Will the Motor Oil you're putting in your Customers GM cars VOID THEIR WARRANTY?
That's a question that you need to answer right away, since most 2011 model year GM vehicles have been factory filled with the new Dexos1 engine oil. I've been doing a little research on this topic and I'd like to share what I've found with other Shop Owners too.
In case you haven't heard of the product Dexos yet, let me give you a little background first.
It seems that GM wanted to maximize their revenues by pressuring the Oil Manufactures to buy branding rights to have the "Dexos Approved" symbol on their packaging. They would have to pay an upfront license fee and then pay additional royalties based on the amount of "Dexos Approved" product they sold.
Supposedly, Dexos1 has advanced lubrication (being a semi-synthetic) and other qualities that help with the newer systems like Variable Valve Timing. But the funny thing is, the Dexos1 standard doesn't seem to meet the newest API S/N or ILSAC GF-5 standards.
In case this scenario doesn't sound familiar to you, all you have to remember is DexCool.
So, do you need to have a special oil on your shelf just to handle the Dexos1 requirement?
Here's what GM has printed in a majority of their domestic 2011 owners manuals supplied to their customers:
This vehicle was filled at the factory with
dexos™ approved engine oil. Notice: Use only engine oil that is approved
to the dexos™ specification or an equivalent engine oil of
the appropriate viscosity grade. Engine oils approved to the dexos™ specification will show
the dexos™ symbol on the container. Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or equivalent can result in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are unsure whether the oil is approved to the
dexos™ specification, ask your service
provider.
Use of Substitute Engine Oils if dexos™ is unavailable: In the
event that dexos™ approved engine oil is not available at an
oil change or for maintaining proper oil level, you may use substitute engine
oil displaying the API Starburst symbol and of SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade. Use
of oils that do not meet the dexos™ specification, however, may result in reduced
performance under certain circumstances
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits “tie-in
sales” as a condition of receiving a remedy under a warranty. In other words,
the manufacturer cannot make a consumer buy specific products or services from
any particular company as a condition of maintaining warranty protection unless that required product is supplied for free.
GM has stated that nothing has changed in regard to the documentation of using proper
fluids and oil. It will be helpful for the
customer to keep receipts of all auto service including oil changes. This can help them in the event of an engine failure that might be covered under their warranty.
So it looks like the best way for us to make sure we take the best care of ALL of our customers, and maintain manageable inventory levels for our Shop is to stock and use a 5W30 Semi-Synthetic engine oil that has the latest GF-5 and S/N designations. Additionally, you should have in writing from your oil supplier an assurance that the product you are using is capable of delivering acceptable performance under the Dexos1 standard.
Also, you should note the earlier reference from GM that the customer should maintain proper documentation of using proper fluids and oil. This means that every receipt you write for an oil change should clearly state:
- The viscosity used
- Brand
- And current API/ILSAC specifications like GF-5, S/N
If you're not sure if the oil you're using is Dexos1 approved, here's a link to GM's site listing all current approved oils
I use Valvoline Motor Oil products, and they are one of the major manufacturers that refuses to pay the ransom demands of GM. However, I DO need to make sure I'm protected in the event of an engine failure so It's important to acquire and maintain written documentation from them. I want to be assured that they will have my back just in case I need to fight a warranty claim that is denied by a GM dealer. So here's a link from Valvoline stating their product coverage for you to reference:
Make no mistake, this is a serious issue that cannot be ignored. GM dealers sales people are poisoning their customers minds with the "idea" that they have to come back to the dealer to maintain their warranty with Dexos1 approved motor oil. We must make sure we can successfully overcome this notion if we want to remain our customers trusted repair facility. And the best time to do this is before they buy a new GM vehicle and then 'disappear' from our Shop.
Dave Striegel
dave@shopdoctor.com
(412) 543-8946
www.ShopDoctor.com
