Can a dealer detect an oil change?

[amk]

Hello. My Skoda has a maintenance schedule that requires an oil change every two years or 30,000 km (about 18,000 miles), whichever comes first. The car’s control unit can shorten the interval if it detects that the vehicle has been used under demanding conditions.
I'm currently at 8,000 km and the first scheduled service is still due at 30,000 km.

I have an extended warranty that would be voided if a vehicle defect was caused by the fact that:
"the vehicle had previously been repaired improperly by the customer or by a third party who is not a Škoda Service Partner, or had been subjected to unsuitable or inappropriate maintenance work;
the customer failed to comply with the instructions regarding the use, maintenance, and care of the vehicle (as set out, for example, in the Owner’s Manual and the Digital Service Schedule / Service Schedule Booklet)"

I will definitely have all scheduled services carried out at an authorized dealer, but I am considering changing the oil early (without resetting the service interval) by extracting it with a pump. I would use an oil that meets the manufacturer’s specifications (VW 508/509) and I am even thinking of not changing the oil filter to minimize any risks.

However, I have read that the phantom oil change could still be detected because the control unit supposedly records the drop in oil pressure during the first start-up after the oil has been replaced.

What do you think?

I am pretty sure that changing the oil early is unlikely to be the cause of any vehicle defect, but I would like to avoid any potential issues.

 

[billt460]

Good Lord, is this what new car ownership is coming to? I would go ahead and change BOTH the oil and the filter. And save all of your receipts. Use quality OEM products if you are that concerned about any repercussions from the dealer later on. You should be good to go. Many people are doing this.

 

[Speedbird001]

I would say zero chance dealer has will or ability to detect a suck and refill. Say the engine blows up and dealer finds a Temu oil filter and suspect oil, your in trouble, but otherwise I say your plan is good.

 

[RyanY]

How would the engine have a drop in oil pressure if you don't change the filter?

I would do the suck/fill. If the OE filter is designed for long OCI it should be fine. But if it's a standard filter I would replace it too.

 

[BobsArmory]

A manufacturer/dealer probably can't see an oil change per say but they will see whenever an oil life monitor is reset.

 

[4wd]

How would the engine have a drop in oil pressure if you don't change the filter?

I would do the suck/fill. If the OE filter is designed for long OCI it should be fine. But if it's a standard filter I would replace it too.

Yep, with a Fumoto - I change the oil but not the filter all the time with mine under dealership plan - they write the change number on the filter to help keep up …

 

[CleanSump]

First, Skoda/VW isn't going to void the warranty for changing oil early.
Almost everyone on this board changes their oil at half the OE recommended OIC with no repercussions from VW. 8k km/5k miles is normal. There is no way to tell if you don't reset the OLM.

 

[ATex7239]

"the vehicle had previously been repaired improperly by the customer or by a third party who is not a Škoda Service Partner, or had been subjected to unsuitable or inappropriate maintenance work;
the customer failed to comply with the instructions regarding the use, maintenance, and care of the vehicle (as set out, for example, in the Owner’s Manual and the Digital Service Schedule / Service Schedule Booklet)"

Improperly is the key word here. Changing the oil early doesn’t fall under this unless you do it incorrectly and then cause damage as a result. But if early maintenance alone did void the warranty then would say they would likely void it for reason they can get their hands on anyway which is a warranty on paper only.

 

[The_Jeff]

If the computer can detect the drop in oil pressure (and that's a huge if), they would likely "allow" five seconds after every startup to run without pressure, so there aren't nuisance codes, or, more importantly, nuisance reasons for VW to warranty something they'd rather not.

 

[kschachn]

Hello. My Skoda has a maintenance schedule that requires an oil change every two years or 30,000 km (about 18,000 miles), whichever comes first. The car’s control unit can shorten the interval if it detects that the vehicle has been used under demanding conditions.
I'm currently at 8,000 km and the first scheduled service is still due at 30,000 km.

I have an extended warranty that would be voided if a vehicle defect was caused by the fact that:
"the vehicle had previously been repaired improperly by the customer or by a third party who is not a Škoda Service Partner, or had been subjected to unsuitable or inappropriate maintenance work;
the customer failed to comply with the instructions regarding the use, maintenance, and care of the vehicle (as set out, for example, in the Owner’s Manual and the Digital Service Schedule / Service Schedule Booklet)"

I will definitely have all scheduled services carried out at an authorized dealer, but I am considering changing the oil early (without resetting the service interval) by extracting it with a pump. I would use an oil that meets the manufacturer’s specifications (VW 508/509) and I am even thinking of not changing the oil filter to minimize any risks.

However, I have read that the phantom oil change could still be detected because the control unit supposedly records the drop in oil pressure during the first start-up after the oil has been replaced.

What do you think?

I am pretty sure that changing the oil early is unlikely to be the cause of any vehicle defect, but I would like to avoid any potential issues.

This is a good one. You’re hitting pretty much all the hot buttons at once.

I fail to see where changing your oil early voids your warranty. Nothing you posted said that.

 

[kschachn]

First, Skoda/VW isn't going to void the warranty for changing oil early.
Almost everyone on this board changes their oil at half the OE recommended OIC with no repercussions from VW. 8k km/5k miles is normal. There is no way to tell if you don't reset the OLM.

Agreed. This is probably the deepest someone has gone into the whole “it will void my warranty” abyss.

 

[Kestas]

I'm guessing the oil change jockey at the dealership is not going to spend any extra time to find out if a customer has changed the oil, unless something looks really off during the oil change. How "off" can it possibly look at 5K?

 

[SevenBizzos]

My old Hyundai dealer could not. They told me my oil needed changed and it was seven days and 200 miles old.

 

[4wd]

I'm guessing the oil change jockey at the dealership is not going to spend any extra time to find out if a customer has changed the oil, unless something looks really off during the oil change. How "off" can it possibly look at 5K?

Hopefully they make him put his iPhone in the locker and pay attention

 

[Japanese]

I am pretty sure that changing the oil early is unlikely to be the cause of any vehicle defect, but I would like to avoid any potential issues.

Go head and change the oil and the filter too. Look for any color or other markings before unscrewing the filter housing and on the old filter as well.
If there are any markings that you cannot match after that, just don't replace the filter.

 

[HemiBenny]

Hello. My Skoda has a maintenance schedule that requires an oil change every two years or 30,000 km (about 18,000 miles), whichever comes first.

or had been subjected to unsuitable or inappropriate maintenance work;

Following their recommendation sounds more like "unsuitable or inappropriate maintenance work" than changing it early.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

Hello. My Skoda has a maintenance schedule that requires an oil change every two years or 30,000 km (about 18,000 miles), whichever comes first. The car’s control unit can shorten the interval if it detects that the vehicle has been used under demanding conditions.
I'm currently at 8,000 km and the first scheduled service is still due at 30,000 km.

I have an extended warranty that would be voided if a vehicle defect was caused by the fact that:
"the vehicle had previously been repaired improperly by the customer or by a third party who is not a Škoda Service Partner, or had been subjected to unsuitable or inappropriate maintenance work;
the customer failed to comply with the instructions regarding the use, maintenance, and care of the vehicle (as set out, for example, in the Owner’s Manual and the Digital Service Schedule / Service Schedule Booklet)"

I will definitely have all scheduled services carried out at an authorized dealer, but I am considering changing the oil early (without resetting the service interval) by extracting it with a pump. I would use an oil that meets the manufacturer’s specifications (VW 508/509) and I am even thinking of not changing the oil filter to minimize any risks.

However, I have read that the phantom oil change could still be detected because the control unit supposedly records the drop in oil pressure during the first start-up after the oil has been replaced.

What do you think?

I am pretty sure that changing the oil early is unlikely to be the cause of any vehicle defect, but I would like to avoid any potential issues.

WOW! I think you could probably change your oil every 1000 miles or 18 times in that 2 years if you want to without the risk of losing your warranty coverage. If they are that picky, you actually don't have a warranty anyhow. A warranty is only as good as the people backing it up. I think those limits are the maximum allowed, which means don't go over that time or milage before changing. Buy a supply of OEM filters and a quality brand name engine oil the meets the proper OEM specifications, keep all your receipts and good records and keep in mind changing your oil and filter too often is much better than not often enough. My suggestion would be what I already said here plus six months or 5000 miles, whichever comes first on your oil change limits. Do used oil analysis to back it up also.

 

[anndel01]

Not sure. I've been changing oil and filter on our vehicles every 6 months regardless of miles.

 

[Urshurak776]

Now people are worried the dealer is going to void their warranty for changing earlier than the computer tells them to? This has to be the most ridiculous thread ever posted on BITOG and that’s saying a lot.

 

[Japanese]

This has to be the most ridiculous thread ever posted on BITOG and that’s saying a lot.

Well, it says mostly two things:
1. Car dealers are one of the biggest scammers since the 50s-60s and didn't change much.
2. Manufacturers no longer care about creating a long lasting product, but using the cheapest materials possible and making the highest profit possible.

Whoever has read the book "Wheels" by Arthur Hailey knows that was valid in the 60's too.