The war with Iran is making oil changes pricier. And a deal won't solve it

A mechanic pours motor oil into a funnel inside a Chevron Corp. gas station in Albuquerque, N.M., in July 2016. The cost of group III base oil, used in motor oil blends, has risen 175% since the start of the war with Iran, according to a trade group.

The U.S. may be the world's biggest producer of crude oil, but that's not the case for motor oil. The cost of lubricants is soaring, and even a tentative deal to end the war won't solve the problem.

(Image credit: Sergio Flores)