A Missouri driver is seeking answers after taking their car in for an oil change, only to face a potentially expensive repair bill. When they took it to a Mazda dealership, they learned the car had been overfilled with oil.
The driver shared the situation on the r/legaladvice subreddit, explaining that they went to a Valvoline in St. Louis County that they don’t normally use for oil changes.
In the post, the driver says that employees at the shop didn’t seem to be paying much attention to what was going on at work. They described the workers as talking among themselves, throwing things at each other, and barely communicating with customers outside of taking payments.
The oil change on their vehicle was finally complete, but when the driver got back on the highway, they said the check engine light began flashing, and the vehicle struggled to accelerate. They pulled over and didn’t make it home until 1 a.m., missing work, according to the post.
Too Much Oil
Eventually, the driver took the vehicle to a Mazda dealership, where they were reportedly told that Valvoline had put too much oil in the engine, causing this to happen.
According to the post, the vehicle now needs a new catalytic converter, and the dealership gave them a repair estimate of roughly $8,100. The vehicle owner says a mechanic told them to replace the catalytic converter first before checking whether the oil affected other parts of the car.
The owner said they purchased the vehicle the previous year and hoped to keep it for another decade. They also filed a claim with Valvoline but are now concerned the company won’t cover the full repair costs.
Valvoline Responds
In an update to the post, the owner said they spoke with Valvoline’s district manager. They reviewed footage and paperwork associated with the oil change and confirmed that the shop did, in fact, overfill the vehicle with oil.
However, the manager asked one of Valvoline’s outsourced mechanics to inspect the vehicle. They also explained that dealerships sometimes recommend extra repairs to make more money.
At first, the owner questioned this decision to talk to yet another mechanic, but they did it anyway. They were told that the mechanic would prepare an estimate without actually inspecting the vehicle, and the owner would have to pay the difference.
Commenters Share Their Advice
In the comments, several people shared similar experiences and offered some useful advice for the original poster.
One commenter explained that their son once visited a similar business and employees installed the wrong oil filter. That mistake proved costly, resulting in the engine needing to be replaced, but the shop’s insurance covered the repairs and a rental car.
Another commenter questioned the Mazda dealership’s repair estimate, suggesting it might include extra work such as oxygen sensors. They also advised avoiding quick lube businesses in the future and finding a reputable independent shop instead.