Oil changes while under warranty

[bungz]

Hello

Recently I got myself a new car with a Dci 1.5 engine in it. Dull as hell but suits my needs for the M6 haul.

However I have always serviced my many diesel rotters every 6k myself and touchwood I have never had so much of a sniff of a engine trouble.

My question is I am unsure how I feel about running to 12.5k every service for the next few years when I would have previously done it every 6K. How clued up or bothered would a dealer be about me adding a service myself for the sake of a 10 quid filter and 20 quids worth of oil? Obviously id keep it under my hat but would hate for my warranty to go walkies for the sake of a oil change.

Or should I just leave it alone?

[mmm-five]

Your warranty will specify the minimum servicing requirement to maintain your warranty.

If you do extra/interim services then there should be no issue - unless you put the wrong oil/filter in or forget to refit something and cause damage!

[eybic]

It's a tricky one. Normally the warranty docs will state that services have to be carried out at a VAT registered garage so I suspect that technically you would be in breach of that.

[MoelyCrio]

How would they know?

[eybic]

I know what warranty departments are like, if you do have an engine issue and they check the oil you could come unstuck.

[Robert Elise]

MoelyCrio said:

How would they know?

why not do a siphon oil change? That will refresh the oil and remove a lot of contaminants. Oil filter will last until scheduled service.

[btsidi]

A modern engine should be fine for 12500 of motorway miles IMHO.
It's not an old banger in the Arctic Circle or Sahara Desert

[Ennoch]

Genuine filter from Renault paid for in cash plus oil of your choice from online...job done. Maybe replace the sump plug too for the £1.50 it'll cost and that way it won't look overly worn in the event of any engine issues.

[steveo3002]

use a genuine filter - no problems , dont blame you for doing it

[rigga]

eybic said:

It's a tricky one. Normally the warranty docs will state that services have to be carried out at a VAT registered garage so I suspect that technically you would be in breach of that.

Specified service's yes, extra above and beyond what's stated by the manufacture no.

[E65Ross]

Are you keeping the car for many, many years (ie well outside of its warranty period)?

If not, then don't bother, I don't see the point if any potential issues resulting from long-term servicing will be sorted under warranty anyway.

[BFG TERRANO]

If it's for keeps do it. My company car is 20k between services!

My private car is serviced annually by a very good Indy Audi specialist but I still change the oil and filter mid interval.

Use genuine filters and good oil who will know?

[Quinny]

I think its a good call to do an early oil change on a car you'll keep for a long time...

Years ago I had a company rover 220sdi... First oil change was due at 10k miles I planned on buying the car at the end of its lease (90k miles) So I did an oil change at 2k, then another at 5k... After that I just stuck to the normal schedule...

It turned out that I didn't buy the car, but my mate did..... It went onto do 180k and was still running well when he sold it on

[MondeoMan1981]

Use OEM parts, including oils and retain invoices for them. If you want to be really anal about it, keep the old filters too.

[RedAlfa]

I have owned a cheap runabout since new. In my youth I didn't change the oil very often (preferred to top up ), and the engine has a factory-fitted rattle!! ..... 125,000 miles later it's still running as sweet as a skeleton wking in a biscuit tin

The moral of the story is: most modern petrol engines can withstand a little bit of abuse!

[Willy Nilly]

You say you're on the motorway. Lets say you average 50mph, 12,500 is only 250 engine hours, even if you only averaged 30 mpg, it is still only a little over 400 engine hours for an oil change. My company vehicle had it's first oil change at 500 hours.

Modern oils are good, enjoy the cost saving.

[Mave]

If you're worried about the warranty, I'd go suction hose and genuine oil. I know some people don't like the suction hoses, but if the job is still being done "properly" by dropping the sump plug at the recommended interval then you're still getting the sludge out. For the last few years I've done the sump plug out during the "big" service in the warm and dry springtime, then a suction hose job during the quicker pre-winter service.