Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub vs Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub vs Valvoline Instant Oil Change: Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub costs $51K–$655K to open; Valvoline Instant Oil Change costs $821K–$2.1M. Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub has 30 units, Valvoline Instant Oil Change has 84. SBA loan history: Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub = 32 loans (6.3% default); Valvoline Instant Oil Change = 94 loans (4.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub vs Valvoline Instant Oil Change — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($51K vs $821K for Valvoline Instant Oil Change), a 94% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub versus $30K for Valvoline Instant Oil Change — Valvoline Instant Oil Change has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Valvoline Instant Oil Change operates 84 units to Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub's 30 — roughly 3× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Valvoline Instant Oil Change has the deeper SBA lending track record with 94 historical 7(a) approvals versus 32 for Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub. Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub's peak SBA year was 1995 (5 loans); Valvoline Instant Oil Change's peak was 2011 (8 loans). Valvoline Instant Oil Change's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub concentrates in GA (7 SBA-funded units) while Valvoline Instant Oil Change leads in TX (11) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub deals is $330K vs $720K for Valvoline Instant Oil Change — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 6.3% for Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub and 4.3% for Valvoline Instant Oil Change — Valvoline Instant Oil Change has the cleaner historical loss profile by 2.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 38 (Fair) for Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub and 56 (Moderate) for Valvoline Instant Oil Change, giving Valvoline Instant Oil Change the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 38/100 | 56/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 32 | 94 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 6.3% | 4.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $51K – $655K | $821K – $2.1M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $1.0M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 30 | 84 |
Franchised Units | 30 | 84 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | N/A | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1986 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | COBB COUNTY CENTER, GA | Cottonwood, AZ |
Category | Automotive Oil Change | Automotive Oil Change |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub or Valvoline Instant Oil Change?
Lower upfront capital required
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub: $51K starting · Valvoline Instant Oil Change: $821K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub: 32 SBA loans · Valvoline Instant Oil Change: 94 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub: 6.3% · Valvoline Instant Oil Change: 4.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub: 30 units · Valvoline Instant Oil Change: 84 units
More lender financing options
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub: 25 unique lenders · Valvoline Instant Oil Change: 59 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation — your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
Need Funding for Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub or Valvoline Instant Oil Change?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing. No retainers.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub vs Valvoline Instant Oil Change: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub and Valvoline Instant Oil Change is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $51K to $2.1M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Texaco Express Lube & Star Lub with 32 SBA loans and Valvoline Instant Oil Change with 94. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands — not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice — consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.