This woman claims her routine oil change turned into an ordeal that resulted in a "massive" repair bill. Getting an oil change is standard protocol to ensure your car is running smoothly. Many car drivers use quick-service locations like Valvoline to conveniently get the task done. Typically, these technicians will quickly and effectively get your oil change in a matter of minutes. A Phoenix woman recently took her Subaru to a Valvoline for an oil change. Now she says that it turned into multiple trips to the mechanic. Andi (@andayyyyyyy) says the saga has escalated into a battle with Valvoline for compensation. Routine Maintenance Leads to Large Repair Bill In a TikTok, Andi urges people not to get their oil changed at Valvoline. "I’m stuck with a fat repair bill," she begins. Andi says that she got her Subaru's oil changed and rear differential serviced at Valvoline in early October. The oil change went according to plan; however, she says issues arose with the differential service. She claims she noticed multiple mechanics consulting with one another. OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. “One of them came over to me to inform me that there was a crack differential plug cap after the service was already complete. They did not tell me there was a crack in my differential before the service started,” she says. The mechanic purportedly suggested getting this checked out right away and noted in her invoice that it needed to be done as soon as possible. Andi says he gave her the okay to drive it temporarily. "I was not told by anyone there not to drive on it. They sent me on my way with a cracked differential. I had no leaks or nothing wrong before this appointment," she says. Two days later, Andi says she discovered that all of her differential fluid had leaked out in her garage. Andi says she then made an appointment with a Subaru dealership. The Subaru technician reportedly confirmed that there was a crack at the differential and the drain plug was reinstalled improperly. She claims they told her that Valvoline’s techs likely botched the differential job. The costs of repair, she says, are estimated at over $1,000. Andi says she then filed a claim with Valvoline corporate. Two weeks later, she says she felt a pop while she was driving. “It literally felt like I ran over a boulder,” she adds. Andi barely made it back home, where she says she followed up with Valvoline and spoke to a manager. She claims the manager sent the car to a partner repair shop and that she paid $150 to get it towed there, only to find out that her differential was completely shot. "The pop I felt when driving was my axle breaking. My axle broke because the differential seized due to the lack of fluid because it had leaked out all over my garage after my Valvoline service," she says. The repair shop reportedly sent Valvoline quotes for both a new and used differential. While waiting for approval, Andi says she got a call from the Valvoline store manager, who said they’d only cover the cost of the cracked differential cap because that’s all that they were liable for. "They said it was my fault for continuing to drive on it. When nobody, nobody advised me not to drive on it. They know my axle was broken, they know my differential was shot, and all they want to do is cover the cost of the broken cap," she says. Andi claims Valvoline offered $524 towards the repair although now the total estimated cost is around $2,000. "I just can’t absorb this cost and I can not believe they are denying full responsibility," she says. "If you are considering going to Valvoline for a standard service, don’t. Because they will [expletive] your car and they will not pay for it," she says in conclusion. Symptoms of a Failing Differential In a vehicle, the differential is responsible for transferring engine torque to the wheels, CarParts reports. This allows the wheels to turn at different speeds without skidding. This part plays a pivotal role and is costly to repair. According to BreakerLink, there are nine signs of a failing front or rear differential: Whining or whirring noises Overheating Vibration Handling and steering problems Gear grinding Tire damage Oil leaks Out-of-balance driveshaft Burning smells Some reasons the differential can fail include a lack of oil, the wrong type of oil, reckless driving, or normal wear and tear. To preserve the differential, it’s best to be on top of differential oil change maintenance, which can be found in your car’s owner's manual. People Question Her Decision to Drive Viewers felt sympathy for Andi, but many of them were confused about why she kept driving the car after the leak. Most just didn’t understand the notion of continuing to drive a vehicle after seeing all the differential fluid leaked out. "I'm sorry that this occurred, but there is no excuse for you ignoring the fact that there's fluid all over your garage floor. You should have called Valvoline immediately and expressed to them what's going on," one said. "Totally their fault, but you shouldn’t have kept driving it knowing the [fluid] leaked out," another added. "Didn’t the Subaru dealer tell you not to drive it?" wondered a third. Others chimed in with comments like, "Why would you continue driving with no fluid in the diff," and, "Confused..so you drove it after fluid leaked in your garage?" Some said her choice of repair shop was part of the problem. "There are no mechanics that work at Valvoline," one commented. "Valvoline, they change oil. Your differential should have been handled at the DEALER," another said. Motor1 has contacted Andi via TikTok direct messages and comment. Valvoline has been contacted via email. This story will be updated if either replies. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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