Valvoline Instant Oil Change — Local services in Everett

I drive a 2001 BMW 330i, E46. Maintaining this bad boy is expensive, so I try to do as much work myself as I can. Unfortunately, I'm only able to work on the top end, because I don't have the space or landlord permission to get underneath the vehicle (oh, to have my own garage). I like using Valvoline oil, so I figured it would be worth the extra money to have my oil changed by the pros and not have to deal with setup, cleanup and disposal.

My air filter and cabin air filter were inspected. The air filter needed replacing but they didn't have the part in stock. I had replaced the air cabin filter myself a few months back so it was still good (can you believe the BMW dealership charges $79.99 to replace an air cabin filter? But I digress).

All in all I was there about 15 minutes. I appreciated getting in and out so quickly, and loading up on ~7 quarts of full synthetic without the hassle. Everything was running nice and smoothly. I placed an order online for an air filter and figured I'd change that out the next day.

The next morning, however, the vehicle was idling rough from the start, and after a couple miles my SES light popped on. There was hesitation at acceleration, and the revs at idle dipped to about 400 rpm, way too low. Getting up to freeway speed there was a noticeable loss of power, a loud engine note, and the car wouldn't shift into 5th without switching over to "manual." I gave the car a scan and it was the old P0171 and P0174, engine running lean. Air filter, then. At the same time, I thought to myself, "Surely a clogged air filter couldn't be affecting the engine THAT much! There are only so many components touched during an oil change, though." I was concerned, but hopeful that getting under the hood and putting a new air filter in would be the remedy.

When I popped the hood to replace the air filter, I soon found out what the problem was: the clamp connecting the upper and lower intake boots hadn't been retightened enough, and the two had come apart. Practically, it was the same as if the entire airbox had been removed and not put back in. I cleaned things up, reconnected the intake boots, tightened the clamps to spec and gave it a go. By this time, the OBD2 scan was showing 6 "manufacturer specific codes," cylinder misfires and the original P0171 and P0174. This car had been struggling mightily. I cleared the codes, drove around a bit, and everything was back to normal.

I want to give these guys the benefit of the doubt, but it was concerning and a PITA putting things back together to get everything in order. I know enough about my car to diagnose and remedy problems like this, but I think of someone who doesn't, and would have gone through a lot of trouble for a simple solution. I think of the driver who would have to either go back to Valvoline and get to the root of the problem, or would have taken the car to an independent shop or, god forbid, the dealership, and spent the time and money to get things in order.

So as far as the oil change goes, five stars. 2 stars off for the "c'mon, man!" aspect. I had to reset the oil change service indicator myself, and a request for a sample of the old oil for analysis was forgotten in the end. I expect better when I dropping ~$120 ($89.99 for the basic service, but I require 2 extra quarts of oil, full synthetic, fluids topped off, OEM oil filter). I do think the price is fair for what it is, without the trouble afterward of course.

I do want to stress that the technicians were friendly and professional, and knowledgeable...just tighten those clamps, please!

Update 7/22/22: 1 more star off the top for the "we'll incorporate your suggestions into our training" response. That's not a solution. "Leave everything as you found it" should not be a...

Tall white guy with the hat- told my husband that they don’t honor car advise(discounted perk service). He then said his schedule doesn’t matter after my husband said that we paid through car advise before and he’s been waiting for forty minutes. This is a registered location. We’ve been here before. Tall guy started laughing in my husbands face, stated to “flag his effin car. He’s not coming here anymore. Get his a$$ out of here! Effin idiot.” This is the same guy that did it last time and processed the oil change last time. Last time he got mad because we forgot to mention it was car advise before the service was completed. Well he got an attitude then as well, then processed the order because he wanted to get paid. Why be so unprofessional, again? Is it because you remember us from last time? Is it because you’ve got something against people like me? What is it? The guy said this a franchise and that’s why they dont do it. Well, maybe he didn’t recognize my husband and tried to lie. Maybe only certain people get the deal.

To the owner- if this is really a franchise, is this how you allow your customers to get treated and spoken to? My husband is a Christian man, and your employee was using all kinds of profanities, for NO reason at all. God bless, and good luck. Hopefully corporate will work it out. I know God will!!!

This is the reason that people report more incidents of disrespect, then compliments.

Edit 12/30 Contacted Car Advise and they told me that this location is active on Car Advise. I was told that the employees were misadvised or were flat out lying about not being affiliated with car advise. Well we know they weren’t misadvised because they did my service the first time. They just didn’t want to complete my service for...

Not going back to this place ever again. If you want to end up with more car problems after a simple oil change - go ahead and give these guys a try. Drove off with a loud rattling noise coming from under the car, immediately went back there only to be told it’s a “coincidence” and that I need to go to a regular mechanic. Very funny!

With some convincing got them to get things in order, they fixed their mistake and apologized. No more loud noise, but still - annoying rattling at times. An hour later noticed a broken valve on one of the tires. Really aggravated that I now need to fix all that, and everything was perfectly fine before I decided to visit Valvoline.

Had experience in the past with them not being able to change the headlight bulb (they offered to do that), and throwing the burnt bulb away WITH the adaptor still attached, saying the new bulb (exactly the one I need) wouldn’t fit in the fixture. Came back home, noticed the adapter gone, had to buy it from Amazon and to fix it myself). They call it a “coincidence”, I call it incompetence. Two stars for the more or less smooth service in the past. Basically one thing they do well is strictly change the fluids, but for god sake, please learn to leave other things exactly in the condition they were before...