Using the right tool for the job can ensure safety, efficiency, and most importantly job quality. At the same time, improper tools can lead to damage, injury, and unnecessary frustration for staff and customers alike. That is why it is critical to select tools specifically designed for the task and to keep them well-maintained.
Investing in the right tools can allow a business to expand its services and see significant improvements in operations. However, it is also important for small business owners to determine what is needed before making an expensive investment.
In the automotive service world, it can be all too easy to make expensive purchases, only to find that certain tools aren’t right for the job or aren’t being used as much as envisioned.
“In the quick lube world, there are plenty of add-ons depending on the tasks you have your techs do,” explains Brian Morgan, national sales manager at Barberton, Ohio-based JohnDow Industries Inc.
The company, established in 1980, continues to provide equipment for automotive maintenance and repair shops, ranging from oil drains, fluid evacuators, and oil filter crushers to TPMS sensors, repair kits, and other hardware.
Certain Tools Can Add a New Service
Morgan tells National Oil and Lube News that certain tools can expand the services a quick lube shop offers, thereby improving the bottom line. It comes down to the space the shop has and their customers’ needs.
“Can you put a lift on your pit to do tire rotation?” Morgan suggests. “Are there other tools that can add services, such as being able to offer a battery swap?”
Adding even small services can help a shop increase its sales with minimal need for additional tools.
“We’ve seen that offering wiper blades can be a good add-on,” says Tim Beltitu, JohnDow Industries’ director of inside sales and customer support.
The Evacuation Plan
Among the larger equipment investments being made by quick lube operators for 2026 and beyond, Morgan and Beltitu point to JohnDow’s Centralized Fluid Evacuation System, which it unveiled last November. The system allows technicians to perform quick topside oil changes without removing skid plates or drain plugs, potentially improving car counts in the process.
“With an evacuation system, the operator can pull a quart out in 20 seconds, where previous systems would take about a minute,” Beltitu explains.
It can create a more comfortable work environment for technicians, while also reducing clutter and helping a shop stay better organized.
“The evacuation systems reduce noise, plus wear and tear on the systems,” Beltitu continues. “It is nearly silent in the bay.”
Right Tool for Right Now?
When considering a large investment in new tools or equipment, shops need to determine whether making such a purchase will tangibly improve their services, as well as whether their facilities can accommodate the addition.
JohnDow’s Centralized Fluid Evacuation System, for example, uses dedicated, fixed lines to transport oil from the bay to storage tanks. The system also requires a compressed air line to generate the vacuum needed for extraction.
“For two bays, a shop is looking at around $4,000 per bay,” Morgan tells NOLN.
Most shops can benefit from such a tool, but other upgrades may be far less critical.
“You really need to look at the data on your car counts,” Morgan continues. “If you are doing a coolant flush only once a week, then you may need to consider whether to invest in such technology.”
For those reasons, both Morgan and Beltitu say it may be necessary to review warranty claims and determine whether such equipment will be worth the investment.
