I bought tires from walmart in MINNESOTA and purchased the tire protection plan, which includes free rotations, so I just decided to have them do my oil changes as well since it would be a 1 stop thing. I normally have done my own oil changes, and will be doing my own from now on.
Another reason why I chose walmart is because they seem to be everywhere, and I drive between Minnesota and Oregon quite a bit. Well I was in Oregon and ready to head back to MN and I needed an oil change and tire rotate (with 2100 miles per trip, the oil changes are needed a few times a month!)
So they did the rotate and oil change, and on my way to ashland to pick up my gear, I noticed a burning oil smell, now not really bad, but I could smell it, and I know that it is possible to get oil on the exhaust pipe so I didnt think anything of it.
Well I made it from ashland to faribault MN with no problems, although it seemed like the burning oil smell never really disappeared. Once in MN I made a few more short trips, and 1 day at my dads I noticed an oil spot on his driveway, now my car does NOT leak oil! So I checked the oil, and it was not on the stick. So i bought the supplies to do my oil change.
And thats when I noticed the problem, There was a large piece of the old oil filter gasket hanging down, and upon removal of the filter, there was a chunk between the new oil filter gasket and the engine, anytime there is 2 seals together it will leak, IM actually surprised it didnt totally spray the oil out right in there parking lot.
I have worked at a shop before and we had to show the old oil filter to our shop leader so he could confirm the old gasket was on the old oil filter., Obviously they do not do that there. There was approximately 34 of a quart of oil in my engine, barely enough to keep it from seizing.
At first I thought, man I wish my motor would have blown so I could have gotten a new engine out of the deal, BUT after reading the stories on here, it was much better that I caught it in time.
I should have known better than to have walmart do the oil change, they dont pay enough for someone with experience to work there. I know how to do all my own repairs, and will do my own oil changes from now on, it would be hard for me to trust anyone other than real shops, not the quick lube places. But even dealerships usually have a guy with very little experience doing the oil changes so the real techs can stay busy on the tough projects.
I would recommend NOT going to walmart for car maintenance work, although it seems I am stuck with the tires from them so if I do have to go there I will be watching them like a hawk.
Hope this helps someone.
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