I know that oil related failures are rare but everyone seems to follow the manufacturer's reccommendations when it comes to oil and weight,most everyone....Can you get into trouble with a non oem filter?? I'm gonna be doing the first oc on my daughter's Aveo and I picked up a ST filter today,can I use it without worry or is the dealer/GM gonna balk IF there is a problem???
warranty issues with non oem filter???
- Thread starter Bambam
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I believe under the Moss-Magnuson Act the use of aftermarket filters cannot void the warranty unless the stealership gives the factory filters away for free.
I actually tried that once at the local GM dealer....
Bob W.
Yessirree, Bob. You hit the nail on the head.
"Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and general principles of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, a manufacturer may not require the use of any brand of filter (or any other article) unless the manufacturer provides the item free of charge under the terms of the warranty. So if the consumer is told that only the original equipment filter will not void the warranty, he should request that the OE filter be supplied free of charge. If he is charged for the filter, the manufacturer will be violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or other applicable law."
http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/85-1R.html
"Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and general principles of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, a manufacturer may not require the use of any brand of filter (or any other article) unless the manufacturer provides the item free of charge under the terms of the warranty. So if the consumer is told that only the original equipment filter will not void the warranty, he should request that the OE filter be supplied free of charge. If he is charged for the filter, the manufacturer will be violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or other applicable law."
http://www.filtercouncil.org/techdata/tsbs/85-1R.html
But........make sure the filter manufacturer has a good warranty policy (I assume all do).
If your engine problem is not filter related, your auto warranty will cover repairs.
IF the after market oil filter is the direct cause of the engine problem, then the auto company will not warranty the repair and you have to go after the filter company.
Nothing new here. Why would Ford pay for damages due to a defective "XYZ" filter?
If your engine problem is not filter related, your auto warranty will cover repairs.
IF the after market oil filter is the direct cause of the engine problem, then the auto company will not warranty the repair and you have to go after the filter company.
Nothing new here. Why would Ford pay for damages due to a defective "XYZ" filter?
Absolutely right, but don't forget, for the OEM to deny coverage on a warranty claim, the burden would be on them to prove that the non-OEM filter caused the damage. (This goes beyond them or their own engineers merely saying so - they'd need to supply expert testimony from a recognized and independent expert authority attesting to the failure of the filter based on examination. Even then, you could still go after the filter manufacturer with the results of the examiner in hand.) If you check your owner's manual and/or the warranty supplement booklet, I believe you'll find wording to the effect that use of the company's own branded filters is preferred or recommended but use of a non-company filter, in and of itself, is not grounds for warranty coverage denial - gets back to the Moss-Magnuson Act.
In the real world, I've used various aftermarket filters for over 40 years with never a problem. Stick with name brands or large, established retailer brands, and it's doubtful there'll ever be a problem. (The concept of "deep pockets" applies, here. Reputable manufacturers and purveyors of oil filters don't want a failure any more than you do. Even Fram!
"Absolutely right, but don't forget, for the OEM to deny coverage on a warranty claim, the burden would be on them to prove that the non-OEM filter caused the damage."
So what if you use an oversized non-OEM filter (assuming identical gasket size, thread, bypass setting)? Does that void the warranty?
So what if you use an oversized non-OEM filter (assuming identical gasket size, thread, bypass setting)? Does that void the warranty?
If the oil filter causes engine damage, the oil filter maker is liable. If you use a filter that is not the one listed for that engine, you're on your own.
Ken
Ken
AND, I have seen the WRONG filter being the obvious cause of failure and having warranty denied.
Filters that are too long and hang down and get hit would not be a warranty issue. Filters that do not flow enough can cause engine failure and not be a warranty issue.
Filters that are too long and hang down and get hit would not be a warranty issue. Filters that do not flow enough can cause engine failure and not be a warranty issue.
I read in this forum that Walmart labels some bypass filters for non-bypass applications.
I can see why they do this as they can order larger amounts to be manufactured at once to save a few pennies per filter, but how is this accepted if a warranty is called on?
I can see why they do this as they can order larger amounts to be manufactured at once to save a few pennies per filter, but how is this accepted if a warranty is called on?
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I would imagine that 99% of warranty denials due to faulty filters are not "filter internal" related. They are probably from gasket failures or cans rupturing and the driver/owner driving it out of oil.
What denials? Who has seen warranty denials because of the filter? What filter? pn? what vehicle? what dealership?
Its the owners fault for driving with the "check engine" or "idiot light" on. Its the owners fault for not checking the dipstick regularly.
I have yet to see a engine fail because of the oil filter. The failed engines that I've seen were because of stupid owners(its out of oil) or lame mechanics(double gasketted or no gasket filters).
Blame the filter, blame the oil, blame whatever you want.
Me, I'll blame the owner and deny warranty every chance I get.
The owner, not wanting to look like a moron, then tells all his friends that XYZ brand of oil, or the ABC brand of filters destroyed his engine.
Its the owners fault for driving with the "check engine" or "idiot light" on. Its the owners fault for not checking the dipstick regularly.
I have yet to see a engine fail because of the oil filter. The failed engines that I've seen were because of stupid owners(its out of oil) or lame mechanics(double gasketted or no gasket filters).
Blame the filter, blame the oil, blame whatever you want.
Me, I'll blame the owner and deny warranty every chance I get.
The owner, not wanting to look like a moron, then tells all his friends that XYZ brand of oil, or the ABC brand of filters destroyed his engine.
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Those anywhere ..where a filter either had a failed gasket or the can burst ...AND the owner drove it too far.
If the dealer had installed the faulty filter ..and the driver ran it out of oil ..I'll bet they still would attempt to pass it off to the filter manufacturer instead of going after the filter manufacuturer themselves ....if they didn't FIRST just deny it saying that the driver did the damage. Which is apparently what you would do.
Not all dealerships are ethical.
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