Automotive · Drive-through quick lube and oil change center with service pits or lifts
Quick Lube & Oil Change Franchise Audit Checklist
A quick lube franchise audit checklist covering bay and pit safety, service accuracy checks, used oil and hazardous materials handling, the customer experience, sales practices and records.
- 6
- 32
- 5
- 45 min
- 85
A quick lube center sells speed and trust. Guests stay in or near their car while technicians work above and below it, often in a pit. That puts bay safety, the accuracy of each service and honest recommendations at the center of the brand.
This checklist makes pit safety, the post-service oil level and drain plug verification, and used oil handling critical items. A missed drain plug or an unfilled engine is the most expensive mistake a quick lube can make, and most brands require a second technician to confirm it.
Observe at least three complete services from pull-in to pull-out before scoring the service zone. Check the point-of-sale record for each car to compare what was recommended against the manufacturer service schedule.
Zone weights
- Exterior & Bay Approach12%
- Bay & Pit Safety25%
- Service Execution & Accuracy20%
- Customer Experience & Sales Practices13%
- Used Oil, Hazmat & Environmental15%
- People, Training & Records15%
Zone-by-zone inspection criteria
Exterior & Bay Approach
12% of score · 12 ptsSignage, price boards, lot and bay entrance.
| Standard | Pts | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pylon and building signs lit and free of damage | 2 | Signs from the street |
| Price and service menu boards current, with no expired offers | 3 | Menu board straight on |
| Bay entrance lanes clearly marked with directional signage | 2 | Observation |
| Lot, bay aprons and curbs free of oil stains, litter and debris | 3 | Bay aprons from the lot |
| Bay doors clean and in good repair | 2 | Observation |
Bay & Pit Safety
25% of score · 25 ptsPit guarding, lifts, walking surfaces and fire safety.
| Standard | Pts | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pit openings guarded by rails, covers or an approved system whenever no vehicle is positioned over themCritical | 7 | Each pit opening with guarding in place |
| Where lifts are used, lift inspected within the last 12 months and lift locks engaged before work under a vehicleCritical | 5 | Lift inspection label |
| Pit stairs, floors and bay floors free of oil, with absorbent applied to spills | 4 | Pit floor and stairs |
| Fire extinguishers mounted, charged and inspected monthly | 3 | Extinguisher tag |
| Pit ventilation and lighting working | 3 | Observation |
| Eyewash station accessible and flushed on schedule | 3 | Observation |
Service Execution & Accuracy
20% of score · 20 ptsObserved services against the brand service procedure.
| Standard | Pts | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Drain plug torque and post-service oil level verified by a second technician on every service, with call-outs completedCritical | 7 | Observation |
| Correct oil type and viscosity used for the vehicle per the manufacturer specification on the work order | 4 | Work order line showing oil specification |
| Brand multi-point check completed and recorded on every vehicle | 3 | Observation |
| Fender covers and floor mats used on every vehicle | 2 | Observation |
| Service time at or under the brand target for observed services | 2 | Observation |
| Windshield sticker or digital reminder issued with correct next service mileage | 2 | Observation |
Customer Experience & Sales Practices
13% of score · 13 ptsGreeting, recommendations, lounge and checkout.
| Standard | Pts | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Guest greeted at the bay within the brand standard and service explained | 3 | Observation |
| Additional services recommended only with evidence shown to the guest, such as a dirty filter or test strip | 4 | Observation |
| Guest authorization recorded before any additional service is performed | 3 | Observation |
| Waiting lounge, restroom and coffee station clean and stocked | 2 | Lounge wide shot |
| Invoice reviewed with the guest at checkout | 1 | Observation |
Used Oil, Hazmat & Environmental
15% of score · 15 ptsUsed oil, filters, antifreeze and chemical storage.
| Standard | Pts | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Used oil tanks and containers in good condition, closed and labeled "Used Oil"Critical | 5 | Used oil tank label and condition |
| Used filters drained and stored in a closed, labeled container for recycling | 3 | Observation |
| Spill kit stocked and located near the tanks and bays | 3 | Spill kit contents |
| Safety data sheets available for every chemical in use | 2 | Observation |
| Floor drains and oil-water separator free of visible discharge and serviced on schedule | 2 | Observation |
People, Training & Records
15% of score · 15 ptsUniforms, training, exits and service records.
| Standard | Pts | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Technicians in brand uniform with safety glasses and gloves | 3 | Technicians at work, uniforms visible |
| Training records show each technician certified for the positions they work | 3 | Observation |
| Emergency exits unobstructed and open from insideCritical | 4 | Exit door and path |
| Used oil pickup receipts on file for the last 12 months | 3 | Observation |
| Service records complete, including technician IDs on each work order | 2 | Observation |
Critical failure triggers
Any one of these fails the audit regardless of the weighted score and opens a 24-hour CAP.
- Open pit with no guarding and no vehicle over it
- Work under a lifted vehicle with lift locks not engaged
- Drain plug and oil level not verified before the vehicle leaves
- Used oil container leaking, open or unlabeled
- Emergency exit locked or blocked
Corrective action windows
- Critical24 hoursPit guard rail left open between vehicles: guarding procedure re-briefed during the visit and a photo of each pit with guarding in place submitted within 24 hours.
- Major72 hoursSpill kit empty near the used oil tank: kit restocked and photographed with lid open.
- Minor7 to 14 daysFaded bay directional signage: replaced and photographed from the lot.
Photo capture guidelines for field reps
- 01Each pit opening from the bay floorShows whether guarding is in place when no car is over the pit.
- 02Lift inspection label close upProves the annual inspection date.
- 03Used oil tank with label and secondary containment in frameLabeling and container condition are what environmental inspectors check first.
- 04Work order line showing oil specificationTies the oil used to the vehicle requirement.
- 05Menu board straight onVision AI checks pricing and offers against the current marketing release.
- 06Spill kit with lid openAn empty spill kit looks the same as a full one from outside.
- 07Never photograph license plates or VINs in the reportGuest vehicle data stays out of audit evidence.
Download the printable PDF and spreadsheet.
Both versions keep the zone weights, point values and critical flags so your scores match the Gazi Wellness template.
Checklist questions
Pit or lift safety, the second-technician check of the drain plug and oil level, used oil container condition and labeling, and emergency exits. Each of these can cause serious injury, engine damage or an environmental violation.
Score whether every additional recommendation is backed by evidence shown to the guest and whether authorization is recorded before work. Compare recommendations to the manufacturer service schedule on the work order.
Yes. Used oil generators must keep containers in good condition and labeled "Used Oil" under EPA rules at 40 CFR Part 279, and many states add requirements of their own.
At least three complete services, ideally across different technicians, so the score reflects the bay rather than one person.
Double your FBC field audit capacity while eliminating subjective disputes.
Upload 15 store walk photos. See Gazi Wellness score them against brand standards in 60 seconds.
14-Day Free Production Trial on up to 10 stores. Unlimited FBC seats.