Engine knock, will warranty be void?
 

Last Monday coming back from work I heard a knock that at first I hoped it was a loose bolt on the headers or anything other than a knock lol after showering I decided to go back out and examine the car. I turned it on and ran inside to get a beer and when I came out it died by itself and won't turn back on. I checked fuses and the oil and anything to make sure it wasn't engine failure but I'm positive it is.

Anyways I used either Eneos sustina or motul 300 0w20 most it's life and just this last oil change I decided to try out amsoil 0w30. I changed the oil before due intervals, about every 4 months or 5k miles. The last oil change was maybe a couple weeks before the car died. Now I'm paranoid that the dealer might use the 0w30 oil against me to screw me from covering the engine which I'm fairly positive isn't my fault or the oils fault as many others use different weight oil. The car has 49k miles and I have all the receipts that are dated from the oil and oil filter I have purchased since buying the car. Also the car has no mods that could have caused it either.

I usually use it to drive from work and back, I did participate in a drift even last year and have fun with the car here and there, but nothing like what other members do with their cars every other weekend or so. Sorry for the long paragraph but If you have any input I would appreciate it, thanks.

Read the manual about the oil.
Go to the dealer about the warranty.
Good luck.

They won't really tell the difference between 0w20 and 0w30, but to be safe you need to put the car back to stock and put the stock tune (if you're running any sort of tune) back on to even have a snowballs chance in hell of getting a warranty repair. Assume the dealer will do everything they can to prevent you from getting a warranty repair.

Engine knock, will warranty be void?
 

Yeah, I'm not running any tune or anything other than suspension mods which I switched to oem. I'm fairly positive it won't be a cake walk with having them cover this

The dealership will request maintenance records and will see the oil you used. They will want all the records of past oil changes if they weren't done by the dealership, so bring everything you have and hope that the problem is not oil related- it could be a lot of things though TBH it doesn't sound good. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

You'll just need to pull all your maintenance records to make sure you have all your ducks in a row. Other than that, you should get the engine repaired/replaced under your 60k/5 year power train warranty. Not sure if 0W-30 on the receipts might hurt you though for improper oil usage.

Yup, I have all the receipts of the oil and oil filters I have purchased through out the ownership of this car and currently the usage of 0w30 oil is what I fear might void the warranty, also to note I have a 100,000 mile or 7 year powertrain warranty not that it makes a difference lol but I'm glad I have it either way. I know it won't be easy with Toyota but it's worth a shot, and honesty I really feel like it's a manufacture issue especially seeing many with blown engines without any mods. And I really tried my best to take care of this car other than sometimes driving it for what it was designed for.

I should be calling Toyota tomorrow and see where it goes from there. Thank you for the replies thus far and I will keep this thread updated on how it all pans out.

Too bad your car's engine is acting up ..... :(

So, you lost me ......... do you have an aftermarket header installed .. ??


humfrz

No I don't, I was just basically saying that I was hoping the knocking sound was anything else other than an actual engine knock lol

How many miles since the last time you used 0w20? If less than 7,500, maybe you can "lose" the records of using 0w30?

Please, for the love of god, read the manual about oil weights and what is acceptable...

Well, like said above, just take it into the dealer and let them sort it out.

It doesn't appear you have done anything wrong that would hurt the car.

Please keep us posted.


humfrz

x2
worry later when that happens

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If you just read the Owner's Manual (yeah, I know, why would anyone do that?) you would find the 0-20 is the recommended viscosity. It is NOT required.

They cannot/will not deny warranty service because you used 0-30.

Engine knock, will warranty be void?
 

I've used 0w20 oil since I've bought the car, I understand what the manual says about what oil I need to run in the car, I simply decided to try out a different weight. Even if the manual doesn't say it is required, I'm sure Toyota will try to make it seem so just so they don't have to cover the engine, at least that's what I'm assuming they will do. Hopefully they will say what you're saying, that it is recommended and not required and the use of 0w30 oil won't cause any issues, and that is my worry and the whole point of this thread was to see if anyone had any experience dealing with Toyota with a similar situation or has any knowledge on this just so I can be properly prepared.

It is slightly less than 7500, I believe it was close to 6000 or so when I changed the oil last. The only thing is the oil will look pretty fresh so if I do decide to "loose" the records of the last oil change with 0w30 hopefully they won't find it to be too suspicious.

I guess I'm a ding dong that is illiterate and has never touched a wrench or done an oil change. Not to be rude, but I think I know what the manual says as I do have eyes. There's been some tests done on the use of 0w20 oil or at least on the Eneos sustina and it doesn't hold oil pressure well that is why I wanted to try out a different weight.

I know in other countries their manual may say to use a different weight so I'm fairly positive 0w20 isn't the only option, but I know how it goes when it comes to warranty and how dealers handle these sorts of claims. I'm sure if your engine blew and you had warranty, you would be paranoid over some stupid shit. I don't think anyone wants to be spending thousands of dollars repairing a car that is 3 years old or less because the dealer gives you a dumb excuse to get out of covering that repair, that's my dilemma and I just want to be prepared.

Why even waste your time typing a dumb comment if you have nothing to contribute.

If the dealer gives you ANY crap about using 0w30 just ask them to look up the Toyota 'required' oil in South Africa.
They use 5w30 partially because 0w20 is unavailable there.

If you read the one paragraph about engine oil in the manual that came with your twenty five thousand dollar piece of heavy machinery instead of typing that response you would know that Toyota and Subaru both recommend a higher weight oil such as 0W-30 or 5W-30 for cars that see heavier than normal usage or hot climates, such as commuting during a Chicago summer. Given that what you did is actually a suggested option in the cars manual I do not think it will cause you much hassle.

While that was an impressive tirade, text to speech is pretty good these days so forgive us if we're still not convinced of your literacy.

No, they are NOT going to do that! There is absolutely no requirement that you use 0-20.

Quote:
"....Oil viscosity (0W-20 is explained here as an example):
• The 0W in 0W-20 indicates the characteristic of the oil which allows
cold startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier
starting of the engine in cold weather.
• The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the viscosity characteristic of the oil when
the oil is at high temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity (one with a
higher value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high
speeds, or under extreme load conditions....."

Engine knock, will warranty be void?
 

I understand that, and yes it does mention usage of different viscosity under heavy load or high speeds, but it does not list any weight specifically and I'm hoping they won't try to get "technical" about it. All I'm saying is, all it's life I used 0w20 and after the last oil change which I used 0w30 oil, the engine crapped out. 0w30 isn't a huge significant difference from a 0w20 but I'm assuming Toyota might try to use that as an excuse and also I don't want them to assume that I'm using 0w30 oil because I'm using the car under high speeds or in their interpretation that could be racing. It is summer but I know they won't be eager to cover the damage and I'm simply trying to look at all of this through their eyes.

Hopefully they won't use that against me. Either way I should find out soon. I've never had to deal with blown engines that have a chance to be covered under warranty so I just want to be sure. I do appreciate all the comments, forgive me for being paranoid. I just want to save myself a few thousand dollars.

You obviously have your mind made up that Toyota is going to deny your, in spite of all the documentation that they won't.

Since you have already made up your mind, I'm not sure why you bothered to post your concern here. Are you sure there aren't some other issues you have not shared with us?

It's not that I have my mind made up, I just don't want to get my hopes up. There have been no issues with the car nor I have don't anything to the car that would cause engine failure. I do some spirited driving here and there, but nothing to the extreme and as I mentioned I've tried my best to change my oil at due intervals, or actually before due intervals and I've tried my best to take care of the car. This will be my first experience dealing with such issue and warranty and hearing some peoples stories dealing with Toyota go me a bit worried.

I've swapped over to everything stock accept the wheels since I don't have the stock ones. So I just don't want them to see my car on advan wheels and try to add that up to the 0w30 oil and assume that I used the car for racing and that is the reason for the engine failure. I know they won't be able to prove racing as I wasn't anyways and I work way too much to have time for that, but I just don't want any crazy complications with this. Maybe I am being a bit too paranoid, but I just wanted to make sure that usage of 0w30 oil won't be a red flag to them especially how I mentioned that all of the sudden i switched to different viscosity and the engine died.

Sounds like you're over thinking it lol. Unless someone has went to the same dealer with the same problem as you, you won't get an exact answer. Just take it in and go from there

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You will be fine, the dealer is not out to just deny you. I went in with a noisy throwout bearing and dealer replaced without hesitation. Service centers like the work also. Find the right dealer ask around. There are some that would be happy to service your car.

DANG! ... @iamhubert ........ I sure hope you don't carry your paranoia into the dealership with you.

What you might do is to create a journal, with the dates of what you did, service wise with your car, along with the receipts for purchase of oil and filters.

This will make it easier for the dealership to document the service.

When you have the car taken in, I would just say something like ...... my car stopped running and I have no idea why. I would like it fixed.

If you are all defensive up front, mixed in with paranoia, they may suspect you aren't telling them the whole story.

Now, it's there move.

IF they ask about the different weights of oil you used, just be honest with them.

I have a feeling the dealership will do the right thing and fix your car, with no out of pocket cost to you.


humfrz

Actually, I'm not paranoid over stupid shit. Nor am I wasting your time...

I understand how warranty works, hence my comment... the only requirement is that the oil is of ILSAC GF5 and that it is multigrade. The viscosity is a recommendation.

Now, let's take a look...

You used what I assume to be a GF5 multigrade oil that meets what is required as stipulated by the manufacturer, right?

You have no mods yet you are paranoid about something wrong. What can possibly go wrong, give that you have all receipts? Are you afraid that your drifting or driving style somehow would get your warranty claim denied?

If you are that paranoid to begin with, I have to ask: why are you even participating in drift events? This is a serious question, because it makes no sense that you are paranoid about a warranty claim on an unmodified engine, and yet you take it drifting which is in blatant violation of the warranty terms as offered by the manufacturer...

-alex

!

I will never understand the concept of asking for opinions/advice/information and then arguing with and insulting everybody that attempts to give an answer.


If you don't want to hear an answer or have already determined what you think the answer should be then just don't ask the question.

Where have I insulted everybody? Lol. Couple people on here are responding to my question with an insult to my intelligence seems like. I only respond to people the way they respond to me. As for the situation, I have a few big things coming up that require a lot of money so I just wanted to know if I should prepare myself to pay out of my own wallet for this or if the car should be fine under warranty for the repair. I guess being worried is a crime.

And as for what I use the car for, well I'm using the car for what it was technically designed for, but last drift event was a year ago so I'm sure the engine failure has nothing to do with drifting or anything that i have done as I've used to mainly commute to work and back. I have no issue getting the engine rebuilt or swapping something else into the car but currently under the situation I'm in, it would be much nicer if Toyota is able to cover the repair. Again being worried must be a crime.

I asked you to read the Owner's Manual.

You obviously missed the part about the viscosity being a recommendation.

Again, I am neither paranoid (about warranty claims) nor was my comment stupid. Next time, I'll copy/paste the entire relevant section and highlight the words you missed.

-alex

P.S. The comment about the drifting was more to point out the contradiction in your statement. You are paranoid about engine warranty from usage of different viscosity oil, yet you (seemingly) had no issues sliding the car around at a drift event. Given what it takes to truly drift this car with the stock motor, it's not exactly "feathering the throttle" type of driving. I think your paranoia is completely unjustified...

Its funny that this discussion has been going on for two days.
I took my car in for a headlight replacement under warranty and said "I think I have an oil leak"


They replaced the drivers headlight and removed the front cover and fixed the oil leak and returned the car to me in less time than this thread has been going on...


(ANd they sent the car to their sister Nissan Dealer and had one headlight polished)

Yea you are totally over thinking this. If it is under warranty, call them and tell them you heard a knocking sound and your engine won't start and they need to come pick this piece of shit up. You might have to pay for a tow anyway but its worth a shot. Let them figure out whats going on. If they ask for service history give it to them, but you don't need to sell them on a warranty claim. At all.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: