{"id":3658,"date":"2026-07-15T23:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T23:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3658"},"modified":"2026-07-15T23:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T23:04:18","slug":"oil-change-prices-rising-in-tucson-amid-global-supply-chain-disruptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3658","title":{"rendered":"Oil change prices rising in Tucson amid global supply chain disruptions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – What used to cost around $80 for an oil change is now pushing $120 or higher at shops across southern Arizona \u2014 and the reason starts thousands of miles away.<\/p>\n

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Tensions near the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that serves as a key passage for global oil shipments \u2014 are disrupting supply chains, and the ripple effect is reaching Tucson.<\/p>\n

Prices climbing, shelves thinning<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cWith synthetic oils, 100% synthetic, you\u2019re paying over $140 an oil change,\u201d said Javier Avalos, owner of Spectrum Ina Road Auto Collision<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Do-it-yourselfers are also seeing higher prices and, in some cases, empty shelves. Online, drivers are taking notice. A dealership parts manager posted the following to the Reddit forum \u201cAsk Car Guys<\/b>\u201d:<\/p>\n

\u201cDealership parts manager here \u2014 my cost on bulk oil has gone up four times this year after having stayed relatively level since the pandemic. Those increases have meant that I\u2019m now paying 60 cents per quart more than I was charging for it in January. Packaged oil is the same story \u2014 except we\u2019re already seeing backorders on packaged oil products, and we simply just cannot get some things that we really need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Automakers issuing guidance on oil substitutions<\/b><\/h2>\n

Some of the biggest automakers are already preparing for a potential shortage, giving shops guidance on how to substitute oil formulas while keeping vehicles under warranty.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Chrysler, BMW and Nissan have sent out a bulletin saying now what you can do is lower the viscosity and use a lesser quality motor oil,\u201d Avalos said.<\/p>\n

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Spectrum Ina Road Auto Collision also relies on crude oil for petroleum paint and clear coats, meaning the supply chain impact extends beyond oil changes.<\/p>\n

What drivers should do now<\/b><\/h2>\n

Avalos said drivers should not panic \u2014 but should not wait, particularly if their vehicle calls for synthetic oil, which 70% of new vehicles require.<\/p>\n

\u201c10,000 miles is just too long to wait in southern Arizona,\u201d Avalos said.<\/p>\n

He also recommends purchasing an engine oil filter and two to four quarts of motor oil to keep at home for top-offs in case supply tightens further.<\/p>\n

If your car calls for synthetic, do not skip the service. Call your shop ahead and ask what oil they are using and whether any substitutions are being made. To save money, check for digital and mailed coupons, or consider family-owned shops, which often have lower everyday prices.<\/p>\n

Questions to ask your mechanic<\/b><\/h2>\n

About the automaker\u2019s bulletin and your warranty<\/b><\/p>\n