Mixing oils and warranties.

[dakota99]

Hey guys, i've been pondering this question for awhile. Would a car dealership void a warranty if you mix two oils? If they're the same grade (5w20) but different brands. The reason i ask is because i've been changing the oil in my moms 2008 accord, and it takes 4.5 quarts. I bought a 5 qt jug of PP, then decided to try M1. Obviously i had half a quart left over to mix with the M1.

Just wondering if this would cause any issues. I know realistically it won't cause a lubrication problem, but just in case the dealer sees where i wrote in the maintenance book that i used the leftovers.

 

[TJPark01]

Will cause no issue. It's all basically the same stuff. You're giving your dealer too much credit. They're not that smart.

 

[nfs480]

So long as they're the same viscosity and are both API certified I doubt the dealer would even care.

 

[tinmanSC]

Dealer is never going to know. Not only because they are not going to test the oil, but because it won't cause a problem. And because both are API certified. And because they cannot void the warranty for a lubrication related failure unless they show it was your fault for not using recommended oil (Magnuson-Moss Act). And because mixing oils doesn't cause problems. And because i find it utterly impossible that this issue will ever come up at the dealer for a warranty repair issue.

 

[chubbs1]

Why write that you did that in the maintenance booklet? It is such a small amount I would just put it in the engine and fuggedaboudit. Like the others said, the dealers aren't going to do an electron spectography of the oil.

PS: I don't know if electron spectograpy is a word...but it sounded cool. You catch my drift.

 

[dakota99]

Okay thanks for all the replies! I've heard too many dealer nightmare stories and i was just curious lol.

 

[bigmike]

I put 5 quarts in my Accord to prevent this issue.

 

[Fallguy]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Why write that you did that in the maintenance booklet? It is such a small amount I would just put it in the engine and fuggedaboudit. Like the others said, the dealers aren't going to do an electron spectography of the oil.

PS: I don't know if electron spectograpy is a word...but it sounded cool. You catch my drift.


"electron spectograpy" I would like to call B..S on this but as I can not I am now forced to substitute your reality for my own, my head hurts.

 

[badnews]

Quote:
Obviously i had half a quart left over to mix with the M1.



They have absolutely no way of knowing that that was done .

Some people have been watching too much CSI

 

[someguy]

Any time you change the oil with a different kind you are mixing a little and most people don't use the same oil or oil change place all the time. Think about all the fast lube places, most people have no idea their car has 10w30 or whatever bulk oil is handy rather than the factory recommendation.

 

[demarpaint]

OK here's the Devil's Advocate:

The dealer will never know. But if the oil caused an engine failure and the dealer flipped you the bird on a warranty claim you'd have a problem. Reason being the next in line would be the oil company for a payout! They would check the oil and find it altered or mixed with something else, that's where the problem would be. A long shot, could it happen? Maybe. I wouldn't worry about it though.

Half a qt would be tough to detect, now if you did a 50/50 mix it would be easier to detect. All boils down to $$ and how much an oil company wants to fight not to pay out.