Valvoline Instant Oil Change

Fast service. Friendly!

Beware of Valvoline Quick Change in Topeka Kansas! I stopped using them several years ago when I found out they don't drain the oil out of the oil pan, but suck it out through the dipstick tube, leaving all the sludge in the bottom of the pan. My daughter went there and spent $278 on an oil and transmission fluid change. Being very anal about maintenance, I checked her oil and transmission fluid the next day, and found the transmission fluid to be so low it didn't even show on the dip stick, and the oil level was also down at the add mark. We called Valvoline customer service and opened up a case and were told they would give us a refund. We took it back to Valvoline to get the fluid levels corrected. The transmission fluid was over a quart low! At the Valvoline store in Topeka they said the manager would need to call my daughter back about compensation for the inadequate service. The manager called my daughter and said she would not get any refund "because it was normal to have to get the fluids topped off after service." This may be the expectation at Valvoline, but not anywhere else I know of. I also asked them how they change the transmission fluid and they said they just suck it out like they do the engine oil. I asked them how they change the transmission fluid filter if they don't drop the pan and they said they don't change the transmission filter. Bottom line, if you want your car to last a long time don't take it to Valvoline.

The only reason we came to Valvoline and and overpaid for services was out of convenience because I’m 9 months pregnant, but convenient is the exact opposite of what our experience was. Got an oil change and transmission fluid change.. the next day, we checked the transmission fluid and it was below the add mark. Had to come back in to get more added and were told that it’s “normal to have to come back and get more added”. That has never been our experience when getting that service done at other places. They also don’t even change the filter when changing the transmission fluid.. which is ridiculous considering how much they charge. The manager was very rude and unhelpful when expressing that we would like a partial refund so that we can take it elsewhere and get it done correctly (which includes getting the filter changed).