Grease Monkeys at Wal-Mart

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I went to Wally World yesterday to look at some of the oil there. I went to take a look or try to find the "new" 5.5qt of Valvoline ML I keep hearing everyone talk about. I saw the new design of the ML bottle but no where did it state 5.5qts just 5qts. I even compared it to the old bottle and both had the same amount in liters. I then went to examine the ST oil filters. I read that if you look in the filter and see the blue circle, it does have the bypass valve and if you don't see it then it's the cheap ECore version. The ST7317 filter did have the blue circle in the middle and I was happy because that's the filter I use. I also noticed one filter that didn't have it, and you could tell that it was built differently (worse)just by looking at it.

So the Wal-Mart mechanic comes by and ask me if I needed help with the oil. I told him I didn't because I knew what I was looking for. Because of the mileage of my car he wisely recommended Valvoline ML. Hey my little brother could have told me that answer. So I took it a step further as asked him what dino I should use to see what he would say. I told him that I use MC 5000 but will stop because I didn't want to contribute to their high profits anymore. I said that I wanted to purchase the Pennzoil dino. He said to "stay away from that" and purchase valvoline dino because valvoline "looks cleaner coming out of the gun" LMAO!!!
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I looked at him like he was crazy and I said well pennzoil is a group II+ oil and he didn't know what I was talking about. See this is the reason why I change out my own oil and filter! Question, does these new 5.5qt actually state 5.5qt? Oh, I think that I'm going with AAP tough guard filter next time. I was told that it's better than the ST oil filter. True?
 
Originally Posted By: -Clayton-
What did you expect?

Well, it was worse than expected lol! I've never heard anyone make a statement like that at any lube place. Have you?
 
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I also noticed one filter that didn't have it, and you could tell that it was built differently (worse)just by *looking* at it.


Sounds like you are doing EXACTLY what the "dumb" tech did...
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The Ecore filters work excellent. I've used many, had UOAs with low insolubles, excellent cold weather startups and everyone I've cut open (and I've posted a few photos here) have shown that they are a good filter.

The 5.5qt DO state it. I've seen the 5.5qt on the Premium, Maxlife and Syn bottles. The Durablend are still the 5qt.

Quote:
I think that I'm going with AAP tough guard filter next time. I was told that it's better than the ST oil filter. True?


Not true IMO. The Supertechs are excellent filters across the board.

Take care, bill
 
The AAP brand filters are gone. People stopped buying the more expensive Fram and Purolator, so AAP decided to get rid of it.

SuperTech are great filters for the money. But I have noticed that the number (part #'s) of SuperTech have declined over the years. A few of them have been discontinued.
 
When I worked at W-M, I had a HECK of a lot more knowledge about anything oil-related than anyone else. To expect more out of min. wage, uneducated guys is pretty foolish, IMHO.

On the other aspect of the post, re: YB vs. Valvoline, that was a common one I saw a LOT. The 'older' techs in the dept. ALWAYS used Valvoline, and recommended that, AND whenever anyone getting an oil change took the option of choosing their 'own' oil (ie. something other than YB), 90% of the time it was Valvoline conventional. In our area at least (and it seems here as well), Valvolne has a very strong 'cult following' - sure YB may sell well b/c 'the masses' use it, but among those who 'pay attention', Valvoline has them drawn in hook, line, and sinker...
 
I think that the Walmart techs get bashed on a bit here.

But in all fairness to them a lot of other "real techs" have some strange notions as well. In other words a lot of mechanics don't know what the hexx they are talking about themselves.

I guess they are easy game wandering out to the oil area though.
 
As long as the dude knows how to Properly do an oil change, that's all I care about. And how can you go wrong recommending Valvoline, regardless of the reason's behind it. Let's face it, only people who are truly anal about motoroil (as in we BITOGers)are even vaguely familiar with what group a base oil comes from.

For all the knocks WM takes on this board, I've nver had a bad experience with their T&LE operation when I didn't feel like crawling under the car myself.
 
Quote:
Question, does these new 5.5qt actually state 5.5qt?


The Walmarts here have them. Yes they say 5.5 qts plus something like "bonus" or something. Dino was 10 bucks here, Maxlife 12 bucks, Synpower 15 bucks.

John
 
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
The AAP brand filters are gone. People stopped buying the more expensive Fram and Purolator, so AAP decided to get rid of it.

Not true, I can still get one from my car where I'm located at.
 
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Quote:
I also noticed one filter that didn't have it, and you could tell that it was built differently (worse)just by *looking* at it.


Sounds like you are doing EXACTLY what the "dumb" tech did...
21.gif


The Ecore filters work excellent. I've used many, had UOAs with low insolubles, excellent cold weather startups and everyone I've cut open (and I've posted a few photos here) have shown that they are a good filter.

The 5.5qt DO state it. I've seen the 5.5qt on the Premium, Maxlife and Syn bottles. The Durablend are still the 5qt.

Quote:
I think that I'm going with AAP tough guard filter next time. I was told that it's better than the ST oil filter. True?


Not true IMO. The Supertechs are excellent filters across the board.

Take care, bill


Don't get me wrong, I love SuperTech oil filters. I use them all the time. I'm just glad that I have the old design not the Ecore design. They might work well for you, but seeing the blue circle to confirm the bypass valve made me smile. Plus you can't be $2.42 ST filter especially for my 3-5k oci. If you don't mind, could you please provide me a link of the cut open Ecore ST filter. Knowledge is priceless...
 
Originally Posted By: addyguy
When I worked at W-M, I had a HECK of a lot more knowledge about anything oil-related than anyone else. To expect more out of min. wage, uneducated guys is pretty foolish, IMHO

I never expected much from him. I didn't state that anywhere in my post so for you to think other wise would be pretty foolish IMHO. Oh and I don't use the YB and never have. I stated that I use MC 5000 but will stop because I didn't want to add to their high profits anymore. I know enough about oil, so I didn't need his help anyway.

Originally Posted By: 3putter
As long as the dude knows how to Properly do an oil change, that's all I care about. And how can you go wrong recommending Valvoline, regardless of the reason's behind it. Let's face it, only people who are truly anal about motoroil (as in we BITOGers)are even vaguely familiar with what group a base oil comes from.

Valvoline is a good product because I've used their ML on my previous car. The only thing that I pointed out in the post was that he recommended it because it "came cleaner out of the gun". Are you serious!? I'm sorry, he could have said anything else but that lol.
 
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Quote:
If you don't mind, could you please provide me a link of the cut open Ecore ST filter. Knowledge is priceless...


Ask and you shall receive!
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New Supertech filter photos thread

cut open ST3675 thread

Take care, Bill

Nice photos. That's exactly the same filter that I saw in Wally World yesterday. It looks good, but I like the design of my ST filter better. I like the bypass valve the ST7317 have plus the metal end caps instead of the felt/paper end caps of the E-Core version. If you haven't had any problems with this filter, then kudos to you. I'm going to try the AAP filter once I change my oil just to see how it performs. I have noticed that since I started using the ST oil filter, my engine ticks in early morning start up then goes away once warm.
 
NightRider,
Of the three W*M in my area, non of them are stocking the 5.5 qt container of Val ML. I will keep looking and will take advantage of the deal. I did notice that W*M has increased the price $1.00 to $12.97 for the 5qt container and the container style has changed but not extra .5qt.
 
I wouldn't take an opinion based on a service tech not knowing the base oil type. It means zippo to real world performance. It's the total formulation. And if the economy keeps on track, we'll all be working for Wal-Mart, so dont bash all the furure employees out there.
 
Originally Posted By: NightRiderQ45

Not true, I can still get one from my car where I'm located at.


For now. They were discontinued so eventually the supply will dry up.
 
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
NightRider,
Of the three W*M in my area, non of them are stocking the 5.5 qt container of Val ML. I will keep looking and will take advantage of the deal. I did notice that W*M has increased the price $1.00 to $12.97 for the 5qt container and the container style has changed but not extra .5qt.


Here the 5.5qt jugs are $10.97.
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Good one Mannix...................Funny!

Yes probably a lot of us BTOG guys will be working at Walmart.

I can see myself wandering the aisle giving oil advice...........


Walmart becomes the whipping boy again.
 
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I appreciate the few of you who stood up for Wal-Mart techs. I've been on the board since 07/02 and have stood back and watched the company I've made a good living with (Wal-Mart) get bashed time and time again. I don't even like the term "Grease Monkeys"....it's quite degrading to men (and women) who are just working to provide for their families. I guarantee that I've sold more oil than 99% of the people on this board and have some really good stories from customers over the years. Just this past week I had one customer telling me how bad Castrol GTX was (5w30 5Qt bottle) because of his having a timing belt replaced and the mechanic telling him how "gunked" up his engine was and on the other side of me an older gentlemen overheard the conversation, grabbed a bottle of the aforementioned oil, and proceeded to lecture the other customer quite emphatically on how he's used Castrol for 25 years with NO problems.......it was quite comical to say the least. I could go on and on about conversations I've heard about which oil is best....I can tell you this much..they are all better than they were 10 to 20 years ago.

As for the 5.5 qt. Valvoline containers...they were sent in as a promotional item in Conventional, Maxlife, and Synpower with only the 5w30 and 10w30 grades being available. As far as I know they won't be replinished in the stores but you never know.
 
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