The convenience of getting your oil changed while you wait at Wal-Mart can be all to enticing. Unfortunately, their staff doesn't do their jobs correctly and refuses to pay for the damages. Don't be fooled by the "low price" Wal-Mart offers for an oil change as it may end up costing you a lot more in the end.
I had my oil changed at Wal-Mart on January 12th 2009, at which point everything seemed to be fine. About a month later I noticed a large oil stain underneath my car. Upon investigation, I had realized that the oil filter they used was defective and the gasket had come clean off. Of course when this happens, all of the engine oil drains out. Approximately 4.5 quarts of oil sits in my driveway, which I am sure is not safe. At this point I contacted the manager of the Tire & Lube Express at Wal-Mart and let him know what happened. Apparantly, they had felt some responsibility because they promptly refunded my money and promised that they would forward my information to their claims department--which says to me this happens a lot.
In an attempt to remedy the situation I purchased a new oil filter (at a different store) and 5 more quarts of oil at which point I replaced the oil and filter. Approximately a week later the same incident occurred yet again. Now my engine will not hold an oil filter and all of the oil leaked out once again. Now there are approximately 9 quarts of oil in my driveway.
I immediately contacted the manager at Wal-Mart again, as I had not heard from their claims department. It turns out that the manager I spoke with never put my claim in their system. Now the manager is claming because I put a new oil filter on and refilled the oil, I had voided any warranty that may have been implied. Fortunately, I took pictures of all of the oil in my driveway, the filter covered in oil barely affixed to the chasis and the trail of oil that spans my driveway.
Not only did the manager of Wal-Mart refuse to compensate me for my damages but claimed that it was not their fault because I replaced the filter. I am not only out the original $30 it cost to get the oil changed in the first place but I am also out 2 oil filters, 9 quarts of oil and the cost of developing the pictures of the atrocity. If I had driven my car any further than I had, my engine would have seized up completely, at which point I would be out an engine.
I have continued to contact Wal-Mart, I have given them copies of the pictures, let them take their own pictures and provided them with a statement of the events that occurred.
Wal-Mart refuses responsibility for the damages and will not reimburse me for all that I am out. I still cannot drive my car and this issue is yet to be resolved. There remains an oil spill in my driveway that I don't even know how to clean up safely.
My advice to car owners is to pay an extra $5-$10 to get an oil change at a place that actually knows what they are doing--save yourself the money, stress, and time.
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Get your oil changed at Wal-Mart? Be prepared to get your ENGINE changed as well.
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DO NOT get your oil changed at Wal-Mart!
by wrigcand (Subscribe)
Posted on: Mar 2, 2009 at 6:01 PM MST
Channel: On the Scene
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Took it a month to fall off huh? yeah looks like wal-mart is at fault there.. :sarcasm:
use coke not pepsi it will clean off your driveway also use to clean battery cables ladies
Walmart service department left the oil cap off my vehicle but did replace it and paid for the oil I lost. Walmart is not the only place guilty of carelessness. I suggest you check your own oil before you leave the repair shop.
Dry cement on the oil spill will wick it up.
It couldn't be that something went wrong mechanically on your engine a month after the oil change? I had my oil changed there, and a couple of months later, my valve cover gasket started leaking. Wish I could have blamed them for it.
It couldn't be that something went wrong mechanically on your engine a month after the oil change? naw. (sarcasm) I had my oil changed there, and a couple of months later, my valve cover gasket started leaking. Wish I could have blamed them for it.
My brother works for Wal-mart and wont let them touch his car from all the storie that he has heard about that department. I would send the pictures to corperate and let them know that you will continue to go to the new untill they fix the issue
My brother works for Wal-Mart and won't let them touch his car from all the stories that he has heard about that department. I would send the pictures to corperate and tell them you will continue to go to the news untill they fix the issue.
I went for an oil change, they tightened my trans. pan because they said it was leaking, overtorqued the bolts and broke the gasket, i was out of fluid before i got home, and they refused to fix it. I had to cut the bolts off to replace them.
For every single person that's posted a bad experience, I'll wager there are thousands that have had no problem whatsoever. Now that you've all vented, do you feel better?
If it lasted a month, I can hardly see how it would be Walmart's fault. My car died 10 years after I bought it, it's GM's fault. Gotta love this blame everyone else society. The world should pay for everyone's mistakes.
This exact same thing happened to a friend of mine that had his oil changed at Wal-mart. For those of you who say it's a blame game, have you ever thought maybe the oil filter was not put on tight enough and worked it's way loose??? What a concept!
Sometimes when removing the old filter, the gasket from the old filter will pull off and stick to the engine block. Then when installing the new filter it will not seal good. So, pull the filter off and make sure the mating surface is clean steel.
I had a oil change with them and they broke the inlet for the anti-freeze into the block but they payed to have it fixed.. On another car I had them put in a new battery and they hooked it up backwards,,, BOOM cost them 500.00 to get it back running
But they at least payed it and made it good.. Ill never go back and if I do then it is my own fault ehh?
Eveyone who responded should watch the documentary: "Wal-Mart, the High Cost of Low Prices." It's an eye opening look at the deplorable corporate values and practices of Wal Mart. I don't doubt for a second that they did wrong...
I do it myself. I dont trust any of the idiots at WalMart, Jiffy Lube, Grease Monkey or anywhere else.
It's the second most least desirable job in America-the most least desirable job would be flipping burgers-both involve hot oil and a greasy mess- probably why most folks pay someone else to do it. The key is training- yes even burger flipping
It would be my guess that the wrong filter was used-and the owner bought one just like it-vice the propper one- it is dificult to strip an oil filter fitting, not that it can't be done. some of these are esily replaced- Private Mechanic-or dealer..
I wouldn't trust them in the first place, but I do have to agree with them that you should have pursued it with the claims department before "fixing" the problem yourself. Obviously you have made it difficult to prove your case by tampering with it.
If you are too lazy and ignorant to change your own oil then don't blame the poor guy that did what you thought you were too good to do. Also if you can't change oil then you obviously can't diagnose a problem.
Anyone one who is rich enough to have someone else do his work, should have enough between the ears to know You check your vehicle before you move it after someone has worked on it.
I change my own oil because I don't want to trust others with my baby. If she goes Kaboom it's my fault. Walmart is too cheap. I would not trust them with a ten foot pole with my car. In my opinion it is highly possible they could have messed up.
This is a common problem. Often times an oil filter gasket gets left behind. If it is not removed then you end up with two gaskets. It will work for a while but eventually fails. Scrape off the old gasket and you are good to go.
We had Walmart in Boise do an oil change, Two months later the rear end went out in the pickup. Low and behold the rearend had orange silicone around the pumpkin. My wife bought the pickup brand new. Sorry the factory does not use orange silicone.
I say just chng ur oil urself so u won't be complaining or have any problems.
A guy is trying to save some hassle for someone else and gets rude comments back from people saying he is just blaming others. It can take a month for a loose oil pan to fall off!! He is just trying to warn others!
My husband usually changes our oil, but we were in a hurry to leave town for a family emergency and so I had Wal-Mart do it while I ran to get some needed supplies. CD Player didn't work when I picked it up... don't wanna blame.... coincidence...?
As previous posts state, it's not only walmart, this happens at all the others too. Grease Monkey, Jiffy Lube etc.
this man's simply trying to inform others of his own experience. I for one appreciate the heads up. Having worked in a lube shop myself, I KNOW that these things happen. why would you fault him for trying to fix it It may be his only means of transpo
Their is only a 10% chance it is not wal-marts fault for not properly tightening the filter or useing the wrong filter. On the other end this gentleman want to get people to believe that wal-mart is at fault because he made the same mistake.
do not get your oil change at walmart, last time they did mine they forced in the bolt and messed up all the treads in my oil pan now they are refusing to fix it since the other place i took my car too they changed my oil, im not going to walmart@all
Make sure that the old filter gasket didn't stick to the engine when the first filter was changed. Installing a filter over the stuck gasket can cause oil to leak and/or the filter to loosen. Also make sure it's the right filter for your car.
I have been taking my car and husbands trucks to walmart for years to get it done ,never had a problem . When he has time he does it for us . A month later and you never seen a drop (sarcasm) ? So ,take it somewhere else or do it yourself..
walmart strikes agian they mest up myb pan gasket too and they do not want to fix it they said i have to file a claim which i am 7 months pregnate my husband deploys in 10day and i cant affford to fix it 512.70 i dont have the extra money to fix
You have left 9 quarts of oil sitting on your driveway? Kitty litter anybody? I suppose you want Walmart to come clean that up for you as well? You are an idiot and I hope your engine goes boom.
I have an Chevy S-10 '87 I took it to Jiffy Lube and got the lube shaft of a lifetime. They broke my emergency brake cable. I watched as a man put his foot to the floor and "snap!" Afterwards I filed a complant...did get them to pay and install it.
I purchased 4 new tires from Walmart . They mounted and ballanced them . I had to replace all the valves and have all four tires resealed. The of course was by a reAL MECHANIC.
I had the oil filter fly off of my car when I was in Salt Lake City, just after I had had the oil changed here in Idaho Falls, at Jiffy Lube. However they did take responsiblity for it.
it happens get over it grow up and get a life
modern oil filters have a gasket embedded that does not come off so the chances one is left is just about impossible. What most likely happened is wal-mart over torqued the filter busting the gasket thus it leaked. Just read the filter box directions
every thought about doing it yourself!!! stop being lazy and you would avoid the problem..change your own OIL!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You need to open your eyes and do your homework. Oil filter gaskets are NOT embedded and will come off. I have fixed too many of wal marts oopses to recommend them to anyone for any service.NEVER seen a new filter gasket bust
to all you people that are calling these people lazy probably are not mechanicly inclined or do not haveany place to do it so lighten up on them besides wal mart is notorious for screwing up and not taking the blame!
Heather says ...
On Friday, Mar 6 at 5:53 AM
It sounds as if the might have stripped the area where you affix the oil filter. My sister hadjad them stripp the bolt where you drain the oil and had similar results from Walmart.