GSF Car Parts survey reveals engine oil complexity
GSF Car Parts have just published the results of an online survey looking at independent garages’ experiences with modern engine oils.
And it’s fair to say that engine oil remains as important to the vast majority of garages as oxygen is in the air we breathe. Vividly illustrating the role of this day-to-day essential, 43% of respondents reported completing 10 – 20 oil changes per week, with 27% more than 20. Only 30% of garages typically complete less than 10.
In terms of products kept in to meet this demand, 53% said they stock 3 – 5 different oil formulations. 27% hold more than 5 types, with 4% even saying they stock more than 10. Just 13% said they keep two or less.
55% said their stocking policy gave them coverage of 75% or above on the cars they’re working on. This still left 45% needing to order in oil for more than 1 in 4 of the cars coming through the workshop.
5W/30, sold in many different formulations, was by far the most popular grade used by garages - nearly 90% listed it as the ‘one grade they use the most’. The small remainder selected 10W/40, 10W/30, 5W/40 or 15W/40 their number one.
The split between standard (short) and extended (long) service interval oils proved to be very even, but slightly favoured the shorter lasting lower cost formulations. 46% said they used ‘around half and half’ of each type. 30% were ‘mostly short’ – with a further 3% ‘all short’. This was reasonably well counter-balanced by 16% using ‘mostly long’ (and just 1% all long).
Oil still represents a significant cost for garages; nearly 60% keep over £500 invested in their oil stock, with 28% keeping over £1,500 of money tied up in oil at any one time.
In terms of oil storage, the bulk tank of yesteryear now appears largely to be a thing of the past. Just 18% said they kept oil in bulk tanks of 500 litres or more. 39% said they keep 5 litre containers, with 36% keeping 20 – 50 litre containers. 55% - the highest scoring answer – keep oils in 199 litre barrels.
On the subject of keeping fewer grades in stock, 82% saw at least some benefit in this with roughly a third saying it would be ‘very beneficial’.
In conclusion, 59% admitted that vehicle manufacturer guidelines on which oils to use are more confusing than in the past, with only 15% feeling it’s ‘less confusing’ now.
Commenting on the survey, John Wright, GSF’s Head of Garage Equipment and Customer Development, said: “This has been a fantastically useful exercise, thanks go to all the garages that took time to help give us this picture of the oil market.”
