Valvoline Instant Oil Change Perfect Engine Blown after Service at Valvoline Instant Oil Change East Beltline Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Michigan
My truck was serviced at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change at 2620 East Beltline in Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Just to provide a little background on my vehicle. My vehicle was in perfect running condition. I drove my truck up north and back the weekend before. Over 300 miles with no noise, no issues at all. My engine didn't make any abnormal noise. I could start up my truck in the middle of winter, it would start on a dime!.
My wife brought my truck in for an oil change,. When we got home she said the truck was making some engine noise/. I started it up it had an engine knock:. I checked the Valvoline paperwork,. They put the wrong grade oil in my truck,. We both brought back the truck this time'. Told them about the issue, and the noise.. They said the noise sounded like the fan. They then put the correct oil in. But instead of using barrel oil they used retail quarts. They said they were out of the oil for my truck in the barrel. They mixed standard and synthetic to come up with enough to go in my truck. This of course did not change the knocking sound in my engine. later took my truck to the dealership. Where they confirmed that my engine was blown. I had a rod out in the engine. My replacement cost is around $5000 for a remanufactured, or $7000 for a new engine. Luckily I know a good mechanic with great rates. I spoke with Valvoline, they wanted to come out to look at the truck, and speak to the mechanic. Which basically they were trying to find a way not to be liable. They took a picture of the dipstick, and took a sample of the oil. Which I found quite interesting. As the oil they took a sample of was not the oil that was in there when my engine was blown. It is the oil from when we went back, after the engine is blown. The oil they put in my truck from quarts. I asked the district manager why he was taking pictures of the dipstick, when he knew it wasn't the same oil from the original oil change. He made sure not to answer me, and constantly kept changing the subject. He did say they were sending the oil to the lab in Kentucky for it to be tested, and would take up to a week. But like I said this isn't the original oil, so that would not have alot of bearing on anything.
My mechanic has been in the business for 30 years. He spoke with the district manager about the type of oil and procedures of use of barrel oil. My mechanic truly believes this was the fault of Valvoline.
My mechanic says two things could have happened. They ran out of oil from the barrel and didn't realize it. Or the recycled oil was of such low viscosity that it couldn't protect the engine. When I checked the oil after it was making noise.
Either way Valvoline is not taking responsibility. Hopefully they do the right thing in the end.
I have also posted a FB page at
https://www.facebook.com/ValvolineInstantOilChangeBoycott
Through this just in one day. I've heard about several similar incidences at this location. Even that they have so many problems they have a garage on division avenue near 36th st that repairs all of their vehicles.
East Beltline Valvoline needs to make this right asap!
4 Updates & Rebuttals
ValvolineBoycott
Grand Rapids,Michigan,
More Valvoline CYA Stripped Oil Plugs! Not all oils are for all engines.
#5Author of original report
Tue, May 06, 2014
More of Valvolines post to keep the main issue from reaching the public. The viscosity of the oil was low this was proven also the fact they stripped the drain plug leaving my engine low on oil. No one drives around with a blown engine. Your smart employee said it was just the fan. But you already no this this is just more cya on your part.
Visit our FB page check out how many people are having similar issues as I am with valvoline.
Yes they want you to call them first, which we went back right away. Thier idiot said it was the fan. Then they come out again while its being worked on. After the dealer confirmed the engine was blown. When it was in perfect running condition before going to valvoline. Removes the stripped oil plug that was there and replaced it with another one. Then makes up every excuse in the book on what it could be.
Save your self the trouble. Most dealerships charge $30 for an oil change. They hire reliable sober people. Dont go through the hassel of dealing with a company that has nothing but excuses will not take responsibility and does not stand behind thier warranty at all.
BTW Valvoline Instant Oil Change uses recycled oil and the majority of the VIOC locations are not ran by valvoline at all. They are ran by another company tgat pays to use the name.
Pucket68
Minneapolis ,Minnesota,
"Wrong oil?"
#5UPDATE Employee
Sun, March 02, 2014
All of valvolines oils are compatible with each other as long as they are the same weight of oil. For example, a customer could want full synthetic during on oil change and conventional the next. No harm is done as long as the same weight his used. But an employee should never create their own Mix. we have different qualities of oils in barrels compared to "retail quarts" but many are the same weight. Maybe you requested a conventional in a barrel the first time and when you brought it back, they gave you a full synthetic in the "retail quarts". also the employee could have just entered in the wrong weight of oil in the computer and didnt catch it until it was too late. Doesn't mean they added the wrong weight during service.
Also all engines can use a different weight of oil in an "emergency" as a one time use.
Also, are you saying you drove your truck around with a blown engine?
And don't you think the dealership and the mechanic wants you to go to them for all maintenance? Of course they're going to blame the last guy who touched your truck.
and on the back of all receipts, it states before authorizing any repairs, Valvoline must be contacted prior to any service performed.
ValvolineBoycott
Grand Rapids,Michigan,
Your response has nothing to do with Valvoline on East Beltline Blowing my engine.
#5Author of original report
Sun, June 02, 2013
This has nothing to do with my report. Valvoline putting the wrong oil, not enough oil and the wrong oil filter has nothing to do with hittng the gas or brake. Im guessing this may be valvoline trying to draw attention away from what they did. Take responsibility. We are talking to the states attorney this week.
Josh
Rolla,Missouri,
It's your own fault
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, June 01, 2013
What you are describing is a textbook case of hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake. Cars don't just accelerate randomly, and the brakes will always overpower the engine and transmission. The throttle failure that you described caused surges during acceleration, but not during braking. So this is almost certainly not a technical problem; you just hit the wrong pedal by mistake.