Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: Johnny
I guess in a way it was. Are you using RP in your current late model vehicles? If so, are you concerned about the dealer or manufacture denying any warranty claims?
And more directed to RP than you since you do not work for them, if you call them and tell them you have, lets say a 2008 Ford product, and ask them if you can run their 5W-20 in it, they will tell you yes you can. You ask them, will it void my warranty, and they will say, no it will not.
To me that's no different than what Amsoil is doing. I have no issues with Royal Purple and would not be afraid to use it in any car I have.
If I used Amsoil in a newer vehicle and changed it like I was told, did used oil analysis, and kept all my records, I would see the a-holes in court.
Well, you may very well win if it went to court but you would be out a lot of time, have your vehicle sitting while you fight it out, and in the end probably spend more in legal fees than the repair would cost. And thhat right there is the biggest issue when going against the mfg's requirements. Even if you win, which is not a sure thing, you still lose.
AS to your RP comments...
I used RP in everything( oil, transmission when possible, and diff's )up to and including my 2007 Silverado. All other previous vehicles I used it in the oil met all warranty requirements so it was never an issue. The 07 Silverado was the 1st one I used it in where the oil was not 100% correct. The owner's manual called for the API Starburst so I knew I was stepping on to thin ice as admittedly RP does not have it.
RP 5w30 oils only carry the API Donut( SL service level ). The dealer I used was ok with that however and things were fine warranty wise with them. It was API certified which they cared more about then the Starburst symbol and SL actually provides better wear protection than SM. It easily exceeded the GM6094M oil standard performance spec's as well which I showed them. So, again, they had no issues with me using it especially since I changed it every 5K and they did the work.
Could it have come back and bit me in the butt? Yup and absofreakinlutely! However, only "IF" GM showed up and physically tested the oil itself( not so sure that would have even got me but maybe? )because I talked it out with the dealer 1st and we were cool. The dealer wrote up my slips as a regular oil change with no mention of RP. 99.9% chance it would never be an issue.
If it were I could try and make a claim under RP's supplemental warranty where they claim to stand behind any repairs needed when their SL oil is used where an SM oil is called for and the mfg refuses coverege for using the SL. Take it for what it is worth. As big a fan of RP as I am I still would be leary of relying on any supplemental warranty from an aftermarket mfg. I had the dealer's ok to run the RP so I knew at least through them I would be ok and only have issues if GM themselves got involved. I took the risk knowing that.
I did not however run RP in my 08 Equinox. The Chevy dealer I had used decided to shut down. I didn't have the same trust level with the remaining dealers to use RP even though the 3.4L engine in my 08 was the exact same thing used from the 1st models year's release where RP would have been 100% fine warranty wise. So, I used Quaker State Q HP which was API certified, had the Starburst symbol, and met GM6094M( actually happened to be certified ). I used that to be safe and avoid any hassles from the dealer(s) I did not know.
In my new 08 Ram 5.7L the manual calls for API Certified, Starburst symbol, and MS6395 oil standard. RP handles 2 out of the 3. It is that darned Starburst symbol again that is the fly in the honey. I am back with the Dodge dealer I always used( same ones owned the Chevy garage btw )and I talked with the service manager about it. He is ok with me using the RP if I want to. The 5.7L HEMI engine has beeen used since 03 with no major changes other than MDS( MDS arrived in 06 but it is still the same engine overall ), and going from 5w30 to 5W-20, that require anything special from the oil. In earlier model years the RP would have been just fine meeting 100% warranty requirements and it is the exact same engine in the 08. All that changed from 04 to 08 was the API ratings current oils must meet.
Technically if I were to use the RP I would be putting my warranty at risk. I know that and because of that I am still undecided. While I know it will not hurt anything, and the dealer will not hassle me for it at all, I also know that should Chrysler get involved if something big went wrong it "could" bite me in the tuckuss.
I want to comment on soemthing else you said about RP before ending this. You claim RP tells people the same things Amsoil does in regards to using their oils and warranty. I can tell you with 100% honesty and sincerity that is unequivocably false. At least in my own personal experience. RP absolutely WILL tell you when their products do not meet warranty requirements.
I have contacted them many times about various oils and fluids for different applications and they are ALWAYS upfront and honest when their product will not satisfy warranty in the vehicle in question. They may tell you yes it will work fine BUT they also tell you when it does not meet warranty requirements. I have NEVER had RP tell me something does when it doesn't. EVER! Of course I provide a list of those requirements with any questions I ask so maybe they will say it is ok if they don't know all the details( they should before commenting but not how it always works in the real world )?
I can give you 3 very specific examples right now off the top of my head from questions I personally asked...
1 - their oil and the whole SL/SM Starburst symbol deal. They will tell you their oil will work fine( they will say they feel SL protects better than SM and that is why they won't reformulate to meet SM )but if you are concerned about warranty don't use it. They may bring up their supplemental warranty in the conversation as well. They will never just say yes it meets warranty if it does not.
2 - RP MaxATF transmission fluid has been reformulated and now meets ATF+4 spec's. It didn't used to. Back when I had my 04 Ram I asked them about using their transmission fluid in my truck. Their answer was yes it would work and be okay BUT it does not meet ATF+4 warranty requirements so don't use it if that concerns you.
3 - On the 2008 AWD Equinox I had I contacted RP to see if they had a replacement fluid for the transfer case( GM's Versatrak fluid ). They responded that their Synchromax fluid worked great as a replacement BUT that it would not meet warranty requirements so stick with the GM stuff until warranty ran out. I even asked them about the Autotrak II fluid( special blue stuff only from GM )used in the t-case's in my 2 Silverados, and unlike some mfg's who say to just use transmission fluid, RP said only use the GM stuff because it is special. They also were firm not to use transmission fluid.
Bottom line is RP does NOT blow smoke up consumer's butts. They are honest and straightforward when asked about their products. They try and give the truthful answer even if it means losing a sale. In my experience they put integrity and honesty above the bottom line. Something I don't see from a lot of other mfg's. Any time I have asked anyway they have been great and completely honest. The head of RP Tech( David Canitz )seesm like a great guy and a straight shooter. He generally is the one who answers questions sent to the company.
Well, that's pretty close to the response I got from David.
Johnny,
The RP API SL oil has a more robust antiwear package to provide improved protection for your 08 Ford engine.
It does not meet the 'factory recommended warranty requirements for the exhaust system components of the SM as it contains 25% more antiwear additives.
We have chosen to continue to offer the more robust API SL version as we find that we get better engine wear performance - both in mileage, power and wear protection.
We do offer a corporate warranty if you choose to use our SL in an SM application, but we do not feel you will have any warranty issues with Ford.
Happy Holidays.
David
Tech Services
Royal Purple Inc
David Canitz
1 Royal Purple Lane
Porter, TX 77365
281.354.8600
281.354.7600 fax
713.725,7207 cell
[email protected]
Very well said. You just summed up my issues with Amsoil in a nutshell. It isn't about their products which are VERY good but rather the questionable claims made by the company that are echoed by their dealers. Pablo isa good guy, that is obvious, so my issues with him are based on his repeating the Amsoil company line.
