Changing oil under warranty?

[Bryanccfshr]

No one stated anything about having attittude, but if they want to perform an audit on my oil change reciepts they can go through box of reciepts they are going to have to go through the same box I have for the IRS. Somewhere in there there are plenty of oil reciepts and I have a stockpile of oil in my garage as well. That I would be proud to show them

What are we looking at here? A 1 in 10,000 chance (if that) of this ever ever coming into question, becasue lubreicant related failure is highly unlikeley. The failure we all should worry about most is coolant system integrity. Which is unrelated to oil. So I am not going to play Mr good book keeper just to make life easy on someone who is trying to give me a hard time if they are asking for this info.

( I am not kidding about the reciepts, they go in the "business expense card board box along with gas, restaruants bills, office supplies, etc.. they are often all on one reciept.)


This reminds me of a tax preparer telling my wife and I how the IRS frowns on us deducting home office space. It is not my job to please the IRS or to make their lives easier and make them smile if and when they question my integrity, it is my perogitive to do what is in my best interest even if it ruffles feathers.

Beyond my simply entries in the back of the owners manual all I can say is "Here's your box, it's all in there!"

Edit to add: If my back were against the wall I do have used oil analysis and a more detailed spreadsheet but it would be after having alot of fun that I would reveal more. (I have spare time)

 

[LarryL]

If you don't take your car to the dealer for your oil changes you hurting the lot boy's chance to become a real mechanic.

 

[Curley]

Yeah, both times I took my car to the dealer for a speedy oil change (because I didn't want to crawl under it during the winter rain) they jammed the exhaust pipe up against the frame with their lift. So I had to crawl under it anyway with a long bar to pry the pipe down and squelch the rattle. I avoid the dealers unless it's under warranty

 

[hominid7]

I keep receipts for the oil and filters and tape receipts to a piece of paper with mileage, date, and anything else done recorded on it. I also record all information on the mazda owners website. I keep all this information in a folder along with any receipts for work done at the dealer, tire stores, etc... In addition i keep a hand-written log in the car so i can compare oil used with MPG, which i also log. I know, overkill

As long as you save your receipts, make sure to document everything, and follow the mfg's interval minimums you should be ok.

For this reason alone, i buy oil specifically for each oil change. I have bought filters in mass before, and when i did i bought 6 filters and made 6 copies of the receipt and included one with each oil change. If you buy oil in mass due to a sale or something, i would recommend something similar.

It's a pain, but better to take the time to document it now rather than having to re-create records after the fact. That is a sure-fire way to raise a red flag if there are any problems.