Use dealer free oil change or use Eneos
 

Hi... This is my first Subaru and first car ever that had pinch weld for jack point. I'm going to take my car to independent mechanic to change the tranny and diff fluids. Should I use the free Subaru oil changes from the dealer or just have it changed at my independent mechanic with my supplied Eneos oil and such?

I have concerns that dealer tech will not lift the car right and mess up the unibody frame. Anyone with oil changes where the dealer messes up your jack pint area? Also how is the Subaru motor oil...good stuff or go straight to the premium brand oils? Appreciate some comments. Thank you!

There are so many stories on here of dealerships screwing up preventative maintenance stuff. Just do it yourself, and then you'll know for sure.

However can the dealer then say " since you did not service the car with a dealer your warranty on the engine is no good because you can not prove it has had proper maintenance." Only reason I'm letting them do the free ones.

No. Although are also many stories on here of Subaru dealerships attempting to pull fast ones, but even for them, that would be a stretch.

Mods only void warranties if they can prove the mod caused the damage.

So you're saying if I never change my oil at regular intervals and my engine fails they won't tell me it's my fault because I didn't maintain my vehicle to the manufactures recommendations? (Playing devils advocate). They can say my neglect is the reason the engine went out and that's why they won't cover the repair.

I'd suggest doing the free dealer oil changes and then doing them yourself the next day if you don't trust the dealer. At least it's documented.

I'm more concerned of the dealer techs not caring and not lift the car correctly. I had a Z4MR and the Z4s had jack pads...I'm just not familiar with pinch weld to jack a car up... I understand the pinch weld is reinforced at the jack points, but I've read some places not care and mess up the car.

Part of me wants the dealer oil change so it's recorded, but proof of receipts of the oil change should be enough for warranty work. The 86 platform is light, but wish they made real jack points instead of pinch welds.

So am I paranoid or justified in my concerned about these pinch welds.. thank you for all that commented.

If they miss the jack point and bend the pinch welds, I don't think it makes any sort of difference, other than you being bothered about it every time you think about what the pinch welds look like under your car. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Change your own oil, log it in the my.subaru.com website, shove it in the dealership's face if they say you haven't been keeping up on maintenance.

And just because you change your own oil doesn't mean you should not document it. That's what most people fail to realize:

Doing your own oil change should also be properly documented, just like a dealer. Keeping receipts of parts purchases, recording oil change and service info, all the usual info that the dealer keeps track of should be documented by the owner.

To not do it is to assume risk on your own, if something fails. Dealerships deny you service easily not because they don't give a shit, it's because they only take on warranty work that they can easily get reimbursed from the corporate office. The more difficult the warranty claim, the less inclined they are to help you out.

Once you realize this, then it becomes apparent: an abundance of information on maintenance/service on your car is better than no information. Save receipts and document your oil changes, even your fuel consumption. These are all evidence you can use later on when something goes bad.

-alex

I have been bringing my own oil and filter
(royal purple) to The dealership and having
them change it With free labor. No complaints
From me so far. I just used my last one though,
My car has 24k miles on it now.

Yeah I already registered on my subaru website... so far as the pinch welds anyone had the dealer mess up their pinch weld jack points? Meaning missing it and bending not only the pinch weld, but into the foot well area?