 26
years, and now ranks third behind the Valvoline Instant Oil
Change chain, which is comprised of both company-owned S
29
Express Lube, TX
Total Stores: 22 Co. Owned: 22 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 26 0% 24

and franchised locations. With nearly 900 locations, VIOC

now holds the honor of being the nation’s second-largest fast
S
30
Prompto 10-Minute Oil Change, ME
Total Stores: 21
Terrible Herbst, NV
Co. Owned: 21 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 26 –5%
Projection
Unavailable

lube chain. Total Stores: 21 Co. Owned: 21 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 29 0% 21

We also saw a shakeup in the fourth and fifth spots, with Chart continued, page 22

20 www.noln.net  
 www.seafoamsales.com

Growth Since Stores Projected

Kwik Kar, the loose network of same-named but independent- TOP FAST LUBE CHAINS, continued 2/28/10 by 12/11
ly owned shops, moving up into fourth position, its highest
ranking since 2003. In all, Kwik Kar’s store population grew S
32
FASLube Oil Change Center, OH
Total Stores: 16 Co. Owned: 16 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 30 7% 16
by four facilities last year. What created the jump in ranking,
however, was the turmoil associated with the Texaco Xpress S
33
Fast Eddie’s Oil Change, MI
Total Stores: 15
Lube ‘n Go, TX
Co. Owned: 15 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 30 0% 15

Lube chain. Last spring, Chevron announced that this chain Total Stores: 15 Co. Owned: 15 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 39 36%
Projection
Unavailable
of independently owned shops would be rebranded as Havo- Oil Express, IL
line xpress lubes (yes, the lowercase is correct per Chevron’s Total Stores: 15 Co. Owned: 8 / Franchised: 7 2010 Rank: 30 0% 15
request). The net effect of such an undertaking is that some
350 facilities are now affiliated with the Havoline xpress lube S
36
Time-It Lube, LA
Total Stores: 14 Co. Owned: 14 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 33 0% 14

brand, down from approximately 450 that were affiliated with

the Texaco Xpress Lube brand.
S
37
Duke of Oil, IN
Total Stores: 13
Grease Spot, IL
Co. Owned: 13 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 36 0% 13

Total Stores: 13 Co. Owned: 13 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 33 -7% 13

Mystik QuickChange, OH
Service Total Stores: 13 Co. Owned: 11 / Franchised: 2 2010 Rank: 33 -7% 13
Center
went from
S
40
Avis Lube Fast Oil Change Center, TX
Total Stores: 12 Co. Owned: 12 / Franchised: 0
Fast Track Oil Change Center, WI
2010 Rank: 37 0% 12

having Total Stores: 12 Co. Owned: 12 / Franchised: 0 NEW 12

only six
facilities
to 30
S
42
Grease Pro Express Lube, FL
Total Stores: 11
The Lube Center, MD
Co. Owned: 11 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 39 0% 11

facilities, Total Stores: 11 Co. Owned: 11 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 39 0% 11

a 400
percent
increase.
S
44
National Lube Express, TX
Total Stores: 10
QuikStop Oilube, KY
Co. Owned: 10 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 43 0% 10

Total Stores: 10 Co. Owned: 10 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 43 0% 10

Beyond the top spots, there was notable movement by other

companies/brands, as well. For instance, Castrol’s Premium
S
46
Super Lube, TX
Total Stores: 9 Co. Owned: 9 / Franchised: 0
UMC dba Speedy Lube/Zap Lube, NY
2010 Rank: 45 0% 9

Lube Express branded program was the facility growth cham- Total Stores: 9 Co. Owned: 9 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 45 0% 9
pion last year, expanding by 29 total shops and moving up two
spots on the list to crack the top 15. Meanwhile, CITGO’s Mys-
S
48
Mr. Good Lube - New Jersey’s Oil Change Ctr., NJ
Total Stores: 8 Co. Owned: 8 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 39 -27% 8

tik Service Center was the percentage growth champion, ex-

panding by 24 total shops for a 400 percent growth rate, which
S
49
Mr. Fast Lube, AR
Total Stores: 7
Mr. Lubie, IN
Co. Owned: 7 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 48 0% 7

moved the chain from 50th position to 23rd in just 12 months. Total Stores: 7 Co. Owned: 7 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 47 -13% 7
Prontolube, TX
Other notable “gainers” were the aforementioned VIOC, Total Stores: 7 Co. Owned: 7 / Franchised: 0 0% 7
which grew by 22 shops; the Mobil 1 Lube Express signage
chain, which grew by 10 stores; Express Oil Change, which S
52
Bradzoil 10 Minute Oil Change, TX
Total Stores: 6
Toot n’ Totum, TX
Co. Owned: 6 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 50 0% 6
added 14 facilities; and Super Lube, which grew by 15 facilities.
Total Stores: 6 Co. Owned: 6 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 50 0% 7
In all, 14 of the 53 chains on our list (or 26 percent) reported
*Texaco Xpress Lubes in process of rebranding to Havoline xpress lube
expanding or adding facilities during the past year. In addi- †: estimate n/a: not applicable
tion, 25 chains reported no change in their facility population,
meaning nearly three-fourths of the chains on our list either
added stores or remained unchanged, a positive sign for the TOP ASSOCIATED CHAINS — 2011
industry. S 1 North Florida Lube, FL (62 Havoline xpress lube, 2 NFL Xpress Lube) Total Stores: 64
However, there were a dozen chains that reported closing or S2 Southern Express Lube, FL (37 Mobil Lube Express, 4 Shell Rapid Lube) Total Stores: 41
selling facilities. We’ve already discussed the Pennzoil 10-Min-
ute Oil Change program, but we also estimate the Shell Rapid
S3 Pioneer Quick Lube, MI (Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change) Total Stores: 25

Lube signage program has declined in recent years. Together

S4 Fast Change Lube & Oil, KY (Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change) Total Stores: 21

with the Havoline xpress lube program, these three signage S5 Speed Lube 10-Minute Oil Change, IL (Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change) Total Stores: 16

chains represent the lion’s share of the chains that lost facilities S6 Lighthouse Lube, WI (Mobil 1 Lube Express) Total Stores: 13

compared to last year’s rankings. S7 Express Automotive Group, TX (Texaco Xpress Lube) Total Stores: 11

Other notable decliners were CITGO’s Fast Lube signage Grease Lightning (7 Castrol Premium Lube Express, 1 Oil Doctor, 3 Grease Lightning) Total Stores: 11

program, which declined by some 20 shops (though some of S 9 Automasters of Asheboro, NC (Valvoline Express Care) Total Stores: 9

those may simply have converted to the Mystik brand); Grease Sayle Oil Co., MS (Shell Rapid Lube) Total Stores: 9

22 www.noln.net  
 www.seafoamsales.com

Monkey, which declined by eight facilities; and Performance TOP OIL CHANGE-PLUS CHAINS ’11 Growth Since
2/28/10
Plus Quick Lube, which declined by three facilities. In all, most
companies that reported a decline in store population saw only
a modest reduction, a sign that the industry has stabilized after
S
1
Walmart Tire & Lube Express, AR 1
Total Stores: 2,450 Co. Owned: 2,450 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 1 -3%

a difficult economic period. (More on that later in the article.) S

Our research did uncover a pair of new fast lube chains:
North Carolina-based Snappy Lube, a company with nearly
2
Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, IL2
Total Stores: 2,149 Co. Owned: 2,149 / Franchised:
Goodyear Tire & Service Network Outlets, OH
0 2010 Rank: 2 2%
S
3 Total Stores: 1,834 Co. Owned: 1,834 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 3 -4%

30 stores that somehow had eluded our attention until now; S

4
Midas Auto Service Experts, IL3
Total Stores: 1,491
TBC Retail Group, FL4
Co. Owned: 102 / Franchised: 1,389 2010 Rank: 4 -6%
and Wisconsin-based Fast Track Oil Change Centers. Those
two additions to our list almost replaced three companies S
5 Total Stores: 1,245 Co. Owned: 820 / Franchised: 425
Meineke Car Care Center, NC 5
2010 Rank: 5 4%

that dropped off: New York-based FastTrack, whose 12 shops

were purchased piecemeal by other companies; Illinois-based
S
6 Total Stores: 916 Co. Owned: 17 / Franchised: 899 2010 Rank: 6 -1%

Brahler Lube Centers, which sold one store and dropped to S

7
Sears Auto Centers, IL
Total Stores: 850 Co. Owned: 850 / Franchised:
Aamco Transmissions & Total Car Care, PA
0 2010 Rank: 7 0%

five total, keeping them just under the minimum for inclusion
on our list; and Texas Oil X-Change, which was purchased by S
8 Total Stores: 837 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 837 2010 Rank: 7 -2%

a major franchise company just as this issue was going to press. S

9
Monro Muffler Brake & Service, NY 6
Total Stores: 739 Co. Owned: 739 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 10 <1%
On the Associated Chains list, our research uncovered two
companies: Wisconsin-based Lighthouse Lube, with 13 Mo- S
10
Pep Boys, PA
Total Stores: 614 Co. Owned: 614 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 11 5%

bil 1 Lube Express facilities in operation; and New York-based S

11
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center (Ford), MI
Total Stores: 600 Co. Owned:
Tuffy/Car X Auto Service Center, OH
0 / Franchised: 600 2010 Rank: 12 5%
Grease Lightning, which operates a total of 11 facilities, in-
cluding seven Castrol Premium Lube Express stores. S
12 Total Stores: 389
Precision Tune Auto Care, VA
Co. Owned: 30 / Franchised: 359 2010 Rank: 13 -6%

In addition to information on U.S.-owned foreign fast lube

chains and truck lube chains, we’ve also introduced a listing
S
13 Total Stores: 264 Co. Owned: 20 / Franchised: 244 2010 Rank: 14 -1%

of international fast lube chains. Though it can be difficult to S

14
AutoNation, FL
Total Stores: 242 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 242 2010 Rank: 15 -2%
categorize a foreign company as a “fast lube” — indeed, the
largest company on this new list, United Kingdom-based Kwik S
15
All Tune & Lube, MD 7
Total Stores: 209
CarMax, VA
Co. Owned: 1 / Franchised: 208 2010 Rank: 16 0%

Fit, would be more akin to an oil change-plus company in the S

16 Total Stores: 104 Co. Owned: 104 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 17 4%
United States — we did track down no fewer than nine Cana-
dian fast lube chains. Expect this list to grow in coming years S
17
Brake Masters, AZ
Total Stores: 91 Co. Owned: 56 / Franchised: 35 2010 Rank: 18 2%

as our research improves.

S
18
Big 10 Tire Store, AL
Total Stores: 84 Co. Owned: 84 / Franchised: 0 NEW

Shaken, Not Stirred: Oil Change-Plus Rankings S

19
Christian Brothers Automotive, TX
Total Stores: 83
Lithia Motors, Inc., OR
Co. Owned: 3 / Franchised: 80 2010 Rank: 21 26%

While the top five chains on the fast lube list showed some fluc- Total Stores: 83 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 83 2010 Rank: 19 -2%
tuation, the top five chains in our oil change-plus list remained
the same — with a caveat. While two of the top five (Bridges- S
21
Purrfect Auto Service, CA
Total Stores: 73 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 73
VIP Parts, Tires & Service, ME
2010 Rank: 20 -9%
tone Retail and TBC Retail Group) each added more than 35
facilities, the remaining chains in the top five (Walmart Tire S
22 Total Stores: 56 Co. Owned: 56 / Franchised:
Brakes Plus Complete Auto Service, CO
0 2010 Rank: 25 0%

& Lube Express, Goodyear Tire & Service, and Midas Auto
Service Experts) each declined by a minimum of 74 facilities
S
23 Total Stores: 55 Co. Owned: 55 / Franchised:
Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops, IL
0 2010 Rank: 26 4%

(estimated in Walmart’s case). Total Stores: 55 Co. Owned: 10 / Franchised: 45 2010 Rank: 23 -7%
Strauss Discount Auto, NJ
We’ve tracked the sudden de-emphasis of Walmart’s Tire &
Lube Express chain for the past two years. After growing rap- S
25 Total Stores: 48 Co. Owned: 48 / Franchised:
Lee Myles Transmission & Auto Care, NJ
0 2010 Rank: 23 -19%

idly (an estimated 1,200 T&LE facilities in 2000 to more than S

26 Total Stores: 44 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 44
Auto-Lab Complete Car Care Center, MI
2010 Rank: 27 0%
2,500 last year), the retail giant has apparently shifted gears.
They were reluctant to share the total number of T&LE fa- S
27 Total Stores:
Tire-Rama, MT
43 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 43 2010 Rank: 28 5%

cilities in operation with us, but published statements by the

S
28 Total Stores: 40 Co. Owned: 40 / Franchised:
Tilden Your Total Car Care Center, NY
0 2010 Rank: 29 0%
company put the number somewhere around the 2,450 we are
reporting, a sizable decline from the more than 2,500 reported S
29 Total Stores: 35
Commercial Tire, ID
Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 35 2010 Rank: 22 -44%

last year.
Elsewhere, Midas saw the greatest decline in store popula-
S
30 Total Stores: 34 Co. Owned: 34 / Franchised:
Conrad’s Tire Express 7 Total Car Care, OH
0 2010 Rank: 32 0%

tion on the oil change-plus list, as its store population shrank

by some 87 facilities, or 6 percent, during the past year.
S
31 Total Stores: 31 Co. Owned: 31 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 33 0%

Chart continued, page 26

24 www.noln.net  
 www.seafoamsales.com

TOP OIL CHANGE-PLUS CHAINS, cont. Growth Since

2/28/10
In all, 15 of the 51 chains on the oil change-plus list recorded
an increase in store population, led by TBC Retail, which grew S
32
Milex Complete Auto Care, IL
Total Stores: 30 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 30 2010 Rank: 30 -19%
by an impressive 45 facilities. Other notable “gainers” were Pep
Boys, which grew by 27 service facilities; Ford’s Quick Lane, S
33
Tunex Complete Car Care, UT
Total Stores: 28 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 28 2010 Rank: 34 8%

which grew by 28; and Christian Brothers Automotive, which

grew by 17 franchised facilities. S
34
Sun Devil Auto, AZ 7
Total Stores: 27 Co. Owned: 27 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 35 8%

While 17 chains on the oil change-plus list were unchanged S

35
Honest-1 Auto Care, AZ
Total Stores: 25 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 25 NEW
from last year, 16 saw declines in service center facility popu-
lation, led by the aforementioned Midas and Walmart. Other S
36
Mister Hotshine Carwash & Lube Center, AZ
Total Stores: 24 Co. Owned: 24 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 36 0%

notable decliners were: Tuffy/Car-X, which shrank by 24 facili- S

37
Quality Tune-Up Shops, CA8
Total Stores: 22 Co. Owned: 8 / Franchised: 14 2010 Rank: 31 -15%
ties; Strauss Discount Auto, which declined by 11 shops; and
Tilden Your Total Car Care Center, which saw its store popula- S
38
Wash Depot/Simoniz Car Wash, MA
Total Stores: 21 Co. Owned: 21 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 38 0%

tion decline by 27, or a whopping 44 percent reduction.

In addition, we added three new chains to the list: Big 10
S
39
Lentz USA Automotive Service Centers, MI
Total Stores: 19 Co. Owned: 10 / Franchised: 9 2010 Rank: 37 -17%

Tire Stores, which have entered the auto service arena in a big S
40
King Bear Auto Service Centers, NY 7
Total Stores: 17 Co. Owned: 2 / Franchised: 15 2010 Rank: 39 0%
way; Honest-1 Auto Care, a franchise company with 25 fran-
chised facilities in operation; and Woodie’s Auto Service, a S
41
City Garage, TX
Total Stores: 16 Co. Owned: 16 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 40 0%

North Carolina chain with seven facilities. S

42
Tune Up Plus/Quality Car Care/Harris Tire Service, VA
Total Stores: 15 Co. Owned: 15 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 41 25%
There is one other notable change to this year’s oil change-
plus rankings: It contains no dealerships (the 600 Ford Quick S
43
Car Care Clinic, MS
Total Stores: 13 Co. Owned: 13 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 41 8%

Lane centers are generally dealership owned, but operated

separately from dealership service centers). The reason for this
S
44
Danny’s Family Car Wash, AZ
Total Stores: 12 Co. Owned: 12 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 41 0%

exclusion is that with Toyota’s recent cancelling of its Toyota S

45
Delta Sonic Car Wash/Sonic Lube, NY
Total Stores: 11 Co. Owned: 11 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 44 0%

Express Lube program, and GM’s ending of the GM Good-

wrench program, dealerships seem to have largely moved out S
46
Car Spa, TX
Total Stores: 10 Co. Owned: 10 / Franchised: 0
LMC Carwash & Lube, NY
2010 Rank: 45 0%

of the quick oil change arena. To be sure many still perform Total Stores: 10 Co. Owned: 10 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 45 0%
quick oil changes, but not on a corporate basis. Mr. Clean Car Wash, GA
Total Stores: 10 Co. Owned: 0 / Franchised: 10 2010 Rank: 45 0%
We are in the process, however, of researching the exact
number of service facilities each automotive brand operates.
However, at press time we had not yet acquired enough data
S
49
Raffield Tire-Master, GA
Total Stores: 8 Co. Owned: 8 / Franchised: 0
Savannah Tire Brake & Alignment, GA
2010 Rank: 48 0%

to publish a thorough listing of dealership service facilities, a Total Stores: 8 Co. Owned: 8 / Franchised: 0 2010 Rank: 50 33%

condition we aim to rectify in time for the 2012 edition of our

Tops in the Industry rankings. S
51
1
Woodie’s Auto Service, NC
Total Stores: 7

estimate
Co. Owned: 7 / Franchised: 0 NEW

2
dba Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus Total Car Care, Expert Tire and Wheel Works.
Shake, Rattle and Roll: Estimating the Industry’s Size 3
also dba as SpeeDee Oil Change & Tune-Up. Some stores co-branded.
Every year as part of our Tops in the Industry study, we es-
4
dba Tire Kingdom, NTB–National Tire and Battery, Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers, and Big O Tires.
5
dba Econo Lube N’ Tune & Brakes and Meineke Car Care Center. Some stores co-branded.
timate the fast lube industry’s overall facility population and 6
also dba Mr. Tire, TreadQuarters Discount Tire and Autotire Car Care Center.
sales. We calculate facility population using a carefully honed 7
figures obtained from third-party source
8
chain owned by two separate entities.
formula that takes into account the increasing gray area that

26 www.noln.net  

exists between a “true” fast lube (i.e. those companies with fa-
cilities represented on our fast lube rankings) and oil change-
plus facilities. In other words, the formula attempts to take
into account the fact that many more oil change-plus shops
are moving toward inclusion in the fast lube category simply
because they are deriving more and more of their income from
automotive maintenance. We recognize that while companies
may be included in the oil change-plus category, many of their
individual stores will, in fact, be counted as fast lubes based on
their share of auto maintenance work.
To that end, we estimate that as of March 1, 2011 there were
approximately 16,716 fast lube facilities in operation, an in-
crease of 185 facilities, or 1.1 percent. Not all of this increase
in facility population can be attributed to brick-and-mortar
construction, as we estimate the majority comes from an in-
creasing overlap of oil change-plus facilities into the fast lube
sector. However, the formula clearly estimates that the overall
fast lube sector grew in 2010, the first growth recorded in the
sector’s facility population in more than three years.
Using the average car count and ticket average figures from
our 2010 Fast Lube Operators Survey, we estimate industry
sales will be approximately $9.027 billion this year, an increase
of nearly $100 million from last year. Much of that sales in-
crease will come from the fast lube sector’s growing market
share, which stands at an estimated 30-35 percent of the total
installed auto maintenance market (a figure that has increased
in recent years due in part to the decline in the number of new-
car dealerships).
Other pertinent figures that help define the fast lube industry:
• The average fast lube customer changes his or her motor oil
every 4,419 miles.
• Between 2008 and 2010, only 3 percent of installed customers
extended their oil change intervals. (Source: Frost & Sullivan)
• In 2010, 75.4 percent of all automotive service events were
attributed to the installed market. (Source: IMR Inc.)
• The average age of U.S. passenger cars and light trucks stands
at 10.2 years, and U.S. drivers are keeping their vehicles an av-
erage of nearly 50 months, a 10 percent increase from 2008.
(Source: R.L. Polk)
All in all, the fast lube industry has been like any other the
past few years, as companies have struggled to balance suc-
cess against a challenging economy. For some companies, this
has meant paring unprofitable operations to focus more re-
sources on those facilities that are moneymakers. For others, it
has meant taking advantage of favorable market conditions to
buy existing businesses on the cheap, expanding their market
presence and overall business. When all the shaking up of the
industry rankings is complete, however, it reveals that the fast
lube sector, in particular, is in good shape, with strong healthy
companies focused on growing as the economy improves. And
that is a good place to be. S
28 www.noln.net  
www.seafoamsales.com
U.S.-BASED LUBE CHAINS RANKED BY
NUMBER OF FOREIGN FACILITES — 2011
S1 Mobil 1 Centers, VA Total Stores: 2,081
S2 Texaco/Caltex Xpress Lube (ChevronTexaco), CA Total Stores: 1,432
S3 Midas Auto Service Experts, IL Total Stores: 940
S4 Walmart Tire & Lube Express, AR Total Stores: 266
S5 Precision Tune Auto Care, VA
Total Stores: 82
S6 Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change, TX
Total Stores: 75
S7 SpeeDee Oil Change & Tune-Up, LA
Total Stores: 65
S8 Grease Monkey, CO Total Stores: 61
S9 Meineke Car Care Centers, NC Total Stores: 58
S10 Jiffy Lube, TX Total Stores: 45
S11 Aamco Transmissions, PA Total Stores: 15
INTERNATIONAL FAST LUBE CHAINS — 2011
S1 Kwik-Fit, U.K./EUROPE Total Stores: 1,800
S2 National Tyre & Autocare, U.K. Total Stores: 200
S3 Petromin Express, SAUDI ARABIA Total Stores: 135
S4 Mr. Lube, CAN Total Stores: 102
S5 Lube-X, CAN Total Stores: 51
S6 Great Canadian Oil Change, CAN Total Stores: 42
S7 Oil Changers, CAN Total Stores: 25
S8 Lube City, CAN Total Stores: 20
S9 Just Lubes, CAN Total Stores: 14
S10 Economy Lube, CAN Total Stores: 11
S11 Minit Lube, CAN Total Stores: 7
S12 Lube World, CAN Total Stores: 6
TRUCK LUBE CHAINS — 2011
S1 TA Maintenance Shops Total Stores: 165
S2 Petro:Lube Total Stores: 58
S3 Speedco Total Stores: 48
S4 Bosselman dba Boss Truck Shops Total Stores: 34
S5 Pilot Truck Center Total Stores: 32
S6 Sullivan Truck Center Total Stores: 15
S7 Zippy Lube-A-Truck Total Stores: 9
S8 Truck PM Plus Total Stores: 8
Thank you for participating in this year’s
survey. If you were not included and
would like to be, please call Misty Dolan
at 800.796.2577 or e-mail:
misty.dolan@noln.net