‘Thought That Walmart Would Have Everything They Needed’: Woman Gets Oil Changed At Walmart. Then She Goes To Advance Auto Parts

Getting your oil changed is one of the most common maintenance steps every car owner has to take. Given this, one might think that it would be easy, but, as the internet tells us, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding oil changes.

Spend enough time online, and you’ll realize that people aren’t sure how often they need to get their oil changed, which oil they should use, how much they should pay, and, crucially, whether they can do it themselves or they need to take it to a shop.

If you opt for the latter, you’d assume that you’d be able to leave your car at the shop and simply come back when it’s ready. However, one woman says she recently took her car to Walmart for an oil change and ended up needing to run an errand for their shop. What went wrong here?

What Happened At This Walmart Auto Center?

In a video with over 1,400 views, Wisconsin-based TikTok user @thathouse501 shows herself at Advance Auto Parts. 

The reason she’s there, she says, is because she dropped her car off for an oil change at Walmart. The problem? They didn’t have the right oil filter for her car, and so she had to get it herself.

“I had a 1:30 appointment. Drop my car off at 1:00, went to the Walmart, did my shopping. Have all my stuff, my perishable goods,” she said. “Was done shopping at the same time my car should have been done, and they didn't call me ‘til about 2:20 to let me know that they didn't have an oil filter.”

Consequently, the TikToker said she had to take an Uber to a nearby Advance Auto Parts, buy the part, then bring it back to Walmart so they could finish her oil change.

She said she managed to buy the part for $15 and bring it back to the store. 

“I just want you all to know that the service guy, Brad, at Walmart let me know that, since I'm bringing my own oil filter, they're not gonna charge me for the oil filter,” she says sarcastically.

After returning to the store and providing them with the oil filter, the TikToker searches the aisles for the appropriate oil filter to see if it’s in stock. She lands on Mobil 1 M1-101A, which this Walmart location has in stock.

“There's five of them right there,” she states. “Thank you, Walmart. Thank you.” According to her, when she asked whether there were any appropriate filters available on the store shelves, a worker told her no. It is unclear why she did not check the shelves before going to Advance Auto Parts.

Should You Get Your Oil Changed At Walmart?

In her video, the TikToker purchases a CarQuest oil filter, part number 84502. It appears the replacement she selected from Walmart is not actually compatible. The correct replacement seems to be the Mobil 1 M1-212A. It’s unclear if the Walmart location in the video had the item in stock. That said, it’s currently available on the Walmart website.

As previously reported by Motor1, while many drivers are able to change their oil without issue at Walmart, several internet user-documented incidents may make car owners reconsider getting auto work performed at a Walmart Auto Care Center. 

On ConsumerAffairs, Walmart Auto Care Center boasts an average rating of just 1.3 out of 5 stars. Across the internet, users have complained about long wait times, poor service, and technicians making mistakes that could damage their vehicles. 

That said, similar complaints are made about many quick-service oil change locations. Internet users have noted major issues at Valvoline, Jiffy Lube, Take 5, and other quick lube locations.

As with many car repairs, it’s best to have all work on your car performed by someone you trust. If you have a local mechanic upon whom you usually rely, you can have them perform it—or simply bite the bullet and learn to change oil yourself.

In this specific case, a Walmart spokesperson offered the following statement: "We strive to give our Auto Care Center customers outstanding service. We appreciate the customer’s valued feedback and have shared it with our teams for review.”

‘As A Walmart Worker, Never Take Your Car To Walmart’

Users under the TikToker’s video said that, no matter whether they had the part in stock or not, it was a poor idea to get one’s oil changed at the Walmart Auto Care Center.

“As a walmart worker, never take your car to walmart,” declared a commenter.

“I’ve had way too many bad experiences bringing my car to Walmart. I won’t do it again and haven’t for probably 10 years now,” offered another. “There are so many other places to have your oil changed.”

“I would make them reimburse you for your uber & the price difference for the oil filter,” stated a third.

We’ve reached out to Advance Auto Parts via email and @thathouse501 via TikTok direct message and comment. We will update this story if we hear back.