JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – The Strait of Hormuz closure could soon leave drivers paying more for car maintenance.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for oil shipments, is closed amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The closure is cutting off a significant portion of the global oil supply, and the effects are beginning to work their way down the chain.
For drivers in Northeast Arkansas, that could mean feeling the squeeze at the mechanic shop.
Luis Villalva, a technician at The Auto Clinic in Jonesboro, said oil change prices could go up.
“Oil changes could go up, you know, with there being such a short amount of oil,” Villalva said.
Villalva said manufacturers already recommend oil changes every six months or every 6,000 miles.
If an oil shortage happens, shops like Villalva’s may no longer be able to source oil from their usual suppliers.
“It could be to the point we’ll have to get most of it from dealerships now,” Villalva said. “Even, who knows if we could even get it from parts stores, then.”
If an oil shortage happened, it could get to the point where places would have to stop offering oil changes.
Villalva said shops which rely almost entirely on oil changes would feel the pressure first.
“With them not being able to do most of their oil changes there anymore, it could potentially be that they won’t, really hate to say it, but they probably won’t be in business for much longer,” Villalva said. “And hopefully that does not happen.”
Villalva said it could get to the point where shops can’t get oil anymore.
“It could definitely come to the point where we can’t even get a hold of oil anymore,” Villalva said. “I mean, that would be a huge deal.”
For now, Villalva said all they can do is watch what happens overseas and adjust if the supply squeeze hits here at home.
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