Supplier Series : Valvoline - A Bad Dream - The Cummins Accountability Project

Listen, I’ve traipsed through the back alleys of the world, and I’ve seen my share of bullshit. But nothing quite prepares you for the oily slick that is Valvoline – a company that slithers into your garage promising smooth rides and reliable service, only to leave you stranded with a busted engine and a bad taste in your mouth. First things first, to confirm the connection that’s got us here: Valvoline snagged a shiny award from Cummins Inc. back in 2021 for “Global Best Safety Practices” in indirect sourcing. Yeah, they’re a recognised supplier to the engine giant, peddling lubricants and fluids like they’re the holy grail of machinery. But peel back that veneer, and what do you find? A festering pit of scandals, lawsuits, and outright corporate fuckery that would make even the most hardened mechanic spit out their coffee. This isn’t just a company; it’s a machine grinding down workers, deceiving customers, and dodging accountability like a pro. Strap in, because we’re diving deep into the muck.

The Non-Compete Claws: Trapping Workers in the Grease Pit

Picture this: you’re an hourly grunt at a Valvoline Instant Oil Change shop, wrists deep in engine grime, earning peanuts while the bosses rake in the cash. You think about jumping ship to a better gig – maybe another oil change joint down the road where the pay doesn’t suck quite as much. But oh no, Valvoline’s got you by the balls with a non-compete agreement that says you can’t work anywhere similar within 100 miles for a whole fucking year after you quit. Non-solicitation clauses too, so you can’t even chat up old customers or colleagues without risking a lawsuit. This isn’t protecting trade secrets; it’s straight-up wage suppression, keeping low-paid workers chained to their stations like indentured servants in some dystopian garage hell.

And get this – it wasn’t just a rogue policy in one state. This shit spanned multiple locations, affecting hundreds of employees across New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Attorneys general from these places finally cracked down in 2024, forcing Valvoline to scrap the agreements, void existing ones, and notify affected workers. If they violate the settlement, bam – up to $500,000 in penalties per state. But why the outrage? Because these were hourly folks, not execs with golden parachutes. We’re talking technicians earning minimum wage, forbidden from bettering their lives in a 100-mile radius. That’s not business; that’s bullying. One AG called it “egregious” and an “undue burden,” and they’re spot on. Valvoline was playing god with people’s livelihoods, all while preaching about “team” and “opportunity.” Bollocks. It’s the kind of corporate greed that makes you want to hurl a wrench through a window.

False Advertising: Selling Snake Oil in a Can

Rewind to the late ’90s, when Valvoline was hawking their TM8 Engine Treatment like it was the elixir of eternal engine life. Ads blared on TV, radio, magazines, and even the nascent internet: “Bonds Teflon to engine parts! Reduces wear by up to 75%! Improves fuel economy! Lasts 50,000 miles!” Sounds too good to be true? That’s because it was utter horseshit. The Federal Trade Commission came knocking in 1997, charging that Ashland Inc. (Valvoline’s parent at the time) had no substantiation for these claims. No real tests backed up the Teflon bonding or the wear reduction. It was all smoke and mirrors, misleading consumers into dumping money on a product that might as well have been tap water mixed with hype.

They settled, of course – agreed to stop the unsubstantiated bullshit and not misrepresent any tests. No massive fines, but it was part of a broader FTC crackdown on dodgy automotive additives. Imagine shelling out for this crap, thinking you’re protecting your ride, only to find out it’s doing sweet fuck all. Engines potentially at risk, wallets lighter, all because Valvoline couldn’t resist the lure of exaggerated marketing. This wasn’t a one-off; it’s a pattern of prioritising sales over truth, leaving drivers high and dry. If you’re peddling products to keep machines running, the least you can do is not lie through your teeth about it.

Discrimination in the Ranks: Age, Race, Gender – Pick Your Poison

Valvoline’s not just screwing customers and workers on the job front; they’ve got a laundry list of discrimination lawsuits that read like a bad HR nightmare. Take the 2009 EEOC case: a 52-year-old manager at a Valvoline Instant Oil Change in Ohio gets the boot after enduring age-based harassment. Supervisors calling him “Old Man Roach,” mocking his grey hair, and then firing him despite solid performance. The EEOC sued Ashland/Valvoline for violating federal law, highlighting how they targeted the oldest bloke in the shop. Outcome? Not fully public, but it shines a light on the ageism rotting in the ranks.

Then there’s the racial angle. In 2023, Craig Price II, a Black employee, sues Valvoline for race discrimination and a hostile work environment. He claims termination based on his race, with a point-based attendance policy enforced unevenly. The Fifth Circuit upheld Valvoline’s policy, ruling against him, but the allegations paint a picture of bias in action – supervisors making racially charged comments, uneven discipline. Price lost, but the case underscores a pattern: complaints of racial hostility bubbling up, only to be dismissed.

Gender gets a look-in too. One lawsuit from a female employee alleges she was fired for procedural errors on an oil change, while male colleagues got slaps on the wrist for similar cock-ups. Disparate treatment, retaliation – the works. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re systemic, with ex-employees whispering about ignored complaints and abrupt sackings. Valvoline’s got a rep for fostering environments where bias thrives, all while hiding behind policies that look fair on paper but play dirty in practice. It’s infuriating – a company built on fixing things can’t even fix its own toxic culture.

Customer Nightmares: From Stripped Pans to Blown Engines

Now, the real grit: the horror stories from punters who trusted Valvoline with their vehicles. Forums, reviews, and lawsuits are littered with tales of botched oil changes turning into costly disasters. One bloke takes his car in for a routine service, drives off, and boom – engine seizes because they forgot to add oil. Another reports a stripped oil pan, costing thousands to fix, with Valvoline offering peanuts in compensation. Over-tightened filters requiring special tools to remove, scratched windshields, aggressive upselling turning a £50 oil change into a £300 bill – it’s a litany of incompetence.

Reddit threads explode with warnings: “They cracked my oil pan and blamed the car!” “Leaked oil everywhere, refused responsibility.” One viral TikTok rant claims a Valvoline visit led to £10,000 in damages. BBB complaints pile up – diagnostic fees refunded? Nope. Synthetic oil mishaps wrecking engines? Check. Even a class action site dedicated to Valvoline damaging vehicles during oil changes, with corporate stonewalling every claim. And don’t get me started on the “Poka Honas” invoice scandal in 2019, where a customer was racially mocked on a receipt, leading to an employee sacking but highlighting deeper rot.

These aren’t flukes; they’re symptoms of undertrained staff, rushed services, and a company more focused on volume than quality. Customers left with tow bills, repair costs, and zero accountability. It’s the kind of service that makes you swear off quick-lube joints forever, opting to do it yourself in the driveway with a six-pack and a prayer.

The Bigger Picture: A Company Split and Still Slippery

Valvoline split from Ashland in 2017 and flogged its lubricants arm to Saudi Aramco in 2022, but the scandals linger like oil stains on concrete. Recent lawsuits include trademark beefs with knock-off shops and slip-and-fall claims at their centres. Environmental gripes? Not major, but the overall vibe is one of evasion – settling when cornered, changing policies under duress, but never truly owning the mess.

In the end, Valvoline’s a cautionary tale: a Cummins supplier with awards for “safety,” yet drowning in labour abuses, deceptions, and customer carnage. It’s the corporate equivalent of a greasy spoon that poisons its patrons while smiling. If you’re reading this, do yourself a favour – steer clear, or at least go in with eyes wide open. The road’s too short for this kind of bollocks.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

Supplier Series : Valvoline – A Bad Dream

The Non-Compete Claws: Trapping Workers in the Grease Pit

False Advertising: Selling Snake Oil in a Can

Discrimination in the Ranks: Age, Race, Gender – Pick Your Poison

Customer Nightmares: From Stripped Pans to Blown Engines

The Bigger Picture: A Company Split and Still Slippery

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