Changing the oil yourself voids warranty?
 

I just received a call from the dealership telling me that I'm due for a service which includes oil change and tire rotation. I told the girl on the phone that I'm gonna do my own oil change. Then she told me that if I did that, it'll void the warranty. Is this for real?

Nope. Keep all receipts though, just in case.

In theory, doing your oil changes yourself leaves less of a chance of something getting fucked up by the hands of a tech that gives little to no shit about your car in particular.

LOL no.

In which case you should be going to another dealer for service anyway. Your choice on if you do your own changes or not, but not all dealership use techs that know jack and squat about your particular car model.

She may be confused, but in a roundabout way she's indirectly correct. F'ing something up could result in a voided warranty repair due to user error- (cross threading the drain bolt, using washer fluid, not enough oil, too much, etc). If the dealer performs the work, then it's on their hands to do it correctly.

That doesn't mean I trust the dealer or whatever d*ckhead IDGAF punk they assign to do oil changes that day, but liability has to land somewhere.

edit- she should have said that it "could void your warranty if something goes wrong. Bring it to us and *insert sales pitch here*."

I don't think the girl knows what the word "void" actually means.

She also might have been confused by: "If something breaks later and you have no proof of the regular scheduled maintenance and proper fluids, then you might have voided the warranty"

With my previous Toyota, there was a known problem with the engines failing due to sludge buildup. They denied a lot of full engine replacements (under warranty) because they claimed improper fluid change.

One person was denied on those grounds and he had proof that every single scheduled maintenance was performed by the dealer.
HE got a new engine when many others didnt.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles...ne-maintenance

got that from this post http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59287

Thanks for the responses guys. I could see now how, in a way, they could use it against me to void the warranty. I've done it many times to my previous cars, so I'm gonna continue doing my own oil changes.

Apex-Wolf, thanks for the link.

The warranty does not become "void" in it's entirety, it simply means a specific situation, a "claim" was denied (such as the sludge situation mentioned above). If you do an improper fluid change that results in damage, and try to claim said damage under warranty and that claim is denied, then in no way does it affect say, a rear axle warranty claim or something in the interior.

Most folks use it incorrectly.

On phone I am. Therefore, if mistakes I make, Frank Oz blame you should.

You shoulda told that girl you wanted to "void" her "warranty" but only after you were done with your "oil change."

:laughabove: