Does Non-OEM Brand Oil Void Your Warranty?

"Stang70Fastback" (Stang70Fastback)
11/05/2015 at 12:04 • Filed to: None

So this isn’t the first time this discussion has come up on the Toyobaru Facebook group. “Red Guy” claims to ‘work for Toyota’ and has insisted to people on multiple occasions that if they use any brand of motor oil other than the factory brand, that they will void their warranty. Same for the transmission, and differential, and presumably any other fluid in the car. I would assume, then, that he might say the same about using different wiper fluid...

Since he doesn’t seem to believe the three or four of us that try to tell him he is wrong, and that whatever dealership he works for is doing something that is straight-up illegal, I figured I’d post the question to the Oppo community to see if people could give us a definitive answer.

DISCUSSION (36)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:08

This is why aliens don’t visit us

HammerheadFistpunch > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:09

Magnuson moss act - so long as it meets the manufactures spec they CANNOT legally void your warranty for using any brand of fluid you want.

An example would be my TDI, it requires a special spec of Motor oil (507.00) but there are many manufactures that make that spec and some are much more money than others. I can use any brand that meets that spec and VW cannot legally deny a warranty claim based on that.

crowmolly > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:11

Steve Lehto will drop a train on this guy.

I’ll make the popcorn.

Stang70Fastback > HammerheadFistpunch
11/05/2015 at 12:26

He claims that act only covers aftermarket parts, but not fluids :P

jariten1781 > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:30

Maybe he’s not in America? Other countries don’t have the same warranty laws...some even allow companies to restrict warranties to dealer serviced vehicles.

In the US, it’s very clear: warranties cannot be contingent on using branded parts or services.

The actual text is here:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15…

(c) Prohibition on conditions for written or implied warranty; No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name;

HammerheadFistpunch > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:30

He is wrong. Ask any lawyer. Also, I have family that actually DOES work for Toyota [as an engineer] and he doesn’t use any of the Toyota fluids in his vehicles unless he thinks they are the best ones for the job.

Axel-Ripper > HammerheadFistpunch
11/05/2015 at 12:31

GM has the same thing with their Dexos ratings. As long as an oil has the Dexos (or Dexos2 if it is diesel) then it is ‘approved for use’ (meets spec) of GM vehicles.

Either way, don’t cheap out on your damn oil.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:31

I think the better question would be after 3-5k miles running in an engine would they even be able to tell? Like do they have a guy in the back that can sniff it and be like “yup this is definitely castrol synthetic”

RallyWrench > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:33

No. They want you to think it does, though.

HammerheadFistpunch > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/05/2015 at 12:34

That’s the best part, If they try and deny you a claim without concrete evidence (the manufacture has burden of proof) then its a violation of the act.

Party-vi > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:35

Wow a guy that “works for Toyota” wants people to buy Toyota-brand oil and fluids. Certainly no influence there.

Rico > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/05/2015 at 12:41

They take a dab and rub it on their gums to test if it’s the real deal.

450X_FTW > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:43

Ford tried to pull that crap on my wife’s car few years ago. Said she has to go to the dealer for an oil change every 3000 miles so they can document it, otherwise it voids her warranty. And the oil changes at the dealer were around $45. No matter how hard I tried, I could not convince her that it was total BS

Birddog > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:50

The guy has to be trolling.

wiffleballtony > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:56

I’d like to know how he expects the dealer to be able to tell the oil brands apart.

Steve in Manhattan > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 12:56

So using a better-performing synthetic voids your warranty? Fuck that guy.

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch
11/05/2015 at 13:03

i didnt realize how hard 507 was to find in canada....had to get it from the dealer

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john
11/05/2015 at 13:04

There are places you can get the whole kit online for what it costs for just the oil at the dealer, including shipping.

Jcarr > HammerheadFistpunch
11/05/2015 at 13:12

Yep, my Jetta requires VW 502.00 and asks for 5W30. I can’t find 502.00 5W30 where I live, so I used 502.00 0W40 because that’s a suitable alternative, according to VW.

Alfalfa > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/05/2015 at 13:23

My very first thought.

Kinja'd!!!

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch
11/05/2015 at 13:33

in the states maybe. shipping is insane in canada.

also, I needed it with in 3 days, so I didnt have time for shit to take its sweet ass time getting to me. (thank you canada post)

Sneaky Pete > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/05/2015 at 13:49

They can do a composite analysis; if they had a unique blend of additives, it’d have a unique signature.

But no, they can’t void warranty based on oil brand. Weight, on the other hand - yes.

asenna > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 14:15

usually the manual requires the fluid in question to meet a certain standard not a specific brand for instance motor oil would have to be API certified and as long as you use the correct fluid according to those requirements your warranty is safe.

Meatcoma > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/05/2015 at 14:15

As Steve Lehto has stated before. Burden of proof is on them, not you.

SteveLehto > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 14:43

In the US, that’s contrary to the law as we say. I have written about it here:

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/will-modificat…

While I thought the logic was straight forward, maybe I should write a column on just this topic. Stay tuned.

Stang70Fastback > SteveLehto
11/05/2015 at 14:53

Yes, you should. If only so that I can tell everyone I “inspired” one of your columns :P

SteveLehto > Stang70Fastback
11/05/2015 at 15:07

Which is cool. Most of my columns are inspired by the same phone calls I get in my office, over and over again.

“I bought a used car. It blew up. Can I return it?

And yes, I bought it as-is and didn’t inspect it.”

rayJoyal > Stang70Fastback
04/10/2016 at 12:58

He says that you have to use OEM recommended motor oil.

If what he means is you have to use oil that meets OEM specs, he’s correct. Go buy a new car that requires SN 5w20 and try using 20 year old SH 20W50 you’ve got lying around .... you won’t be covered if you tell them that you used it.

If he means you have to use Toyota brand oil in your Toyota, he’s wrong.

David Tennant's Ego > Stang70Fastback
04/10/2016 at 13:33

UNLESS it’s an extended comprehensive warranty with a list of pre-approved shops and you need approval from the warranty provider to access outside shops. But then it wouldn’t just cover non-OEM oil, it would cover any work done aside from a diagnostic. If you ever want to work on your own car or take it to your favourite on the side mechanic, do not purchase extended comprehensive from an outside provider.

93Miata > HammerheadFistpunch
04/10/2016 at 14:20

I was surprised to find that the oil/filter at my local VW dealer is cheaper than I can buy it online after shipping. (I only bought it there because of the $500 gift card but I will continue after the card runs out)

His Stigness > Stang70Fastback
04/10/2016 at 15:57

As Hammerhead has pointed out, it specifically states in the Magnuson Moss Act, they cannot void your warranty. And going further, if a manufacturer were to require you to use ONE fluid in order to keep your warranty, they would be legally required to give you that fluid for free.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Stang70Fastback
04/11/2016 at 05:09

afaik Toyota oil is still just rebranded Mobil anyway.

In Australia you need to have your car serviced by a qualified mechanic following the manufacturer log book, so you can’t self service and keep your warranty.
You don’t have to use OEM parts and fluids though, just ones that are made for that purpose.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > Stang70Fastback
04/11/2016 at 12:02

Wondering how a dealership would ever find out what brand of oil you use...

they-will-know-my-velocity > Stang70Fastback
04/11/2016 at 14:51

Ok, let’s say the internet asshat-san is right. I know it’s a big leap. But stick with me.

How do they know you used a different oil than the brand that is recommended? The only reason they would be checking this is for internal engine failure. They would have to send out an oil analysis to check for particulate and they could probably check viscosity and blend but as for actually determining brand? Doubtful.

Perhaps if they compare particular brands against each other and then try to match then maybe but I really doubt a dealer would go to all that effort (or money having someone else do it).

SO even if he is right, just don’t fucking tell the dealer what oil you put in.

General Mayhem > Stang70Fastback
04/12/2016 at 09:32

He’s full of a brown and considerably smelly substance...

Destructive Tester > rayJoyal
04/12/2016 at 10:59

I was wondering if this is what the “Red Guy” was doing a piss-poor job of saying.