Does Changing Your Own Oil Void Warranty?

In a bid to save time and cost, you may decide to do your oil change yourself. While this is entirely a safe practice, some new car owners are skeptical if such an action would void the warranty on their vehicle. But will it? Does changing your own oil void warranty?”

Doing your oil change when due won’t void your warranty; however, you should endeavor to refill the exact oil recommended for your car’s engine. When you refill another oil, your warranty may become invalid.

This article explains everything you need to know about oil changes, and how they could affect OE warranties.

Does Changing Your Own Oil Void Warranty?

No, it doesn’t. You could run out of oil and there’s no mechanic around to top it up for you; hence, you decided to do it yourself; that action doesn’t void your warranty. However, there are important tips you must know when changing engine oil on a new car.

First things first, ensure you bought the exactly recommended oil for your engine. If you use the wrong oil for your engine, it could cause the engine to underperform, and possibly trigger certain engine-related problems that won’t be covered by your car’s warranty – because you used the wrong oil.

Again, you may have to keep a record of the oil changes you’ve done on the car within its warrantied period. The records would be your failsafe proof if your dealership or warranty issuer tries to unjustly waive away your warranty claims.

Furthermore, ensure to stick with the recommended change intervals indicated by your manufacturer. If you skip an oil change interval, and afterward your car started exhibiting certain issues traceable to the skipped oil change interval, your warranty claim won’t be granted.

See Also: How To Prove Oil Change For Warranty?

Also, change your oil filter at specified intervals to ensure that your engine keeps getting clean oil all the time. By using the specified oil for your engine and keeping up with the change intervals, regardless of who did the oil change (you or a mechanic), the warranty on your car is not voided.

Some dealerships or mechanics would want to cajole you to believe that doing your oil change yourself would cause certain engine problems – that’s a big fat lie.

How to Change Engine Oil to Avoid Invalidating your Warranty

• Use the exact motor oil recommended by the car manufacturer
• Don’t overfill or underfill
• Ensure you change the oil when due (don’t delay)
• Keep records of every oil change: documents, recipes, the oil used, etc.

What More?

Don’t let dealerships deceive you; it is completely safe to do your oil change yourself, provided you’re refilling the particular oil recommended for your engine. If your engine is meant to use OEM 5w20, stick to it, or lookout for an OEM-approved aftermarket 5w20 if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative.

Doing your oil change won’t void your warranty, but refilling the wrong oil and/or skipping an oil change interval may void your warranty. You can also check what’s written in your car’s warranty or maintenance booklet, and follow the guidelines (instructions).