MALAYSIAN vehicle owners are being warned to prepare for higher servicing and maintenance costs as rising engine oil prices begin to ripple through the automotive aftermarket industry, raising concerns that spare parts and tyres could soon become more expensive.
Industry players say the latest increase is being driven by uncertainty in global energy markets linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with suppliers already signalling the possibility of further price adjustments across a range of vehicle maintenance products from June onwards.
Car spare parts dealer Ken Ng told The Star that engine oil prices rose by approximately 10 per cent in May, resulting in retail price increases of between RM10 and RM25 for various lubricant products.
“Popular engine oils that move quickly are being restocked at higher prices. For now, we are still selling existing stock at the old price but once the new shipments arrive, the increases will have to be passed on to customers,” he said.
Ng, who has spent four decades in the automotive parts business, believes the increase in lubricant costs could trigger broader price rises throughout the vehicle maintenance sector.
“This is unavoidable. Vehicle maintenance cannot be postponed indefinitely regardless of whether prices go up or not. Since the day I got into this business four decades ago, prices have only gone up and never down.
“Even the plastic bags we use to pack the items we sell have gone up in price because they are petroleum-based products,” he said.
The anticipated increases come at a time when households and businesses are already facing mounting operational costs, with transportation and logistics expenses remaining elevated.
According to Ng, some consumers have already begun adapting to higher prices by switching to more affordable engine oil brands in an effort to manage maintenance budgets without compromising essential servicing schedules.
Automotive service operators are also preparing for further adjustments.
PS Tyres & Battery Auto Services manager Teoh Yong Wah said suppliers had informed dealers that additional price revisions involving tyres and spare parts were expected to take effect in the coming weeks.
“Engine oil prices went up in May. Suppliers have also indicated that tyre and spare parts prices could also rise from June but we have not been told exactly when the increases will take effect,” he said.
Teoh noted that while increases on individual low-cost components may appear modest, the cumulative impact of multiple price revisions could significantly increase overall servicing bills.
“Smaller and cheaper parts may only see a slight increase and vehicle owners may not feel the difference immediately. However, when several items go up at the same time, the cost adds up,” he said.
Businesses that depend heavily on road transport are also bracing for higher operating costs.
Digital products entrepreneur Desmond Wong said escalating maintenance expenses would inevitably affect business pricing structures.
“It is not something I want to do but I do not have much of a choice. Transport costs have already increased and now vehicle maintenance expenses are also going up.
“For businesses, the fuel subsidy is barely enough to cover our monthly travel expenses. Any additional costs will eventually have to be absorbed somewhere,” said Wong.
While some motorists are concerned about the prospect of rising expenses, others have sought to minimise the impact by servicing their vehicles before new prices take effect.
Teacher Jacqueline Cha said she recently arranged maintenance work for her family's two vehicles, including engine oil changes and tyre replacements, in anticipation of possible increases.
She estimated that the early servicing saved her household around RM200.
“Fortunately, we own reliable car models with widely available and affordable replacement parts, which helps keep our maintenance costs under control,” she said.
“But whether prices rise by 10 per cent or even more, vehicle maintenance is essential. Delaying or skipping servicing can lead to more costly repairs later due to premature wear and tear on the engine.”
The expected increase in automotive maintenance costs highlights how fluctuations in global energy markets continue to affect everyday consumers, with the automotive sector among the latest industries feeling the impact of rising petroleum-related costs across international supply chains. - June 1, 2026
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