Maintaining my truck myself and keeping the warranty

[Deleted member 995608]

In the past, I'd let the dealership do the maintenance until the warranty dissolved and then I'd do my own work thereafter. With my new truck coming in, I'm debating on letting the dealer do the work, or do it myself and keep documentation to prove it.

I've always hated letting their mechanics work on my truck. After every oil change, I'd smell the burning oil that was spilt on the block, or the left over globs of grease at every single zerk fitting. The over use of air ratchets always made me cringe also.

What's your opinion guys?

 

[Mingoglia]

I've honestly never had any issue with warranty, despite my maintaining almost everything myself and not keeping receipts. If something were to fail, they have to prove lack of maintenance caused it. Maybe I've just been lucky, but if you're changing oil, transmission fluid, gear lube, etc there's nothing that's going to fail that will make it look like you didn't do these things properly. In the case of zerks, if you wear out something which uses them it's a wear item and even if you kept receipts on grease you're likely not eligible for a replacement anyway.

 

[AnOldBiker]

I've maintained everything on the last 7 trucks myself. I've kept receipts if there was a problem, but I kept them no matter what. As long as there are the parts and fluids that are meeting their requirements, you have no issues. This '06 I have has only been in for recalls. You'll be fine.

 

[gsbrockman]

What's your opinion guys?

If you have the skill set and a place to do the work, do it yourself. I'm 51....and I'll continue to do all regular maintenance I can on mine as long as I'm able (oil change, fuel filters, air filter, CCV filter, tire rotations, servicing of the differentials, servicing of my Aisin, and transfer case).

I save all of my box tops from the oil filters, air filters, and fuel filters, and record the date, mileage, and engine hours on them. I also duplicate that info on my receipt. No one can do maintenance on The Radio Flyer better than ME ......IMO :-laf

Saving all of these documents generally brings me more money if I decide to private-sell the truck.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I think you'll be just fine doing it your self. I keep all my receipts and a maintenance log book. Service guy here at the dealership said that's all he would ever need if something went wrong. If your '16 is the same as my '14, there's only one fitting to grease.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

No one can do maintenance on The Radio Flyer better than ME ......IMO :-laf

This is more or less how I feel. I've been self employed for such a long time and have managed to get by will little or no help. And when I do need help, it's usually from a small group of close friends. Drives me nuts when I hire people to do a job because I cannot get anything done. I spend the whole time hovering over their shoulders to make sure it's done to my satisfaction.

My thoughts are to use basic factory spec oils, along with Fleetguard filters for both fuel/oil and call it good. I was so obsessed with Amsoil for my last rig and I think that was okay. This time however, I won't be buying that stuff.

Was hoping our new truck was gonna be picked up over the weekend, but there isn't a full load headed to the L.A. area as of yet. I'm patient. Paper work in hand, check has been cashed, and I'm burning holes in my pocket. I've order a set of Wet Okle seat covers, Husky floor liners, fuel and def caps from Geno's, cab clearance lights and I'm waiting on my BW hitch. Looking at the Covercraft dash covers tonight.

 

[Badunit]

I have never let a dealership (or anyone else) do my routine maintenance. They don't care like I do. I keep a maintenance log for each vehicle that includes all maintenance and repairs (mine or warranty covered). I never kept receipts in the past but I might start with this truck. I have never had a failure that could be blamed on maintenance so my logs have been untested. They have been useful to me, though, so I know when I last performed each maintenance, what observations I had, and what fluids or parts I used.

 

[Wayne M.]

Mr. Hawes, I'm afraid you're going to be schocked once you dive into the infotainment and other tech in the new ride. You can do the basics, but you'll be dependent on the dealers support for updates and such more now than with the 04. I bought the MVP for our '14 Durango. It's got automated headlamps. They're gonna break. They're covered.

 

[Camperman]

I keep my receipts as well. I also keep a detailed vehicle log on my computer for our vehicles, and a variety of other things. I record date, mileage, & what was done. Sure makes it handy to look back to see at what mileage or date I replaced or performed what service. I am a big fan of doing my own maintenance. By doing it my self, I know it was done right, no mess was made, and I saved the charges the dealership would have charged me. More money in my pocket to order from Geno's garage.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Mr. Hawes, I'm afraid you're going to be schocked once you dive into the infotainment and other tech in the new ride. You can do the basics, but you'll be dependent on the dealers support for updates and such more now than with the 04. I bought the MVP for our '14 Durango. It's got automated headlamps. They're gonna break. They're covered.

Guaranteed. I have ZERO intentions on trying to maintain the electronics. I just wanna do the basics myself and keep my warranty if possible.

 

[Mingoglia]

Mr. Hawes, I'm afraid you're going to be schocked once you dive into the infotainment and other tech in the new ride. You can do the basics, but you'll be dependent on the dealers support for updates and such more now than with the 04. I bought the MVP for our '14 Durango. It's got automated headlamps. They're gonna break. They're covered.

Aren't the automated headlamps great in the Durango? I have a '14 Durango Citadel. I was driving my daughter to school a bit ago and going up and down hills in my neighborhood I can see them constantly adjusting. Wish my '15 Ram had similar headlights.

 

[Wayne M.]

Aren't the automated headlamps great in the Durango? I have a '14 Durango Citadel. I was driving my daughter to school a bit ago and going up and down hills in my neighborhood I can see them constantly adjusting. Wish my '15 Ram had similar headlights.

They are. Put them on auto before startup at night. Watch them nod up n down as they prove out.

 

[photowrite]

In the past, I'd let the dealership do the maintenance until the warranty dissolved and then I'd do my own work thereafter. With my new truck coming in, I'm debating on letting the dealer do the work, or do it myself and keep documentation to prove it.

I've always hated letting their mechanics work on my truck. After every oil change, I'd smell the burning oil that was spilt on the block, or the left over globs of grease at every single zerk fitting. The over use of air ratchets always made me cringe also.

What's your opinion guys?

There are surely some good techs, service writers, and dealers, but it's a crapshoot if you get a good one or not, every time. And, the system is not in-favor of TLC, flat-rate is generally not good for the consumer IMO.

Even when free maintenance (oil changes generally) has been included, as on my wife's 2013 car, I don't go back to the dealership, preferring to do it well, myself, and avoid 'others' have any influence or control over my machines.

Guaranteed. I have ZERO intentions on trying to maintain the electronics. I just wanna do the basics myself and keep my warranty if possible.

Agreed. I would also comment that unless one is having problems, some/many (and in some cases ALL) the updates and/or recalls are not necessary. My 2014 has been running well since delivered, and I'm hesitant to screw-it-up by having it 'fixed'. There are plenty of examples of guys not liking the improvements or updates made to their vehicle. If it ain't broken...

 

[Newsa]

My 2014 has been running well since delivered, and I'm hesitant to screw-it-up by having it 'fixed'. There are plenty of examples of guys not liking the improvements or updates made to their vehicle. If it ain't broken...

Is this a Ram/Cummins? Which transmission and trim?

 

[photowrite]

Is this a Ram/Cummins? Which transmission and trim?

My trucks is: 2014 2500 4WD G56 Tradesman

No drivability issues.

 

[pjorlando]

I do everything on my truck. I bring it info recalls and warranty work only. Even then, I'm watching through the window like a hawk. Having more than one stealership screw up on my various trucks in the past, I just don't trust them to do the job right.