Valvoline oil change Mount Dora

[jimbomaybe]

The maintenance minder on my Honda CRV AWD tells me to change the differential fluid, a $220. Job at the dealer. Thinking to save a few bucks I bought two QTs of Honda Dual pump fluid ll, considerably more expensive than the generic. I called the Valvoline drive through oil change at 17500 US441, Mount Dora FL 32757,confirmed that they did not sell the Honda product, that would bring my own gear oil . The differential holds 1.32 US quarts I asked for my empty and the second bottle with remaining oil and bottle returned to me no problem.
Unless you confirm that the bottle of fluid is a sealed manufactures product before the tech get it and the bottle and fluid never leaves you sight before it goes into your car you cannot be sure what went into your car. If you bring your own fluid put an identifying mark somewhere on the bottle and get it back. In my case the differential case holds about 1 ½ of q US QT of fluid, by getting the half full bottle back I could use it for the next fluid change.
When I arrived, 3/4/25 I explained both techs I talked to that I wanted the empty and the half empty bottles back, no problem.
After the work is “completed” I ask for the empty and the half-filled bottles. I get some nonsense about being in the drain rack,. Where is the half-filled bottle?” I used that to flush the case”, HUH? This was something new to me, why would you flush the case? How could you do that with ½ a Qt with 1 ½ case just poring it one hole and out another without moving the VEH? I drove around the block and returned, the tech was on his break, I waited until he returned going over this again to be sure of what was said, at the end of this the Tech gives me “Honda Dual pump ll Fluid” bottle that he told me was new but wasn’t one of mine with, you guessed it had a damaged / broken seal containing who knows what.
Now I don’t know what was put in my car, in fact I cannot be sure anything was done so what to do?, take it to the dealer for the $200. Diff oil change, I recently moved and do not have the where with all to do it myself as of yet. Another nice touch is the “guest information has my name right but nothing else, invoice: 82672, I guess if Valvoline checks up on the service it will go to a friendly source.

[Battlebasset]

Sorry you had that experience. I did the same thing with a BMW about 20 years ago. They let me watch, so I knew my product was going in.

[jimbomaybe]

Sorry you had that experience. I did the same thing with a BMW about 20 years ago. They let me watch, so I knew my product was going in. Traded in a 2008 Honda CRV, 110,000 miles loved the car, took such good care of it It wouldn't have surprised me if it followed me home when I traded it in . No other maintenance than oil , filters, tiers, brakes and starter. Love the new one, technology is a wonderful thing , high cost of dealer work is the only fly in the ointment, you pay for the reliability, oh well. Once I get my ducks in a row most work will take place in my garage

[CoachKandSportsguy]

yep, I take it to the dealer, and even then I don't trust them either.

Had a dealer use 5 quarts of engine oil for a 6 quart oil change.

Never went back to that dealership again, who also had the owners successfully prosecuted for fraud. .

I've had other incomplete or skipped maintenance from independents. . it's tough but it's worth the effort to find a service location which won't bs you, and you have to appear knowledgable . . . read a bunch of motor gear head sites, and you will slowly learn enough to appear informed.

I had a tire repair shop try to sell me extra tires, and I gave him a very technical explanation about tire wear, just from reading web pages over and over again. . . he shut up. .

[retiredguy123]

I would have saved $220 and not done anything. The only oil I ever change is the motor oil.

[JoelJohnson]

We had a 2008 Honda CRV (with 160k) and LOVED it! Our daughter needed a car so we got a 2024 CRV EXL and LOVE IT! Been getting an oil change every 4-5 thousand miles at the dealer. Got a recall notice for the gear box, brought it and only took 1 1/2 hours. (Got an oil change at the same time). Only 18,000+ miles so far. Will change the CVT fluid at 60,000. Online it says to use 91 octane. That sounds excessive, but, with direct injection the top of the values don't get cleaned like they used to. The higher octane from Shell and Sonoco have been proven to help keep the values cleaner. But then we will only be using the car for about 5k a year from now on, so the price of gas and oil changes, etc is not a big deal. If this car goes as far as the last one, it just might out last me!

[Ecuadog]

Can anyone recommend a shop where you know that you can bring your own fluids and trust them to do the right thing?

[MrFlorida]

Dealerships are ripoffs , worse than private garages. Never changed the differential fluid in any of my cars.

[jimbomaybe]

Dealerships are ripoffs , worse than private garages. Never changed the differential fluid in any of my cars.

I understand your point , but the rear differential in the Honda AWD CRV is somewhat more complicated than your normal rear wheel drive differential in order to work properly

[Topspinmo]

The maintenance minder on my Honda CRV AWD tells me to change the differential fluid, a $220. Job at the dealer. Thinking to save a few bucks I bought two QTs of Honda Dual pump fluid ll, considerably more expensive than the generic. I called the Valvoline drive through oil change at 17500 US441, Mount Dora FL 32757,confirmed that they did not sell the Honda product, that would bring my own gear oil . The differential holds 1.32 US quarts I asked for my empty and the second bottle with remaining oil and bottle returned to me no problem.
Unless you confirm that the bottle of fluid is a sealed manufactures product before the tech get it and the bottle and fluid never leaves you sight before it goes into your car you cannot be sure what went into your car. If you bring your own fluid put an identifying mark somewhere on the bottle and get it back. In my case the differential case holds about 1 ½ of q US QT of fluid, by getting the half full bottle back I could use it for the next fluid change.
When I arrived, 3/4/25 I explained both techs I talked to that I wanted the empty and the half empty bottles back, no problem.
After the work is “completed” I ask for the empty and the half-filled bottles. I get some nonsense about being in the drain rack,. Where is the half-filled bottle?” I used that to flush the case”, HUH? This was something new to me, why would you flush the case? How could you do that with ½ a Qt with 1 ½ case just poring it one hole and out another without moving the VEH? I drove around the block and returned, the tech was on his break, I waited until he returned going over this again to be sure of what was said, at the end of this the Tech gives me “Honda Dual pump ll Fluid” bottle that he told me was new but wasn’t one of mine with, you guessed it had a damaged / broken seal containing who knows what.
Now I don’t know what was put in my car, in fact I cannot be sure anything was done so what to do?, take it to the dealer for the $200. Diff oil change, I recently moved and do not have the where with all to do it myself as of yet. Another nice touch is the “guest information has my name right but nothing else, invoice: 82672, I guess if Valvoline checks up on the service it will go to a friendly source.


Been better it you would have went to trusted recommended shop (plenty recommended on here) and not 5 min oil changers. Or just bit the bullet and when to dealer? But that still no guarantee they do it right? I found that out then I got here with my Accord oil change. They couldn’t even do that correctly (over filled by quart, didn’t even follow up by checking oil level afterwards) since then I changed all my fluids myself being s I am still able to do it.

I don’t understand why you went all way to Mt. Dora?

[Topspinmo]

Dealerships are ripoffs , worse than private garages. Never changed the differential fluid in any of my cars.

Yep follow that advice. But most don’t keep vehicles long enough anyway.

Well if you don’t keep it very long no need to it be next owner problem? some of us keep car for 10 years or more and know when fluids require changing. My accord 12 years old and I could probably drive it to Alaska and back without even adding quart of oil.

[Stu from NYC]

My camry tells me to use synthetic oil.

Few years ago went to our usual service station for changing oil and filter. Get the bill back and much cheaper than it should be.

Went back to the office and was told they decided to save me money with regular oil.

Looked at him like he had two heads and never went back.

[Topspinmo]

My camry tells me to use synthetic oil.

Few years ago went to our usual service station for changing oil and filter. Get the bill back and much cheaper than it should be.

Went back to the office and was told they decided to save me money with regular oil.

Looked at him like he had two heads and never went back.

Hopefully you didn’t wait long to re change it with correct oil?

[retiredguy123]

Vehicle maintenance is too expensive and too much of a hassle. I change the motor oil, tires, brakes, and wiper blades. And, if something breaks, I get it repaired. I don't do anything else, regardless of what the manual says.

[shut the front door]

Vehicle maintenance is too expensive and too much of a hassle. I change the motor oil, tires, brakes, and wiper blades. And, if something breaks, I get it repaired. I don't do anything else, regardless of what the manual says.

I would like to commend you in your proper spelling of "breaks" and "brakes". It is rare these days.

[Stu from NYC]

Hopefully you didn’t wait long to re change it with correct oil?

Probably waited 3000 miles or so and than went back to synthetic with a more competent service station.

Got another 100,000 or so miles on camry so apparently no harm was done

[CarlR33]

So they either threw the bottles in the trash or as they said in the drain rack so your bottles had not left the site yet so where did they put them? I could see them not doing the service behind the curtain if it was their product but using yours and not possibly doing it makes no sense. I might have a discussion with the manager to do it again with their stuff?
On a side note similar thing happened to me years ago I took my car into a retail auto place for a coolant flush/change. I watched from the observation window as the tech pulled the car into the bay, opened the hood and proceeded to suck out the overflow tank and then added new coolant to the reservoir, put the hood down and pulled the car out, done. I was in total disbelief as they never opened the radiator.

[Stu from NYC]

So they either threw the bottles in the trash or as they said in the drain rack so your bottles had not left the site yet so where did they put them? I could see them not doing the service behind the curtain if it was their product but using yours and not possibly doing it makes no sense. I might have a discussion with the manager to do it again with their stuff?
On a side note similar thing happened to me years ago I took my car into a retail auto place for a coolant flush/change. I watched from the observation window as the tech pulled the car into the bay, opened the hood and proceeded to suck out the overflow tank and then added new coolant to the reservoir, put the hood down and pulled the car out, done. I was in total disbelief as they never opened the radiator.

What did you do than?

[Astropoint]

I use Sumter Tire. I bring my own fluids and they always return the partial empty container without asking. I hate to recommend them because they have gotten so busy it increases my wait times. But they are as honest as I have found.

[USOTR]

Dealers rob us and those quick lube places can not be trusted. Best to find a local shop you can trust.

[jswirs]

Vehicle maintenance is too expensive and too much of a hassle. I change the motor oil, tires, brakes, and wiper blades. And, if something breaks, I get it repaired. I don't do anything else, regardless of what the manual says.

I also am a DIYer, how do you change your tires?

[retiredguy123]

I also am a DIYer, how do you change your tires?
I am not a DIYer for vehicles. The only thing I change on my vehicle is wiper blades, which I buy from Amazon.

[La lamy]

I also am a DIYer, how do you change your tires?
Here's a vid (if TOTV lets it be put out here)of how to change a tire without a machine. NOT worth it IMHO!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1Feg5CbMp0

[Joe C.]

Honda doesn't manufacture any lubrication products. Valvoline, however is one of the BEST oils or grease that your money can buy. The techs may be stupid, but if they used Valvoline, I don't think you need to worry.

[Ecuadog]

I use Sumter Tire. I bring my own fluids and they always return the partial empty container without asking. I hate to recommend them because they have gotten so busy it increases my wait times. But they are as honest as I have found.

Thank you. I really appreciate the answer.

Do you find one location better than the other?

[Rocksnap]

Dealers often don’t use factory fluids. They will use a ‘rated’ fluid. My old local dealer used a generic 55gallon drum of engine oil that met the requirements.

[Driller703]

I use Sumter Tire. I bring my own fluids and they always return the partial empty container without asking. I hate to recommend them because they have gotten so busy it increases my wait times. But they are as honest as I have found.

Reminds me of the movie “The Fight Club”:
The first rule is: “Don’t tell anyone about Sumter Tire”.
The second rule is: “Don’t tell anyone about Sumter Tire”.

[Topspinmo]

Honda doesn't manufacture any lubrication products. Valvoline, however is one of the BEST oils or grease that your money can buy. The techs may be stupid, but if they used Valvoline, I don't think you need to worry.

But, made to Honda’s specifications which may or may not differ from Valvoline?

[Topspinmo]

Dealers often don’t use factory fluids. They will use a ‘rated’ fluid. My old local dealer used a generic 55gallon drum of engine oil that met the requirements.

Yep and the pump it in using gauge on pump and some over fill and don’t even check level after the service.

[jimbomaybe]

Honda doesn't manufacture any lubrication products. Valvoline, however is one of the BEST oils or grease that your money can buy. The techs may be stupid, but if they used Valvoline, I don't think you need to worry.
I have no problem with Valvoline products , and as you say their product will probably do just fine , however if I go the extra mile and pay for a premium product that's what I want, thinking on it I should have broken the seal myself, once the seal is broken it would be hard to resell, next time there will be no problem as I will be doing it myself, if I am lucky maybe they will cough up two bottles of Honda Dual Pump Fluid ll

[jimbomaybe]

But, made to Honda’s specifications which may or may not differ from Valvoline?
My understanding is that there is a standardization for specification for lubricants, no secret ingredients . A federal law was passed years ago that manufactures could not void your warrantee by using a non manufactures product as long as it met the proper speciation, motor oils have a number of specs , can not do any harm by using a higher spec , you certainly wouldn't want or willingly use a lower spec oil than called for or paid for

[Topspinmo]

My understanding is that there is a standardization for specification for lubricants, no secret ingredients . A federal law was passed years ago that manufactures could not void your warrantee by using a non manufactures product as long as it met the proper speciation, motor oils have a number of specs , can not do any harm by using a higher spec , you certainly wouldn't want or willingly use a lower spec oil than called for or paid for

No secret ingredient I guess higher standard of additives? Like for wear and viscosity? Sure can use cheapest anything as long as viscosity right and you change it. Changing schedule has always been wide range of opinions.