Valvoline Instant Oil Change

Don’t be fooled by the name Valvoline «Instant Oil Change.» I came here to get an instant oil change and got neither. After waiting 45 minutes to be seen, I was told my car model wasn’t in their system. What exotic European automobile do I drive, you might ask? A 2013 Ford C-​Max hybrid. Yeah, I know this isn’t the most common car, but c’mon, it’s a Ford and has been sold in the US for 2 years (longer in Europe), and Valvoline is a huge chain that ONLY does oil changes. Went to local Bobby n Steve’s and they were able to do it, no questions asked. Very disappointed that something as simple as an oil change could be this difficult.

They are really nice here, but difficult to get to. They charged me $ 60 for an oil change, ridiculous!!! He said it was because they could do it quickly, and I’m thinking, only if you have just two cars (they only have two stalls). I only came here because Wal-​Mart was out of oil changes because nobody showed up for work this morning :) Tough industry but they need to keep prices down :)

I have gotten my oil changed here many times and have always had good service.

I avoid instant oil change places like the plague… Feel like they all try to up sell you on stuff you don’t need.
However, I was really overdue for an oil change and figured this was close to my house so maybe I ought to give it a try once.
Drive in and the technician initially tells me my car requires synthetic oil. I have a Camry hybrid and after reading the manual and having many oil changes done at the dealer I call him out on this.
Technician says «well, worst case we could do a synthetic blend».
I say no thank you and drive off. And confirmed one more time that, no, Toyota doesn’t require synthetic. Save your money and go somewhere else.

I appreciate the fact that they sent me coupons to get my oil changed… but that’s about where my gratitude ends for this place.
I have changed my oil PLENTY. As a matter of fact, the only people that have ever changed the oil in my car besides myself is this place. Well when I got there I gave them the coupon for the full oil change service, only to find out that apparently it only covers the basic oil, and not the oil that I wanted… Which was the synthetic oil. Fine, I will pay full price for the oil change.
Well as the oil change progressed I think I really pissed them off because I chose to sit in the car rather than go sit out in the waiting area because I really don’t trust people meddling with my car when I can’t see them. And I was right not to trust. He came up to my window and began his sales pitch.
My air filter needed to be replaced (which is bullshit since I had put one in earlier that day), my radiator fluid needed to be flushed (also bullshit since when I had my timing belt/​water pump replaced I had them flush it which was 100 miles before this oil change), I needed a new serpentine belt (again, untrue, had that replaced with my water pump).
After listening to all of that and relaying my «I sincerely hope you don’t think that just because I’m gay means I’m stupid» speech, and I have a feeling that’s what lead to what happened next.
The oil change was complete, I paid full price (which at almost $ 55 I was very disappointed), but the fun wasn’t over yet. The next morning I walk out to my garage to see my $ 55 sitting in a pool on the floor of my garage, and drip marks all the way up my driveway. I checked and there was an open seam where my oil filter was cracked, and the oil drain bolt was loose enough for oil to drain out, two things that would not have gone unnoticed by the technician doing the change.
When I called to talk to the manager he basically said that I must have done something in order for that to happen as it couldn’t possibly have been the people working in the shop. I was EXTREMELY upset and he didn’t even offer to compensate me for even a PORTION of the service. I bought some Mobil 1 synthetic oil (for $ 18 with a new oil filter) and put it all back in myself.
Apparently, according the ASE certified manager of this shop, your oil pan bolt can just come right off while you are driving, and your oil filter will crack within hours by only driving it three miles from the shop to your home.
Don’t waste your time here, and don’t waste your time at any other Valvoline. Just get it done by a local garage, or your dealer. Or like myself, do it at home in your garage.

I didn’t want to change the oil in my Wife’s car. I think at a certain age, replacing the oil in your car gets old and loses the novelty of getting dirty and saving only a little bit of cash. Sometimes it’s just not worth it. That’s why I went to Valvoline!
This trip was full with follies, two of which were mine. I started it off by printing the wrong coupon for the place. Luckily they gave me the deal they had going on. That was a plus. Then I needed the turn signal bulb replaced. This was no ordinary bulb to replace. It was involved. Now, you would think that these days, that kind of stuff would be easily taken care of and designed to make life easier. But no, they had to make it so you’d have to take out the air intake, go figure. For $ 11 they said they could replace it. I gave them the bulbs I had bought and that was blunder #2 for me, because I bought the wrong bulbs. Luckily they had the right ones! Yay.
Everything was fine until I left and had to use my turn signal. It wasn’t working. So I dropped the wife and kids off and went back. They were working when he first put it in. He was nice about it, but seemed to keep suggesting it was an electrical issue (it wasn’t because the last bulb was working fine until it burnt). He took it apart again and the connections were loose. I left and went merrily on my way.