How do I check that an oil change shop’s bay equipment is in working order?

Start with the lifts or pits, since they carry the most risk and the most cost to replace. Raise and lower each lift through its full travel. Watch for drifting, uneven rising, slow hydraulics and worn locks. Ask for the latest inspection tag and who performed it. For pits, check drainage, lighting, ventilation and the condition of the steps and guards.

Next, test the fluid system. Run the bulk oil pumps, hose reels, meters and waste oil tanks. Look for slow flow, weeping fittings, stained floors and meters that nobody has calibrated lately. Ask where used oil and filters go, and whether the collection contracts transfer to a buyer.

Then match what you see to paper. Ask for purchase invoices, maintenance logs and repair bills for each major item, and compare them with the equipment list in the offer. Any item that is leased or financed needs a payout figure and a plan for who keeps it. Finally, ask the seller which pieces they would replace first if they were staying. Their answer shows where the hidden spending sits, and you can set it against the books. If a bay has been out of use, ask why, and what it would take to bring it back.

Key takeaways

• Operate every lift, pump and reel yourself, with a technician beside you.
• Match each major item to an invoice, a service record and a clear owner.
• Ask the seller which equipment they would replace first.