Valvoline Fixed The Wrong Oil With More Wrong Oil, So The Owner Found A Third Option

Just like the blood flowing through your body, oil is pivotal to an engine’s performance, and using the correct oil is extremely important. Now, Valvoline is being sued because it’s alleged that its Instant Oil Change locations may not be using the oils recommended by car manufacturers.

The lawsuit has been filed by Indiana resident Robert Campbell, the owner of a 2025 Kia Sorento. He says he took his SUV for an oil change at a Valvoline Instant Oil Change location last October, but despite Kia recommending 0W-30 oil, the facility filled his Sorento with 5W-30 instead.

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After realizing Valvoline had used the wrong oil, he requested a refund. Instead of refunding him, the facility reportedly replaced the oil, but again didn’t use the correct specification. He only had his Sorento filled with the correct oil after taking it to a different facility.

Is The Wrong Oil A Problem?

In the class action lawsuit, Campbell alleges that Valvoline doesn’t even produce an oil that meets the specifications of Kia. He is seeking to represent a nationwide class and an Indiana subclass for consumers who have had their vehicle’s engine oil replaced at a Valvoline Instant Oil Change location.

The Kia Sorento, like many other new vehicles, uses a low-viscosity oil to reduce engine friction and, more importantly, to deliver slightly lower emissions. The difference between a 0W-30 oil and a 5W-30 oil isn’t significant, as the latter is simply slightly thicker at cold temperatures. Depending on the climate, it’s unlikely to cause significant issues.

However, the lawsuit alleges that the engine of Campbell’s Sorento is now at increased risk of wear or damage and has reduced the vehicle’s value. He is seeking a jury trial and wants declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as actual, statutory, and treble damages.