Extended OCI while under warranty?

[wemay]

I have always gone by the manufacturers recommendation while under warranty but...

How many of you have gone counter your Owner's Manual recommendation and used Extended OCI while under powertrain warranty? If the risk of engine issues due to oil is so small...is the risk worth it?

I ask because Mobil 1 offers their guarantee/warranty for 15,000 miles or your manufacturers recommended interval, which ever is longer.

https://mobiloil.com/en/article/warranties/limited-warranty/mobil-1-ep-oil-warranty

What the period of coverage is
The Mobil 1 Extended Performance limited warranty is valid for 15,000 miles or your vehicle’s OEM recommended oil change interval, whichever is longer.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: wemay
I have always gone by the manufacturers recommendation while under warranty but...

How many of you have gone counter your Owner's Manual recommendation and used Extended OCI while under powertrain warranty? If the risk of engine issues due to oil is so small...is the risk worth it?



No, it is not worth it because most car mfg's will check into maintenance history to see if you did everything or not if a major engine issue arises. If they can show you went beyond the allowed for OCI best of luck getting your repair covered.

Now, I am not talking going over by say 500 miles. I mean like going say a year and 15,000 miles when the max allowed for is say 6 months and 10,000 miles( something like that anyway ).

It is so easy to just follow the mfg's requirements when under warranty. I do not understand why people have to change oil weights and/or far and away exceed the slowed for mileage? Just makes no sense to me when an engine repair can be 5K+ and a full replacement can be 10K+ these days.

EDIT - you added the M1 stuff while I was responding. In regards to that it is basically Mobil offering to cover the engine if you go beyond the mfg's allowed for OCI. You have to decide if you want to have to deal with Mobil for an engine repair or the car mfg?

 

[wemay]

So even if the engine was not caused by the oil used or oci, you are of the opinion they can void your warranty?

Edit: Yes, i did add the Mobil 1 Extended Performance warranty info after. Sorry about that. Thanks for the reply.

 

[demarpaint]

I did a virtual OCI or two while under warranty. I had a period where I drove 1,500 highway miles in 6 months, I went a year. The warranty calls for changing the oil every 6 months or 7,500 miles IIRC.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Mobil states that while under warranty follow the manufacturer's requirements.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: wemay
So even if the engine was not caused by the oil used or oci, you are of the opinion they can void your warranty?


More than my opinion. I have dealer warranty/service experience and I know the law( i.e. what car mfg's can and can't do ). The answer to your question really depends om why the engine failed and it goes beyond simple lubrication. If the engine failure could be traced to some specific thing that was external to the engine( like you sucked water in through a CAI off roading, used an aftermarket tuner that caused a lean/timing condition and then engine failure, etc... )then OCI doesn't come into it. BUT, if it is a failure with no apparent reason for it you can bet your OCI will come into play.

Basically if it is anything related to lubrication, where oil would be looked at as the culprit, for sure OCI matters. This business of the car mfg having to prove the oil caused the failure( Magnuson-Moss Act )only comes into play when you the consumer do your part to comply with the warranty. In other words you use the right weight oil with the appropriate spec's/certifications and you change it on time. When you step outside of the guidelines the car mfg' gives you to stay in warranty then YOU are breaking the warranty contract and giving them an out.

This isn't to say you couldn't fight it in court and win. Anything is possible. The chances of you winning are slim and even if you do it will take a long time all of which your car sits unrepaired unless you pay to get it fixed( and sue for reimbursement ).

So again, no the risk is not worth it. Stay within the mfg's guidelines until warranty is out then do what you want. Otherwise you just are asking for problems. I speak from experience both working in dealerships and dealing with warranty and also as a customer who has had to have an engine replaced( and had to provide proof of proper maintenance 1st ).

 

[wemay]

Yeah, not worth it. I will continue following Mfr recommendations. I was curious because the M1 warranty is tempting.

 

[IveBeenRued]

Just buy enough oil for multiple oil changes and keep the receipts. If something happens just produce the receipts as evidence that you purchased enough oil for 2, 3, 4... oil changes and make up the "dates" of the phantom oil changes even if you only do one or two extended oil change intervals. There is no way that they will be able to tell that you racked up 10K miles when you were supposed to change it at 7.5K. It would be your word and with documentation, against them.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
Just buy enough oil for multiple oil changes and keep the receipts. If something happens just produce the receipts as evidence that you purchased enough oil for 2, 3, 4... oil changes and make up the "dates" of the phantom oil changes even if you only do one or two extended oil change intervals. There is no way that they will be able to tell that you racked up 10K miles when you were supposed to change it at 7.5K. It would be your word and with documentation, against them.


Its funny you mention this because i have enough receipts for three 5k mile oci for 4 years worth. Lol

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

This isn't to say you couldn't fight it in court and win. Anything is possible. The chances of you winning are slim and even if you do it will take a long time all of which your car sits unrepaired unless you pay to get it fixed( and sue for reimbursement ).


I don't know why everyone keeps saying that. Typically judges are very consumer friendly. For a small filing fee and a few hours time you can take care of these kind of things yourself in small claims.

I don't see the oil being the culprit in most catastrophic engine failures. Does dirty oil make a rod snap in half. NO.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

This isn't to say you couldn't fight it in court and win. Anything is possible. The chances of you winning are slim and even if you do it will take a long time all of which your car sits unrepaired unless you pay to get it fixed( and sue for reimbursement ).


I don't know why everyone keeps saying that. Typically judges are very consumer friendly. For a small filing fee and a few hours time you can take care of these kind of things yourself in small claims.

I don't see the oil being the culprit in most catastrophic engine failures. Does dirty oil make a rod snap in half. NO.




I say it because I have been through it a few times. I have been to court representing the dealer I worked for in disputes between consumers and car mfg's. I would say my experience is very different than yours as far as the judges favoring the consumer over the car mfg. When there was blatant disregard for warranty requirements I can't recall the judge ever siding against the car mfg? The car mfg has a right to set certain requirements the consumer must adhere to for the factory warranty to remain in effect. That is reasonable IMO.

No dirty oil doesn't snap a rod in half. That is either mechanical failure( mfg'ing defect )or abuse of some type by the owner. We have had members here post of failed internal hard parts( valves, rocker arms, etc... )that required proof of proper maintenance before the car mfg would honor the warranty though. It happens. The last one I remember here was about a year+ ago and the guy had a 4Runner that had issues in the head as I recall. Toyota required proof of a set # of OC's( # based on mileage )with the correct oil and filters however. Once he provided that info he was good to go. Had he not been able to he was going to be in a fight.

People can do what they want with their cars. They are the ones who ultimately will have to pony up the $$$ to fix their cars if they void the warranty. With what car repairs cost these days I don't understand why anyone would risk it?

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
Just buy enough oil for multiple oil changes and keep the receipts. If something happens just produce the receipts as evidence that you purchased enough oil for 2, 3, 4... oil changes and make up the "dates" of the phantom oil changes even if you only do one or two extended oil change intervals. There is no way that they will be able to tell that you racked up 10K miles when you were supposed to change it at 7.5K. It would be your word and with documentation, against them.


Pretty dishonest IMO.

 

[Kuato]

It's a risk vs reward question. Risk of losing your warranty vs the reward of saving the cost of some oil changes.

I've never done it.

 

[wemay]

I'll just stick to the warranty requirements. Who needs the headache of even "a few hours at a courthouse". Not me.

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: wemay
I'll just stick to the warranty requirements. Who needs the headache of even "a few hours at a courthouse". Not me.


And you think that'll keep you from getting screwed over by a dealer?

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

The car mfg has a right to set certain requirements the consumer must adhere to for the factory warranty to remain in effect. That is reasonable IMO.


You seem to very concerned about dealer "rights". The guys that are constantly acting in questionable ways toward the car owner. You're calling someone dishonest. I bet you saw a lot of dishonest at your work and I bet it wasn't coming from the customers.

A head gasket has absolutely nothing to do with OCIs. Its a shame people are not more educated on automotive issues.

A person could make a good case for extended OCIs in court. Using a high quality synthetic oil, arguing that service was mild, and making a case that you're being environmentally friendly are all very good arguments. We're trying to save the planet here not just being irresponsible with maintenance. The big piggish polluting car manufs need to be punished.

The oil companies warrant the use of their high end oils for 15K+ miles being another big argument.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

The car mfg has a right to set certain requirements the consumer must adhere to for the factory warranty to remain in effect. That is reasonable IMO.


You seem to very concerned about dealer "rights". The guys that are constantly acting in questionable ways toward the car owner. You're calling someone dishonest. I bet you saw a lot of dishonest at your work and I bet it wasn't coming from the customers.

A head gasket has absolutely nothing to do with OCIs. Its a shame people are not more educated on automotive issues.

A person could make a good case for extended OCIs in court. Using a high quality synthetic oil, arguing that service was mild, and making a case that you're being environmentally friendly are all very good arguments. We're trying to save the planet here not just being irresponsible with maintenance. The big piggish polluting car manufs need to be punished.

The oil companies warrant the use of their high end oils for 15K+ miles being another big argument.



...not to mention the dealerships TELLING you, you must change your oil at 3000 miles when the OM clearly states 7500. If i could, without legitimate concern over litigation, use Mobil 1 for 10-15k mile oci, i would. At least once, with a used oil analysis.

 

[Olas]

A warranty is kinda like a contract, both sides have to honour their agreement.

Dealerships are known as Strealerships for a reason, and I'd they can find a way to avoid paying out on a new engine you can be sure they will.

Bottom line is, when the car is under warranty you do as the warranty tells you.

But then when it's not under warranty, or if you have the tools and the know-how, then recommendations don't mean jack-squat, you can do as you please.

I consistently and deliberately use oil that does not meet spec in my Scirocco, just because I can. No problems in 8 years, a shade under 50,000 miles. Roughly half those miles under heavy load.

There's no benefit to going excessively heavy or light for example a 25w70 in a Prius or a 0w16 in a blown BBC but in general people who think about these things tend to pick an appropriate viscosity.

We need a very expensive contract lawyer to examine the wording of the M1 guarantee, but it will need to be cross referenced with the individual car purchase agreement. Dealer to dealer, salesman to salesman, car owners ability to retain and locate receipts for service work, what about DIY oil changes?
Guarantees are essentially worthless. Cases are decided by who has the most expensive legal team.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
Just buy enough oil for multiple oil changes and keep the receipts. If something happens just produce the receipts as evidence that you purchased enough oil for 2, 3, 4... oil changes and make up the "dates" of the phantom oil changes even if you only do one or two extended oil change intervals. There is no way that they will be able to tell that you racked up 10K miles when you were supposed to change it at 7.5K. It would be your word and with documentation, against them.


If you're going to buy the oil and oil filters anyway, then why not just use them?
In response to the OP, there are enough used oil analysis in that forum that show Mobil 1 Extended Performance to be incapable of 15K in some applications that I'd be hesitant to trust in XOM and my good fortune running it that far with nothing more than XOM's advertising to support such long OCIs.
Oil changes with synthetic bought on a deal are so cheap that I wonder why anyone would consider 15K OCIs to be desirable, unless one did 30K or more a year, in which case the convenience factor would come into play.
I've often posted that if I ended up with a really long commute, a choice I am now unlikely to make, I'd be all over extending drains as much as I could.

 

[Oily_hair]

Originally Posted By: wemay

...not to mention the dealerships TELLING you, you must change your oil at 3000 miles when the OM clearly states 7500. If i could, without legitimate concern over litigation, use Mobil 1 for 10-15k mile oci, i would. At least once, with a used oil analysis.


In this situation you can tell the dealer to blow off as the owners manual trumps whatever the dealer says....the problem is when your owners manual shows a 7,500 mile interval and then they have the 3,000 mile "severe service" interval which lumps almost every climate and road condition out there. Kind of helps the dealer to enforce that 3,000 mile rule.