Walmart for oil change?

[Nukeman7]

If he was closer to Roanoke I might have some confidence in finding somewhere for him to bring it for service.

Unfortunately that's 4 hours / 220 miles away.

In what city/county are they currently residing? We have numerous BITOG members located in Virginia (myself included) who should be able to suggest a competent and trustworthy repair shop.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

In what city/county are they currently residing? We have numerous BITOG members located in Virginia (myself included) who should be able to suggest a competent and trustworthy repair shop.

He is in Suffolk, VA. Right off of route 58 / route 460

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

My son is in an apartment complex in VA. He doesn’t recall anything about not being able to work on vehicles but doesn’t want to create issues either. Most of the spots are sloped towards drains so being level is also an issue and he doesn’t have ramps. His wife’s ’21 Tucson is on a 3k / 6 month maintenance minder setting from the very short trips she was doing here in NY and past UOA’s. Her job is now 14 miles / 20 minutes from the apartment and they use it for other drives around and trips so it should better with the fuel dilution issues she had. I’d like to change the MM to 4k, maybe 5k but still 6 months if UOA shows OK. The trips and travels they have done and have planned will put her at about 7k / 7 months before I can get to it again at the holidays.

I cringe at having him take it anywhere commercial for OC but life is what it is. I worked the pit at Jiffy Lube for extra cash when young. Most of the guys I worked with were OK and actually did care some. The cars we got from other places with stripped plugs etc were scary. These days who knows. I called multiple places by him, some that didn’t even answer phones so they are off the list. Some I called didn’t get great reviews in general but at least answered. He’s asking the people at his job where they go if they don’t do it themselves to try and get some recommendations, also in case of other future needed maintenance. Many car care places I searched close to him were questionable from reviews but I think that sadly is everywhere these days. The Tucson is on VRP 5W-30 and I want them to keep using that knowing the Hyundai motor/ring issues. The couple shops that seemed possibly OK, including Valvoline Express / Instant don’t carry VRP. They said they would put it in if he brought it as well as filter. They would only charge labor of $53 so he would be $100 total for OCI bringing his own stuff.

Walmart 15 miles from him has and uses VRP. Service guy I spoke to said if he brings his filter choice they will use that or they can use their stock which I think is Purolators. They said with his filter, their oil and labor, $57 total. He will have 2 factory Hyundai/Kia filters later today. They also said no issues with giving him back old filter (with Filtermag on it) and pulling a sample while draining so I can send it in. He also will have a spare Filtermag to have them install with the new filter so they can leave one on the old for me to cut open and check.

I don’t think Walmart is a bad choice for him, change would be documented with receipts and I think car-fax also. At least while under factory warranty I plan to have them keep it on factory filter which is Mann&Hummel from Korea. No clue on actual efficiency but seem well built from the ones I cut open so far and nothing dealer could complain about if issues.

Why would you not consider allowing the local Hyundai dealer do it vs Walmart?
I never owned a Hyundai but I have owned many or most brands and have had NIGHTMARE quick lube experiences but except for a few isolated experiences my Ford, Honda, Subaru, Ram. Dodge, Volvo dealers are rock solid doing oil changes and most if not ALL are less expensive than Jiffy Lube!

Heck, My local Ford dealer offers me a coupon for 1/2 off to come to my house with Fords Mobil Service and a oil change, multi point inspection, tire rotation AND new wiper blades in my drive as I sit on the front porch and watch, all for under $100 with coupon.

 

[Chris142]

Like anywhere else you might get a person that takes pride in their work or you might get a person that can't wait to get off work so they can get high .

 

[Nukeman7]

He is in Suffolk, VA. Right off of route 58 / route 460

I have never personally used them since I am 40 miles away, but several co-workers recommend Suffolk Automotive Care, LLC.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Walmart for an oil change ??? Personally, I don't trust anybody but myself for an oil and filter change. Tell hm to put a scratch in the paint on the old filter, then take it in. Check filter when it's finished, to make sure they changed it. Happened to my Dad. He put a scratch line in the filter, car comes back finished. He went under car and saw his scratch line, then told them to change the oil again, and this time change the filter. They complied. BUSTED !!!!!!!!

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Walmart for an oil change ??? Personally, I don't trust anybody but myself for an oil and filter change. Tell hm to put a scratch in the paint on the old filter, then take it in. Check filter when it's finished, to make sure they changed it. Happened to my Dad. He put a scratch line in the filter, car comes back finished. He went under car and saw his scratch line, then told them to change the oil again, and this time change the filter. They complied. BUSTED !!!!!!!!

Getting to filter requires dropping the underbelly cover. It is marked currently with mileage/date written on it from last install. I'll have him write date/mileage on the new one when he drops it off.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Why would you not consider allowing the local Hyundai dealer do it vs Walmart?
I never owned a Hyundai but I have owned many or most brands and have had NIGHTMARE quick lube experiences but except for a few isolated experiences my Ford, Honda, Subaru, Ram. Dodge, Volvo dealers are rock solid doing oil changes and most if not ALL are less expensive than Jiffy Lube!

Heck, My local Ford dealer offers me a coupon for 1/2 off to come to my house with Fords Mobil Service and a oil change, multi point inspection, tire rotation AND new wiper blades in my drive as I sit on the front porch and watch, all for under $100 with coupon.

Big reason is I want the Valvoline Restore and Protect, not dealer bulk. Walmart uses it as their "premium service" and has it in the bay boxes so he doesn't need to purchase separately. That $30 for 5qts is already in their $65 service with them providing house filter. Cheaper cost if he brings filter.

I will inquire at dealer anyway to see what they say if he brings the oil will they use it and how much for the oil change using factory filter provided by them? I'll have my son drive down and reach out to recommendation from @Nukeman7 also which is only 2.5 miles / 5 minutes from his apartment.

IMO doing it yourself is the better option either way, just having somewhere to do that. Some of the comments do make me think both ways for dealer vs Walmart. The Jeep dealer my father-in-law used has the young kids in the quick oil change part. They stripped/lost multiple bolts/screws from his Renegade skid plate. They also charge close to $100 with lots of expensive upsell suggestions. I'm not against dealer doing it as it's under warranty anyway but if they charge an excess amount with customer provided oil would be frustrating. Won't know that until we call them.

My nephew worked at local VW/Subaru dealer doing the quick lube. Knowing and experiencing his quality of work, ambition and work ethic definitely makes me think of that at dealers.

The Walmart’s by me, most of the shop workers I have seen do appear to be at least more adult aged. As mentioned if there was a large problem it would probably be out there on the web. One of the guys in my firehouse does use WM for all his vehicles including his Ram dually diesel. He said it is best price he has found and has used them for years, more like decades.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I don't trust any quik lube joint, be it Valvoline, the car wash ( yes in NY, some car washes do that too), Walmart, Jiffy Lube,, etc. Not saying their all bad apples. Probably worse here in NY. Just a safety precaution...,to mark the filter...Maybe I just have a bad taste in my mouth from what was done to my Dad. Recently, I was at a long traffic light a few towns over. A Valvoline Quik Lube in my view. Garage door was open. An Audi was over a pit. 3 guys could not figure out how to open the hood once they popped the release. Did they get it open ? I'll never know. The light turned green. I'll change my own oil as long as I am physically capable.