I can see both side. I help my young adult daughter maintain her vehicle. She works or goes to school 6/7 days a week so I have no problem helping. There is a point though where helping can be unhelpful. And that is when it becomes enabling laziness or incompetence. That’s gonna be different for every person/situation. I have other family members (not immediate) who are not mechanically inclined, and I don’t help them whatsoever. They’ve got the money and time so they can sort it out for themselves.
Walmart for oil change?
- Thread starter Sequoiasoon
- Start date
Him 25, her 24. He moved to that area just over 4 months ago, her just over 2 months ago and haven't really needed anything car wise. Me as the OCD BITOG dad made sure both vehicles were ready before they left. He had my car for 2 months as his needed a windshield and some other stuff I wanted to do first. When you know nothing in the area and haven't searched for recommendations where do you go first? He's as much if not more OCD than me. He would hate to go to a crappy place, get a stripped plug or have other issues and feel he let me or himself down by not doing it himself. He just doesn't have the couple things or place to do it himself.
We did all other maintenance together on it (and others) over the past years. When her parents independent trusted shop charged $140 for the cabin filter and we had to remove the filter to get the leaves out from blower they were pissed. When the semi-syn Kendal was in for 6k and smelled like raw fuel almost making you throw up under vehicle was last time it was there.
When I was 26 and moved to where I am now, I was in same position for shop search if I needed (not OCI's). My dad had all the contacts state wide as he was automotive instructor for ConEd, had his own business teaching all NY STEP class and helped write (now ASE) tests. His license plates were NIASE 1 and NIASE 2 for those old enough to know when it was NIASE. He said go to one of these 2 shops, both are 15-20 minutes away. I still use them 30 years later and recommend to others.
That is his reference on where to look and what to look for. He also knows all the upsell things (she doesn't) and knows what he can do himself easily. Dealerships sadly are often worse than other places for that and people that don't know IMO.
When they come back up here for holidays that is not an issue. The 8 hour, 500 mile away is the issue. I believe when he visits @Astro14 still does his kids oil changes and they are pretty far away from him.
The Hyundai and Kia dealerships near him are actually further away than Walmart. I didn't call them (yet) to check on price and if you can bring your own oil. Again it's on Valvoline Restore and Protect and we want to stick with that. If they charge $50+ for labor for you to bring your own oil, doesn't lean toward budget option. I would hope that if you brought the oil that they would use it in your vehicle. I have heard the many stories of the mechanic that says no problem, then puts that nice oil on the side of his box for later and fills you with bulk oil.
My son was doing oil changes with me here at home. It was really at the point I was just handing him a tool or two and keeping him company and cleaning up. He was actually using a torque wrench set at 30 ft/lbs for drain plug on the vehicles we have that don't have Fumoto or Valvomax.
Yes 2.0 NU. No oil usage. The problem up here in NY was gaining oil volume from fuel dilution and getting higher on dipstick. The 4k should work out to about 6 months so that will be current plan based on UOA and knowing that it at least reaches temperature on the daily work drives.
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No problem paying for the Valvoline Restore and Protect which is their "premium" service. It's more the having someplace that will actually use it. Again searching closer places to bring your own is more expensive AND questionable quality from online reviews. Skip the actually getting them to answer phone first issues.
The service rep said if he brings the filter he wants then they it would be the "regular" synthetic cost as it's just oil and labor.
Did you read ? OP said his son has been asking for recommendations on shops, but he seems to believe he must use a specific oil (and possibly filter), reinstall a magnet, and get oil samples for analysis. Otherwise, the son or daughter-in-law would just go to regular shops or quick-change places and get it done and be happy.
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.
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Walmart paid for a new 4.3l engine in my sister's old S-10 because they didn't tight the drain plug so the engine puked all the oil out the plug driving down the highway. I don't think I've ever really heard of someone getting an oil change at Walmart aside from that, personally, anyways. I mean, I know people do in general but no one I know personally.
My family has had some good and bad experiences using Walmart for oil changes. Most recent was very good on our F150. Several years ago, a family friend had a bad experience in SE Kansas. They had to pay for a carpet cleaning as the tech was very careless and stained the auto carpets. Overall mostly good experiences. Of course, the quality varies with the actual techs doing the job each time.
This last oil change, the oil filter was a Fram CORE. You may also get a credit for not using it by bringing in your own or purchasing a different filter from them.
This last oil change, the oil filter was a Fram CORE. You may also get a credit for not using it by bringing in your own or purchasing a different filter from them.
I'm going to go with the motto of "If you want it done right, do it yourself."
The few times that I've used WalMart for tires have been regrettable, from overcharging to not having anybody able to drive in a car with a manual transmission. My last set of tires from Walmart got me out the door at 11:30 from an 8:00 appointment. One of the most memorable WalMart episodes was where I needed a 13" car tire on a car rim that I carried in. I verified the tie size, called in to verify that they had one in stock and gave them the rim to install a tire. After about 30 minutes their tech came in and said he couldn't get the tire on and that I absolutely gave him the wrong size. He couldn't get the tire on. This will not be believed by a few people here, but they let me walk out to their tire machine, allowed me to look at the correct size of tire and I had the tire on the rim in about 10 seconds. (FYI, I occasionally installed tires at a car dealership and I know how to run a tire machine) The guy just looked at me wondering how I got it on and he couldn't. I looked at him wondering why he couldn't get the correct tire on the rim. I don't know what his problem was.
As far as the "take it to the dealership" suggestions, the lube guy at the dealership may not have ever gone to school to be an auto tech and the pay to the lube tech might be just above minimum wage. When I bought an '88 Cougar new off the showroom floor, the dealership threw in "free oil changes for life" that they would not delete. I took them up on that the very first oil change and they stripped the oil plug. Never had anybody else change my oil again.
The few times that I've used WalMart for tires have been regrettable, from overcharging to not having anybody able to drive in a car with a manual transmission. My last set of tires from Walmart got me out the door at 11:30 from an 8:00 appointment. One of the most memorable WalMart episodes was where I needed a 13" car tire on a car rim that I carried in. I verified the tie size, called in to verify that they had one in stock and gave them the rim to install a tire. After about 30 minutes their tech came in and said he couldn't get the tire on and that I absolutely gave him the wrong size. He couldn't get the tire on. This will not be believed by a few people here, but they let me walk out to their tire machine, allowed me to look at the correct size of tire and I had the tire on the rim in about 10 seconds. (FYI, I occasionally installed tires at a car dealership and I know how to run a tire machine) The guy just looked at me wondering how I got it on and he couldn't. I looked at him wondering why he couldn't get the correct tire on the rim. I don't know what his problem was.
As far as the "take it to the dealership" suggestions, the lube guy at the dealership may not have ever gone to school to be an auto tech and the pay to the lube tech might be just above minimum wage. When I bought an '88 Cougar new off the showroom floor, the dealership threw in "free oil changes for life" that they would not delete. I took them up on that the very first oil change and they stripped the oil plug. Never had anybody else change my oil again.
When my niece needs an oil change I usually go with her so she doesn't get hit with a bunch of upsell services . We used a Take-5 near my house this last time and this location uses an oil vac . After they refill the guy shows you the dipstick to verify correct oil level . Kind of pricey but her Dad was paying for it .
I know that the oil extractor's do not work on my 2014 Ford F-150 5.0. Not sure what year your F-150 and an oil extractor will not work on lot's of vehicles due to baffles or obstructions between the bottom of the dipstick and the oil pan.
Not so sure on "seems" to believe. More so given instructions on use "this" with "this" to hopefully keep investment running well longer not burning oil. If I'm alive and those options are not available, call me for choice B options. If I'm gone, well hopefully he'll come to BITOG and ask what he should use, thick or thin, best filter and what OCI. Hopefully have a house and garage by then or make enough money that if choices were wrong it's not a financial issue to replace and try again.
Won’t work on a 2011 Durango with the 5.7 v8 either… will work on a Pentastar though!
Any chance of that inept worker stretching / straining / damaging the tire for those 30 minutes?
Yes, I used it all the time on my wife's Jeep GC and my son's Jeep Cherokee. It works on a 2012 Honda Civic 1.8 and on the automatic transmission. I hope it works on my new Ford Maverick hybrid that has a build date of September 29th.
There is nothing wrong with a WalMart oil change.
First of all, generally people working there tend to be somewhat mechanically inclined in the first place shadetree style.
Second, they have done more oil changes than most, and oil changes are not hard to do.
Third, they have their procedures with supervision and don't deviate from them.
Any quick lane oil change spot is fine. I have went through them with my work vehicle all the time for 20+ years and have never had an issue they caused. Other than the one time I had to wait an extra 15 minutes because they were out of stock on my oil filter. They made a quick run to the nearby parts store and viola, even ended up with a WIX on that deal.
I do change my own oil in my own vehicles because I like doing it and it's cheaper for my growing fleet, I swear my yard is beginning to look like a used car lot after the kids started driving. But if you can't, don't fear the WalMart oil change lanes.
Oh, and yes I used to work at a WalMart long ago, not in the service area then but I got to know the guys there. They were solid and did a good job.
First of all, generally people working there tend to be somewhat mechanically inclined in the first place shadetree style.
Second, they have done more oil changes than most, and oil changes are not hard to do.
Third, they have their procedures with supervision and don't deviate from them.
Any quick lane oil change spot is fine. I have went through them with my work vehicle all the time for 20+ years and have never had an issue they caused. Other than the one time I had to wait an extra 15 minutes because they were out of stock on my oil filter. They made a quick run to the nearby parts store and viola, even ended up with a WIX on that deal.
I do change my own oil in my own vehicles because I like doing it and it's cheaper for my growing fleet, I swear my yard is beginning to look like a used car lot after the kids started driving. But if you can't, don't fear the WalMart oil change lanes.
Oh, and yes I used to work at a WalMart long ago, not in the service area then but I got to know the guys there. They were solid and did a good job.
I mark mine so I can see how much the dealer over torques it. Without fail, dealer puts it past my marks. Makes removal time consuming. I mean, all changer has to do is line up the marks?
Any oil change is better than no oil change. I am sure 99% of the time the quick oil change places have zero issues. Even at a dealer the guy doing the oil changes is not a mechanic with 20 years experience.
Some change oil in Walmart parking lot. Some use a curb as a car ramp. Can he get under the vehicle with no ramps? Install a Fumoto valve and then you can basically just reach. You don't need to see the drain plug.
When I lived at an apartment I changed oil in the parking lot. I kept the oil chain pan behind some bushes. It was a cheap one if found. I once changed spark plugs and needed an air compressor to blow some stuff out. The apartment manager helped me.
