Maureen Elizabeth D.
I took my car to Valvoline and they saw me coming
I took my car to Valvoline to see if it needed antifreee or water because my Engine Temperature HOT warning came on. They saw me coming. They made all these assurance and told me I needed a radiator flush because the antifreeze was dark and sludgy; they informed me my oil was completely empty even though I had recently checked it about a week prior and it was full; they told me I needed an engine flush in addition to radiator flush. they said it would need an air filter and a synthetic oil change (fill-up since if it was empty there was nothing to "change." $316 later they sent me on my way and the engine temp warnings came back. At a mechanic shop a little further up Route 17, I learned the car had most likely blown the head gasket and the oil and antifreeze were mixing and the engine would need major repairs. Valvoline knew the antifreeze was dark and sludgy and there was no oil. They sold me all these services when they should have advised me to have a mechanic look at it. They sold me services on a car that ended up being junked 2 days later. I understand the car had 130,000 miles and these things happen with respect to the mechanical problem. But I asked for a refund of the useless services I was conned into because Valvoline had enough evidence and experience with fluids to know I needed to be sent to a mechanic. But instead they sold me on all these services they knew were not going to fix a serious engine problem. The manager said he would consider my request if I would meet a regional manager's rep at my house where the car had been towed. I met a rep of the Poughkeepsie Valvoline who took pics and told me he didn't know what happened in Lodi but he would not have done radiator flush, engine flush, air filter change and synthetic oil fill up. He said he could clearly see there was a significant leak. Area manager then did nothing and allowed the store manager's decision (to not refund me the $316) to stand. I am waiting to hear back and will be escalating from the area manager to the Market Manager next week if I do not get a resolution in 2 business days as per their 1-800 customer care line. Not feeling like a "cared" about customer. Feeling like a Patsy they saw coming and cheated out of $316 for services the car would not need. they are not mechanics but are professionals with car fluids that should have known to recomend I see a mechanic. Instead they sent me on my way after cheating me out of $316 in services they had to know were useless.