Walmart has become one of the most widespread and recognizable brands in the United States because it offers a wide range of goods and services. If you need to get some groceries while professionals change your car’s oil, Walmart is the superstore to visit.
An oil change at Walmart costs between $22.88 and $52.88, depending on the type of oil you choose (August 2022). The cheapest package involves a change of conventional oil, while the most expensive package at involves the addition of synthetic oil.
This piece delves into the details of each oil change package offered by Walmart, allowing you to choose whichever suits your car and your budget. Furthermore, I’ll provide further information on oil changes at Walmart.
Contents
Walmart’s Oil Change Packages
Walmart offers five oil change packages ranging from $22.88 to $52.88. The table below summarizes the packages Walmart offers:
| Package | Price | Brief Package Summary |
| Pit Crew | $22.88 | Conventional oil change |
| Standard Oil | $32.88 | Change of conventional oil plus extra services. |
| High Mileage Oil | $42.88 | Change of high-mileage oil. |
| Semi-Synthetic Oil | $42.88 | Change of semi-synthetic oil. |
| Synthetic Oil | $52.88 | Change of synthetic oil. |
Note: Walmart states that the prices provided above may increase if the customer opts for different oil from those offered by the store. Walmart uses Shell’s Quaker State Oil or its Super Tech Oil, but if you select a brand that’s more expensive than the two offered by Walmart, the store will charge you more for the oil change.
Pit Crew Oil Change
At $22.88, the pit crew oil change is the cheapest oil change package offered by Walmart. It includes up to 5 quarts (4.75 L) of conventional oil and a new oil filter. Walmart also offers chassis lubrication where applicable.
The technicians also check and adjust tire pressure but don’t inspect them for damage. The mechanics also check battery performance.
The pit crew oil change is perfect for you if money is tight and your car needs an oil change. The package costs a measly $22.88 because conventional oil is very cheap. Also, conventional oil is an excellent choice for old engines. The high viscosity of conventional oil provides better lubrication to engine parts that are likely past their best years.
If you have an old car, chances are that it was manufactured for use with conventional oil. Consult the user manual to see whether the manufacturer recommends using conventional oil.
Conventional oil has disadvantages:
- It doesn’t work well in extreme conditions.
- The thick fluid can become clogged in the engine’s crevices.
Nevertheless, a non-performance vehicle will still thrive on conventional motor oil.
Standard Oil Change
Walmart charges an extra $10 for a standard oil change because this package comes with additional services. Your car gets all the products and services of the pit crew package plus a check and top-up of essential fluids like transmission and power steering.
Technicians also inspect the wiper blades, lights, and air and cabin filters. The package only involves inspection, as you’ll have to pay extra to replace any of the above parts.
High Mileage Oil Change
High mileage oil is designed for engines clocking above 75,000 miles (120,700.8 km), which helps combat old-engine problems like high emissions, smoke, and oil consumption. Furthermore, it helps clog leaks, a chronic problem on old motors caused by the degradation of seals.
High mileage oil has seal conditioners that close the gaps letting oil through. Additionally, high mileage oil has additives that decrease wear on old engine parts and dissolves grime and sludge that’s collected in the engine.
If you notice oil dripping on the floor or forming streaks on the underside of your old engine, it’s time for high mileage oil.
High mileage oil is better for your old engine than conventional oil as it offers extra advantages.
Therefore, opt for the high mileage oil change if you have $42.88 to spare and drive a car with an old engine, which includes all the extra services offered in the standard oil change package.
Semi-Synthetic Oil Change
Semi-synthetic oils offer a middle ground between conventional oils and synthetic oils. They contain about 30% synthetic oil, the rest being conventional motor oil. Such oils contain additives that make the oil more viscous and long-lasting.
They also work better in extreme conditions compared to conventional oil.
Basically, semi-synthetic oils address the drawbacks of conventional oils at a lower price than synthetic oils. But semi-synthetic oils still have a high concentration of mineral oils, so they don’t eliminate the downsides of conventional oil.
Changing semi-synthetic oil at Walmart costs $42.88, which includes the cost of extra services included in the standard oil change package.
Synthetic Oil Change
Most car owners with modern cars opt for synthetic oil due to its wide range of benefits. It’s the most expensive oil option, but many car owners see worth in the added cost. Synthetic oils also thrive in extreme conditions and provide better protection against rusting and corrosion due to their composition, making them ideal for high-performance engines.
Furthermore, unlike conventional oil, viscous synthetic oil doesn’t collect as sludge in the engine. It has properties that help dissolve sludge that might have accumulated in your car’s engine.
When using synthetic oil, you don’t need to let your car warm up as you would when using conventional oil. The viscous oil races through the engine, allowing you to set off as soon as possible.
However, this doesn’t mean that you should take off as soon as you start the engine. Give your car a minute or so in the summer, and up to 4-5 minutes in the winter to let the oil lubricate the pistons, camshafts, and lifter mechanisms at the top. This allows the metal to naturally expand so that your car isn’t running metal on metal.
A synthetic oil change costs $52.88, which is $20 more than the equivalent conventional oil change. However, synthetic oil is designed to last longer than conventional oil, so this package might prove more economical in the long run.
What Time Should You Get an Oil Change at Walmart?
Most Walmart auto centers open from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and 8 am to 6 pm on Saturdays. The auto centers also open at 8 am on Sunday but close up shop at 5 pm.
An overwhelming percentage of Walmart stores don’t have auto centers. Only 2,500 of over 10,500 Walmart stores have auto centers. So before driving to a Walmart store for an oil change, check online to see whether it offers the service.
You can book an appointment for an oil change at a Walmart service center to get priority over walk-in customers. However, most don’t provide appointments, and instead, opt for serving customers on a first-come, first-serve basis.
An oil change at Walmart takes 30-45 minutes, which might be enough time to complete your shopping as the mechanic installs fresh oil into your car.
After selecting the oil change package you want, leave your car keys at the front desk. When the mechanic completes the service, the auto center will call you to collect your car. Avoid arriving at the auto center too close to the closing time.
If the auto center finds it won’t get to your car before closing, the associates might ask you to return the next day.
Is Getting an Oil Change at Walmart Worth It?
Getting an oil change at Walmart is worth it as the basic oil change at Walmart with extra services costs about a dollar above the national average. The highest-priced service at Walmart costs about $23 less than the national average.
Furthermore, it’s difficult to get an oil change for less than $30 at the nationwide franchises. However, the Walmart pit crew oil change package costs $22.88, and though it has no extra services, it gets you an oil and oil filter change.
Walmart’s economy rates don’t translate to poor service. The company hires qualified technicians and trains them on how to perform oil changes according to Walmart standards.
It guarantees the same oil change service regardless of the Walmart store you visit. A former Walmart technician sharing their experience said the mechanics are so thorough they required car owners bringing vehicles with oil below the recommended level to sign waivers absolving the auto care center of engine failures caused by the owner’s improper maintenance.
You can save a few dollars by purchasing the oil of your choice and performing the oil change at home, as changing oil is a reasonably straightforward process. However, you’ll miss out on the added perks Walmart offers during an oil change.
The technicians top up essential fluids when necessary and check whether important parts like lights and batteries are working correctly. Furthermore, though simple, oil changing can be a messy process.
There’s no need to get dirty when, for a few dollars, a technician will do the oil change for you and dispose of the oil safely.
You may also like to read: Can You Put Oil in a Hot Car Engine?
Conclusion
The least you can pay for an oil change at Walmart is $22.88, and the most you can pay is $52.88, but the cost depends on the type of oil you want for your vehicle. If you choose a different type of oil than the ones offered by Walmart, the auto care center may require you to pay extra to cover the oil’s added cost.
Furthermore, if you opt for part changes, extra services, or if your car uses more than 5 quarts (4.75 L) of oil, you may have to pay more for the oil change.