{
  "category": "oil_change",
  "compiled": "2026-07-10",
  "method": "Ranges compiled from published national sources and chain-published anchors; cross-checked. Where chains hide menu pricing (Jiffy Lube, Firestone), ranges reflect published observations, not invented precision. Coupon reality noted because at several chains nobody should pay menu price.",
  "unit": "USD, standard 5-quart service, before tax/fees; larger engines (6-8 qt) add cost",
  "chains": {
    "jiffy_lube": {
      "name": "Jiffy Lube",
      "publishes_menu": false,
      "conventional": {"low": 50, "high": 80},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 65, "high": 90},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 90, "high": 110, "typical": 90},
      "coupon_reality": "National $10-off Signature Service coupon almost always live on jiffylube.com; local coupons often stronger.",
      "notes": "Deliberately location-priced — expect variance. Signature Service includes fluid top-off and inspection.",
      "sources": ["groupon.com/coupons/blog/valvoline-vs-jiffy-lube", "carserviceland.com/jiffy-lube-oil-change-price/", "theoilchangeprices.com/jiffy-lube-oil-change-prices/"]
    },
    "valvoline": {
      "name": "Valvoline Instant Oil Change",
      "publishes_menu": "partial (store pages)",
      "conventional": {"low": 45, "high": 75},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 65, "high": 90},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 85, "high": 100, "typical": 85},
      "coupon_reality": "Standing national coupons: ~$10-12 off conventional, ~$12-15 off synthetic. Treat menu price as pre-coupon fiction.",
      "notes": "Stay-in-car service; store pages show local pricing.",
      "sources": ["groupon.com/coupons/blog/valvoline-vs-jiffy-lube", "cheapism.com/valvoline-vs-jiffy-lube-vs-walmart/"]
    },
    "take_5": {
      "name": "Take 5 Oil Change",
      "publishes_menu": "partial",
      "conventional": {"low": 40, "high": 55, "typical": 40},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 55, "high": 75},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 75, "high": 95, "typical": 80},
      "coupon_reality": "Frequent 25%-off and $10-15 coupons by email signup.",
      "notes": "Drive-through model; consistently among cheapest full-synthetic anchors of the quick-lube chains.",
      "sources": ["theoilchangeprices.com/take-5-oil-change-prices/", "carsflick.com/take-5-oil-change-prices/"]
    },
    "midas": {
      "name": "Midas",
      "publishes_menu": false,
      "conventional": {"low": 40, "high": 50},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 55, "high": 80},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 70, "high": 100, "typical": 60, "typical_note": "local offers ~$59.99 common"},
      "coupon_reality": "Local $59.99-class full-synthetic offers frequently undercut the quick-lube chains.",
      "notes": "Full-service shop — oil change often a loss-leader for inspection upsells.",
      "sources": ["theoilchangeprices.com/midas-oil-change-prices/", "carserviceland.com/oil-change-prices/"]
    },
    "firestone": {
      "name": "Firestone Complete Auto Care",
      "publishes_menu": false,
      "conventional": {"low": 40, "high": 60},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 55, "high": 80},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 75, "high": 105},
      "coupon_reality": "Standing $15-off-any-oil-change coupon typical; occasional oil-brand mail-in rebates ($40-class) make it cheapest when stacked.",
      "notes": "Appointment model; pricing opaque without a store quote.",
      "sources": ["theoilchangeprices.com/firestone-oil-change-prices/", "carserviceland.com/best-full-synthetic-oil-change-deal-near-me/"]
    },
    "walmart": {
      "name": "Walmart Auto Care Center",
      "publishes_menu": true,
      "conventional": {"low": 29, "high": 35, "typical": 29, "typical_note": "$28.88 Pit Crew package"},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 45, "high": 55, "typical": 49, "typical_note": "$48.88 Quaker State synthetic option"},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 55, "high": 68, "typical": 59, "typical_note": "$58.88 published; premium $64.88"},
      "coupon_reality": "No coupons needed — published prices ARE the floor of the market.",
      "notes": "Cheapest published anchors in the category; longer waits, no inspection theater.",
      "sources": ["carserviceland.com/walmart-oil-change-prices/", "theoilchangeprices.com/walmart-oil-change-prices/"]
    },
    "ntb": {
      "name": "NTB (National Tire & Battery)",
      "publishes_menu": true,
      "conventional": {"low": 24.99, "high": 24.99, "typical": 24.99, "typical_note": "Valvoline conventional starting price"},
      "high_mileage": {"low": 59.99, "high": 59.99},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 95.99, "high": 95.99, "typical": 95.99},
      "coupon_reality": "Recurring $20-off synthetic-blend-or-full-synthetic offer on the NTB deals page and email newsletter.",
      "notes": "Sister brand to Mavis; uses Valvoline oil. Every change bundles tire rotation and a multi-point inspection. Lowest published conventional anchor in the category, undercutting Walmart; full synthetic near the top.",
      "sources": ["lubepit.com/oil-change-cost-at-ntb/", "mavis.com/ntb/coupons/synthetic-oil-change/"]
    },
    "grease_monkey": {
      "name": "Grease Monkey",
      "publishes_menu": "partial (franchise-priced)",
      "conventional": {"low": 40, "high": 55, "typical": 39.99, "typical_note": "starts ~$39.99"},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 60, "high": 80, "typical": 59.99},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 65, "high": 85, "typical": 79.99},
      "coupon_reality": "Standing $10-off blend / $15-off full-synthetic coupons; National Oil Change Day (every April) drops full synthetic to ~$49.99 at participating locations.",
      "notes": "Independently owned franchises set their own rates; observed ~$50 conventional in Baton Rouge vs ~$89-99 full synthetic in Denver.",
      "sources": ["theoilchangeprices.com/grease-monkey-oil-change-prices/", "carserviceland.com/grease-monkey-oil-change-coupons-and-price/"]
    },
    "meineke": {
      "name": "Meineke Car Care",
      "publishes_menu": false,
      "conventional": {"low": 25, "high": 45, "typical": 25, "typical_note": "Summer Savings coupon can hit $19.99"},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 50, "high": 70},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 70, "high": 85, "typical": 75},
      "coupon_reality": "Location-specific coupons run constantly; Summer Savings Event has dropped basic oil change to $19.99. Package includes 23-point inspection and tire rotation.",
      "notes": "Full-service shop — oil change is a door-opener for inspection-driven upsells, like Midas and Firestone.",
      "sources": ["theoilchangeprices.com/meineke-oil-change-prices/", "carserviceland.com/meineke-oil-change-coupons-price/"]
    },
    "goodyear": {
      "name": "Goodyear Auto Service",
      "publishes_menu": "partial (store-page/quote)",
      "conventional": {"low": 20, "high": 45},
      "synthetic_blend": {"low": 35, "high": 60},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 60, "high": 90},
      "coupon_reality": "Near-permanent $10-off full-synthetic coupon bundling a free four-tire rotation; $5-off conventional; up to $20 in Valvoline mail-in rebates stackable.",
      "notes": "Uses Valvoline oil; pricing varies by store and quote, so ranges reflect observed spread rather than a fixed menu. Conflicting content-farm figures (one listed $149+) were rejected as unobservable.",
      "sources": ["carserviceland.com/goodyear-oil-change-price/", "goodyear.com/en-US/save/oil-change-coupons"]
    },
    "pep_boys": {
      "name": "Pep Boys",
      "publishes_menu": true,
      "conventional": {"low": 45, "high": 45, "typical": 45},
      "high_mileage": {"low": 78, "high": 78, "typical": 78},
      "full_synthetic": {"low": 100, "high": 100, "typical": 100},
      "coupon_reality": "Online coupons ($10-20 off) and bundle-with-service deals recur — necessary, as menu prices are the highest of any national chain here.",
      "notes": "Publishes prices openly but is the priciest anchor on the page ($45 conventional, $100 full synthetic). Worth it only for fuller shop services.",
      "sources": ["carserviceland.com/pep-boys-oil-change-price/", "theoilchangeprices.com/pep-boys-oil-change-prices/"]
    }
  },
  "cross_chain_facts": [
    "Walmart's published $58.88 full synthetic is the national price anchor — every other chain's coupon math should be compared against it.",
    "NTB's published $24.99 Valvoline conventional is the lowest conventional anchor of the 11 chains, undercutting Walmart; Pep Boys ($45 conventional, $100 full synthetic) is the priciest.",
    "Jiffy Lube and Firestone intentionally do not publish menus; a 'price' you find for them online without a date is likely invented.",
    "Advertised prices assume up to 5 quarts; many trucks/SUVs take 6-8 and pay $10-25 more.",
    "At Valvoline/Firestone, standing coupons are permanent enough that menu price is effectively fiction."
  ]
}