20 years of vehicle ownership and outside of tire mounts, balance, and alignments. I am guessing I can count on both hands the number of times I have paid someone to work on vehicle of mine.
I have never not changed my own oil.
We bought the Expedition back in March with 46k miles and it included a lifetime powertrain warranty. Only caveat is oil must be changed every 5,000 miles and factory scheduled maintenance must be performed by an ASE certified shop.
Going to hit 50k miles figured I would do it early and that way just keep everything simple on the 5s and 0s. Scheduled maintenance is 60k, 90k, 100k, 150k.
I did get a coupon in the mail recently for The Works at the dealer for $14.95. Includes 5 quarts of oil, I need 6 I bet they charge at least $10 for the extra, and a tire rotation.
I can’t buy the oil and filter for that so guess it is all good.
I tend to error on the side of caution and replace my fluids and plugs much sooner than the 100k Ford suggests.
So I’ll be doing plugs, differential fluid, transmission fluid, myself. I want to upgrade my radiator to the heavy duty tow package radiator so I’ll likely do that since I’ll be doing coolant as well.

Just kind of weird having someone else do the oil.

Black -- So just to be clear, changing your own oil will void the Ford lifetime powertrain warranty? Do you have something from Ford that specifically says this?

I gladly gave up that task decades ago and never once regretted it.

I know how you feel. I've done all of my own work other than mounting and balancing tires forever. Now I bought a Tacoma which came with free pm service for 2 years.
I was a little put off at first but I'm getting used to living like a rich dude.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
Black -- So just to be clear, changing your own oil will void the Ford lifetime powertrain warranty? Do you have something from Ford that specifically says this?

I would think that would be violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. From the FTC's Consumer Information website:

Do I have to use the dealer for repairs and maintenance to keep my warranty in effect?
No. An independent mechanic, a retail chain shop, or even you yourself can do routine maintenance and repairs on your vehicle. In fact, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which is enforced by the FTC, makes it illegal for manufacturers or dealers to claim that your warranty is void or to deny coverage under your warranty simply because someone other than the dealer did the work. The manufacturer or dealer can, however, require consumers to use select repair facilities if the repair services are provided to consumers free of charge under the warranty.

That said, there may be certain situations where a repair may not be covered. For example, if you or your mechanic replaced a belt improperly and your engine is damaged as a result, your manufacturer or dealer may deny responsibility for fixing the engine under the warranty. However, according to the FTC, the manufacturer or dealer must be able to demonstrate that it was the improper belt replacement — rather than some other defect — that caused the damage to your engine. The warranty would still be in effect for other parts of your car.


However, years ago when I did have to have warranty work done on a vehicle in the past (lifters replaced), I did have to prove to the dealer that I did in fact change oil and filters at the recommended mileage with receipts and UPCs from the oil filters. So if you're doing your own maintenance, keep your receipts...

quote:

Originally posted by ShouldBFishin:

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
Black -- So just to be clear, changing your own oil will void the Ford lifetime powertrain warranty? Do you have something from Ford that specifically says this?

I would think that would be violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. From the FTC's Consumer Information website:

Do I have to use the dealer for repairs and maintenance to keep my warranty in effect?
No. An independent mechanic, a retail chain shop, or even you yourself can do routine maintenance and repairs on your vehicle. In fact, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which is enforced by the FTC, makes it illegal for manufacturers or dealers to claim that your warranty is void or to deny coverage under your warranty simply because someone other than the dealer did the work. The manufacturer or dealer can, however, require consumers to use select repair facilities if the repair services are provided to consumers free of charge under the warranty.

That said, there may be certain situations where a repair may not be covered. For example, if you or your mechanic replaced a belt improperly and your engine is damaged as a result, your manufacturer or dealer may deny responsibility for fixing the engine under the warranty. However, according to the FTC, the manufacturer or dealer must be able to demonstrate that it was the improper belt replacement — rather than some other defect — that caused the damage to your engine. The warranty would still be in effect for other parts of your car.


However, years ago when I did have to have warranty work done on a vehicle in the past (lifters replaced), I did have to prove to the dealer that I did in fact change oil and filters at the recommended mileage with receipts and UPCs from the oil filters. So if you're doing your own maintenance, keep your receipts...

Magnuson-Moss is in reference to a manufacturers warranty.
This is an extended warranty provided by the independent Chevrolet dealership in my case. Much like buying an independent warranty they can add an stipulations they want.

I am meticulous with my records.
I keep a binder with absolutely everything done to the vehicle including wiper blades. I even take pictures of the new part next to the part replaced.

You probably already know you have to check their work. Stories of mess-ups by these bottom-of-the-barrel workers abound in the industry.

I have the dealer change my oil now, too, a combination of lack of reasonable space to do the work, and some injuries that make it more difficult, so I had to give it up. Plus, they rotate the tires and spot-check stuff for me.

Last trip, they suggested a cabin air filter change, I OK'd it, they screwed it up and let some leaves into the fan motor, so I had to go back to get it fixed. Next morning, the "Check Engine" light came on. I brought it back again, it turned out they didn't put the oil filler cap on right.

Minor shit, but annoying stuff that wouldn't happen if I did the work myself. I hope they torqued the drain plug right!

I would verify that the contract restricts you where you have to get the service done, is that specifically in the wording of the warranty contract with the TPW?

Not sure if the TP warranty is covered under Magnusson Moss or not, that'd be something for a lawyer to answer for sure, generally if someone requires you to use their specific products to maintain the warranty they have to give them to you for free. However a requirement of what type of person must do it might not fall under that, since it's basically an insurance policy.

I'd just sign up for every oil change service place, get on the email list, sometimes the dealer will be less, some times the quickie oil places.

I got one from the place by me I use normally for $20 oil change with filter, so WTF I'm not crawling under my truck for $20...

Heck you might find getting it changed at the Chevy dealer is cheaper than the Ford when they are running specials...

No reason anyone should ever change their oil themselves anymore, unless they just love getting under the car or don't trust people...

I just had to give a lesson to the Toyota dealership about how my oil filter canister on my 4Runner worked. That was...odd.

quote:

No reason anyone should ever change their oil themselves anymore, unless they just love getting under the car or don't trust people...

I enjoy it and know it is done right.
Costs about $30 for me to do it.

There is no restriction where it is done. Just needs to be an ASE certified shop.

I do much of the work on my cars and enjoy it however I gave up on oil changes years ago mainly because it costs me more to do it myself and I always seem to spill oil on the garage floor not to mention, on my wife's Kia there is a huge belly pan that has to come off and it is a royal PIA.

All that said, if I had any performance oriented vehicle I would still do it myself