Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Wappingers Falls, NY - poor service experience

# 5 for May 19, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on May 18, 2003:

From: Email User

RE: Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Wappingers Falls, NY - poor service experience

I recently had an oil change and NYS safety inspection performed at store #AE6408, in Wappingers Falls, NY.

The wrong oil was used: 5W30 instead of 10W30. I was coerced into buying new windshield wipers or they would fail my car's safety inspection, since the existing wipers, which were only 2 weeks old, left "streaks" after one pass of the wipers.

They claimed that even minor streaking was grounds for failing inspection according to NYS DMV regulations, so I paid $22 for replacement wipers. Later, I contacted NYS DMV and obtained complete safety inspection regulations. It is absolutely UNTRUE that minor streaking is grounds for inspection failure.

I was also told that the car needed a cooling system flush, and that the coolant had been "topped up". This I thought was strange, since I had just checked the coolant level 2 days before and it was fine, and the radiator had been completely replaced 1.5 years ago with fresh coolant to -30 degrees.

Strangely, the car now almost overheats, something that has NEVER happened in the past, the temp gauge NEVER moved past the mid-point, even on the hottest days with AC on. The coolant now only tests at 0 degrees, so I'm sure some was drained and replaced with water.

I will never go to this store again for service, and would strongly recommend that consumers categorically avoid dealing with this franchise.

Tom Farruggella