Can you tell if a car has the original oil filter?

[CarGuy37]

I know a guy who has a Dakota 4.9 V8 with 14k miles that is about to go back to the dealer as his lease is ending.

He never changed the filter but has changed the oil

and was wondering if the dealer would be able to tell if the original filter is still on? He thinks the factory filter would look just like a dealer filter but I'm not so sure about that. I told him to just put a cheap Fram on anyway but I thought this would be an interesting question to ponder.

So what do you think?

 

[Pablo]

memo to self: never purchase a lease return

oh yeah, they'll know.

 

[Tosh]

My Honda product says to change the filter every other oil change, so if his Dodge is the same then he should have nothing to worry about when they see the original.
PS. Aren't SuperTechs cheaper than Frams? How about a nice wipe-down?

 

[Nickdfresh]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pablo:
memo to self: never purchase a lease return

oh yeah, they'll know.

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After changing oil for a few years, I wrote that memo long ago.

And I honestly can't remember if Chrysler just used a regular Mopar filter, or had a factory mono-color filter like both Ford (battleship gray, no markings) and GM (AC Delco blue, but with no sticker/markings). I think they may have used a flat black filter though. If you can get to it and check, see if it's monochromatic with no writing on it, if it is, that's definitely factory. Though if it says 'Mopar,' that may be factory as well.

If he did it himself, they may ask for receipts of some sort.

 

[The Critic]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Baio:
I know a guy who has a Dakota 4.9 V8 with 14k miles that is about to go back to the dealer as his lease is ending.

He never changed the filter but has changed the oil

and was wondering if the dealer would be able to tell if the original filter is still on? He thinks the factory filter would look just like a dealer filter but I'm not so sure about that. I told him to just put a cheap Fram on anyway but I thought this would be an interesting question to ponder.

So what do you think?

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Shouldn't be a problem, as I've never seen a 4.9L Dakota.

 

[Volvohead]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Baio:
I know a guy who has a Dakota 4.9 V8 with 14k miles that is about to go back to the dealer as his lease is ending.

He never changed the filter but has changed the oil

and was wondering if the dealer would be able to tell if the original filter is still on? He thinks the factory filter would look just like a dealer filter but I'm not so sure about that. I told him to just put a cheap Fram on anyway but I thought this would be an interesting question to ponder.

So what do you think?

---

They will ABSOLUTELY know if the factory filter wasn't changed, as they are specially marked. I hear about this all the time from my dealer mechanic buds. Dealer mechanics are particularly offended by this practice for some reason, and they will go out of their way to flag it to the manufacturer.

Here's a recent one that was related to me by a Chrysler mechanic: a guy driving a company lease vehicle never changed the oil. It wasn't his car, and he could care less. Never even cracked the hood open. Sometime after 25K, the engine finally seized and it was towed in. They caught the factory filter, flagged it to Chrysler, and Chrysler nailed the company owner on the replacement engine. The owner was shocked and asked for the factory marked filter as proof. They gave it to him with the bill. The owner then went to the employee, dropped the factory filter (dripping with oil) on his desk, and handed him the bill. Guess who had to pay it?

People like your friend are why I will NEVER buy an off-lease vehicle.

 

[Gary Allan]

For crying out loud. Just have him stop at any WM and spend $2.07 for a ST filter.

How freaking lazy can this guy be

 

[JTK]

Only 14Kmi on a lease return? How old is this truck?

Joel

 

[falconman]

Chrysler does mark its factory oil filters, but not as obviously as Ford and GM. From what I remember, it looks like a regular Mopar filter but has "Factory Installed" or something like that stamped on the end.

 

[pmwalter]

quote:

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Originally posted by Gary Allan:
For crying out loud. Just have him stop at any WM and spend $2.07 for a ST filter.

How freaking lazy can this guy be

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I couldn't agree more with Gary. Pretty pathetic.

 

[wander2039]

I know on GM's they had a sticker on the filter. I found that on a Firebird v6 with 30k. My Ranger didn't have anything but was a different part number than what was required by the books.

 

[Hirev]

I know Toyota factory installed filters use a different part number and different construction from Toyotas own over the counter filters on the same application.

These kind of stories is why I WOULD NEVER buy a formally leased vehicle. I would wonder if the oil was actually changed in 14K miles if he is to lazy to change the filter.

 

[oilyriser]

Maybe he's one of those who wears the same underwear for 6 days, too.

 

[Dark Jedi]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Critic:

quote:

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Originally posted by John Baio:
I know a guy who has a Dakota 4.9 V8 with 14k miles that is about to go back to the dealer as his lease is ending.

He never changed the filter but has changed the oil

and was wondering if the dealer would be able to tell if the original filter is still on? He thinks the factory filter would look just like a dealer filter but I'm not so sure about that. I told him to just put a cheap Fram on anyway but I thought this would be an interesting question to ponder.

So what do you think?

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Shouldn't be a problem, as I've never seen a 4.9L Dakota.

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I was thinking the same thing. never heard of a dakota having a 4.9. tell your friend to do as said and buy a wally world filter and put it on and top off the oil.

my dakota came with a 4.7 and now I am mad as I didnt know they had a 4.9 as an option.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

My Hyundai filter from the factory was identical to the Hyundai/Kia filters they sell for EIGHT dollars each at the Stealership.

No indication.

 

[CarGuy37]

Yeah I figured you could tell and thats why I told him to atleast change the filter. And yes I would never buy an off lease vehicle either. It could be a 4.7, I didnt go look at the truck.

 

[beanoil]

Quote:

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And I honestly can't remember if Chrysler just used a regular Mopar filter, or had a factory mono-color filter like both Ford (battleship gray, no markings) and GM (AC Delco blue, but with no sticker/markings).

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I just changed the oil for the first time on my wife's new Envoy. It had a normal, labelled ACD PF-61. And, my buddy's new '07 Grand Prix had a regular DuraGuard PF-47. I think GM had moved away from unlabelled filters; YMMV. As for the lease return, get an ST, and encourage him to do some maintenance on the next victim.