Warranty Hard Line

[LandShark]

Went by my RAM dealer (Bremerton, WA) today to discuss a few problems with the service adviser. I happened to mention that I would be doing my own oil changes after the complimentary first change. Adviser made it quite clear that that would void my warranty because I would have no proof that the work had been done. I said that I would have receipts and the adviser said that was not proof that the work was actually done!

 

[SnoKing]

Call the RAM hot line and ask them. Snoking

 

[Larry Willard]

Sounds like they are trying to build their service business. I do all my own service on anything I am capable of doing and am not worried since I keep records of what and when anything is done.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Your service advisor is a douche nozzle. No problem at all with doing your own maint.

 

[w6pea]

Call the RAM hot line and ask them. Snoking

I agree with what Snoking said, If you don't want to pay dealer prices, Buy your own Filters and Oil and find a good mechanic and ask them to do the service for you. That way you use the oil and filters you want and you get receipts .

My mechanic does that for me.

 

[jhenderson]

Do it yourself and keep a log. I keep mine right in my truck. I do it for all my equipment. Date the filter with a Sharpie. Receipts and details. Date, hrs, miles. It's good enough for the IRS. Ram will have no problem with it either.

 

[Bob4x4]

The dealer is of course very wrong on that issue.The funny thing is many dealers have made their oil changes so cheap you can barely buy the filter and oil for the same money.I have seen people who claim they have done services when clearly they have not.There are always at least 2 sides to every story

 

[w6pea]

Do it yourself and keep a log. I keep mine right in my truck. I do it for all my equipment. Date the filter with a Sharpie. Receipts and details. Date, hrs, miles. It's good enough for the IRS. Ram will have no problem with it either.

The dealer is of course very wrong on that issue.The funny thing is many dealers have made their oil changes so cheap you can barely buy the filter and oil for the same money.I have seen people who claim they have done services when clearly they have not.There are always at least 2 sides to every story

What both of you said. Also if the records are good enough for the IRS, FCA/Ram can't complain.

 

[Jim W]

The dealer is of course very wrong on that issue.The funny thing is many dealers have made their oil changes so cheap you can barely buy the filter and oil for the same money.I have seen people who claim they have done services when clearly they have not.There are always at least 2 sides to every story

I somewhat agree with Bob, but some dealers really do not know what they are doing on a diesel truck. I had that run in with my Ram in 09 after Chrysler closed the Dodge dealer in North Aurora IL. The new Chrysler/Dodge (also in the same area) dealer used a quick lube bay to change oil. The kid was down in 10 min's with and oil/filter change for $131.40 in 09 dollars. Did not lube the CV join and the front tie rods, no grease gun on the lube rack. I asked the service writer why and was told there was no grease fittings on the truck to grease. I showed him the lube decal on the front fan shroud and his statement was this was an out of date decal.

I paid and walked out never to return for service to that dealer.

I also have a spread sheet with receipts and oil sample reports from Monitor Labs for every oil change at 5,000 to 7,000 mile intervals. To prove oil changes where done. But since I am at 92,000 miles I do not think I have any warranty left.

Jim

 

[crispyboy]

It wouldn't bother me so much to let others do the oil changes except that it is recommended that the engine oil be allowed to drain for at least 30 minutes. I have bought some of the dealership discount oil changes only to have the oil level way over the full mark.
I have decided to just do it myself. I watch for sales on Valvoline Premium Blue oil and buy ahead. I have 9 gallons stored up right now.

 

[zb39]

Do it yourself and keep a log. I keep mine right in my truck. I do it for all my equipment. Date the filter with a Sharpie. Receipts and details. Date, hrs, miles. It's good enough for the IRS. Ram will have no problem with it either.

I have done this for years..........

 

[Newsa]

A receipt is not even proof it was done correctly

 

[jhenderson]

It doesn't prove it wasn't either. Pretty tough to tell me my warrenty is void because I didn't change the oil " properly". Maybe you could expand on your theory.

 

[Newsa]

A receipt from the dealer is not proof it was done properly. Someone on here had their oil pan crushed bya dealer. Altough I think that was recall work. Not regular maintenance. I had pep boys cross thread my lug nuts once. Many years ago. Never been back.

 

[jus2shy]

Bummerton, makes sense. Yeah, they can't void your warranty because of you doing your oil change. It has to be shown that your "Lack" of oil changes caused an issue, basically they have to prove you caused it. However, it's very obvious when lack of oil changes cause an engine issue (lots of tar and globs of gunk). So chances of oil being the cause of warranty denile are extremely low. In fact, go to reddit - just rolled in sub forum and look at what a lack of maintenance causes your actual valvetrain to look like. That's when they would deny you for warranty work.

 

[Newsa]

Bummerton, makes sense. Yeah, they can't void your warranty because of you doing your oil change. It has to be shown that your "Lack" of oil changes caused an issue, basically they have to prove you caused it. However, it's very obvious when lack of oil changes cause an engine issue (lots of tar and globs of gunk). So chances of oil being the cause of warranty denile are extremely low. In fact, go to reddit - just rolled in sub forum and look at what a lack of maintenance causes your actual valvetrain to look like. That's when they would deny you for warranty work.

I was under the impression that they could void your warranty if you went 7 or 8 months between oil changes. Even if you only drove 5,000 or 6,000 miles. But i might be wrong. I'll be safe and change it. Even if it doesn't need it every 6 months.

 

[Bob4x4]

Bummerton, makes sense. Yeah, they can't void your warranty because of you doing your oil change. It has to be shown that your "Lack" of oil changes caused an issue, basically they have to prove you caused it. However, it's very obvious when lack of oil changes cause an engine issue (lots of tar and globs of gunk). So chances of oil being the cause of warranty denile are extremely low. In fact, go to reddit - just rolled in sub forum and look at what a lack of maintenance causes your actual valvetrain to look like. That's when they would deny you for warranty work.

That will vary from engine to engine some, MUST have synthetic and will come apart when an inferior oil is used or extended intervals.The Cummins is pretty robust but with the aftertreatment versions and fuel dilution

 

[GDTurner]

Since the official manual does not say that it must be dealer done, and they indicate oils that the dealers do not use, I would think they would have a tough time denying a warrantee because the dealer did not do the oil change. I agree that the burdon of proof would be on the dealer that a deficiency in the oil change caused any particular damage. I've always done my own oil changed, but I'm interested to see if anyone has had a warrantee denied because they have done their own oil changes. So far, no posts have indicated that. I do recall a post from some forum or another that someone was denied a warrantee because he admitted to not following the oil change intervals. (He was following extended intervals suggested by Amsoil, though they clearly indicate these days that the manual suggested intervals should be followed since 2007.)

 

[jus2shy]

Sorry about that guys, let me clarify. I too follow the manual (6-months, 15,000 miles, whichever comes first). What I meant to say was a lack in the dealership doing the oil change. Receipts are perfectly fine. I actually update my owner's records on the mopar owner's website as well to have a traceable record (as they can see when each of those records were entered if they proper typical database designs). Also, my dealership sees my filters in which I write the dates of the last oil change on them as well. They know my rig is cared for and I have receipts, owner's log, and writing on my filters to back-up all 3 pieces. So the burden is typically on the dealership to prove that it was a lack of oil changing, wrong oil type, or whatever lube issue that cause a lube related failure. Sometimes you have a special case where a vehicle is only driven in the summer and stored all winter. That vehicle will go beyond 6 months between oil changes but most likely will be well within the 15,000 mile requirement (like people who buy their rigs for summertime camping/rv'ing).

 

[sag2]

They can not make you perform service at the dealer, or anywhere else for that matter. When it turned ugly was when someone did have a failure and claimed they changed it themselves. They usually dug up some bogus receipts, and always changed it at the longest interval. I used to do lots of oil samples and always checked the receipts (they usually blow or forget the tax) before denying coverage. The only time there was an argument was when it was obvious the dealer was being scammed. If it looks like normal service was being done the technician never questioned a warranty repair. And a dealer cannot void a warranty, only the manufacturer can. But a denial is usually based on what the dealer sees in the first place.