Issues with non-dealership new car maintenance

[Eff-1]

I thought this was an interesting read. I always thought that you don't need to get maintenance done on a new car at a dealership, as long as you keep the records. With that in mind, I feel a little bit bad for these owners.

https://driving.ca/features/feature-...engine-filters

During the customer’s first oil change, the factory-original oil filter was removed and replaced with a parts-store oil filter instead. Several weeks later, the vehicle’s engine suddenly failed one morning, when the customer was leaving for work. A tear-down of the engine revealed extensive the damage to the valve timing system, as well as some associated downstream damage to the catalytic converter.

It also revealed the cause: A piece of the check valve in the oil filter had become dislodged. It got sucked into the engine, where it quickly plugged an important oil passageway. Starved of its lifeblood, the valve timing system upstream failed catastrophically, casting debris into the engine that caused further damage, and allowing oil and other shrapnel to get pumped downstream, where it plugged and ruined the catalytic converter.

In human terms, that’s something like having a heart attack — and a stroke — at the same time.

“The engine was destroyed completely, and the catalytic converter needed replacement as well” Townsend says. The repair bill? About $10,000.

“That’s hardly worth saving $3 on an oil filter,” Townsend continues, adding that the damage would have been totally covered if the same filter failure had occurred with a factory-approved unit.

“If you use a part that we didn’t test, engineer, and validate, and it fails, any resulting damage is your responsibility.” Simply put, a warranty doesn’t cover damage caused by the use of non factory-approved parts

[The Producer]

you don't have to go to the dealership for service

you do have to use OEM parts

this has always been the case with factory warranties as far as I know ?

trying to think if the last time I bought a new car if there was a user agreement I would have signed that stated I read the warranty conditions. you certainly would have to sign one for an aftermarket warranty

[Great68]

It makes sense that OEM must be used to retain warranty status. Jobber parts are cheaper for a reason...

[originalhypa]

I have been getting my oil changes done at an independent shop for a lot of years, and always ask for an oem filter. It's a few bucks difference, and I don't want to give the mfr any opportunity to turn me down in case something terrible happens.

[Eff-1]

Personally, I always ask for OEM parts too. But I guess the question is, how many people ever think about this? They buy a new car, take it to an independent shop for maintenance, and assume all is ok. If the shop uses a part that fails later on, and the warranty doesn't cover the damage, is the shop liable for the repairs?

I guess that is why Mr Lube always advertises itself as "warranty approved".

[underscore]

Sounds like there's two different warranties at work here, the warranty on the vehicle as a whole and the warranty of the parts/work done and any damage they may cause. The vehicle should still have a manufacturers warranty, but as the parts and labour were done by a third party that's who any warranty coverage for the work that caused the failure should be done through.

[Great68]

^ Possible the vehicle owner did the oil change himself, and he'd be SOL.

[Peturbo]

Its not that warranty is invalid because he serviced somewhere else using non OE filter.
It is only invalid for this very specific repair because the damage was found to be directly caused by non OE part.

[nsx042003]

Fram oil filters?

[ssjGoku69]

Aren't the current gen Honda A02 OEM oil filters made by FRAM?

[fliptuner]

Originally Posted by ssjGoku69

Aren't the current gen Honda A02 OEM oil filters made by FRAM?

That's possible but to the manufacturer specifications.

[Hondaracer]

my mechanic ive been going to some time only uses OEM replacement parts

He said generally they are actually cheaper anyways. IE. Hyuandai oil filters, brake pads, etc. Ford Filters, bla bla

He said no reason to ever use anything other than OEM and generally the lordco "premium" product is shit compared to OEM anyways

[Rich Sandor]

I think this story is hardcore fear mongering.

First of all, many "aftermarket" manufacturers are also OE suppliers. If you know the OE manufacturer you can often save money by getting the SAME EXACT PART in an Akebono box instead of a Honda box. Or a Brembo box instead of a Porsche box. Sometimes there are diferences but rarley. Its a different story only if you use a 3rd party part that has been reverse engineered, or copied, from the OE part.

But even then, name brands like MOOG, ACdelco, Fram etc will have some level of warranty on their parts. You always have the option of sueing the 3rd party part manufacturer if using their part causes catastrophic damage. I have had BDS pay for labor to fix problems caused by a defect in one of their parts.

There are TONS of parts out there. Lots are worse than OEM for a reason, but there are also some that are equal or better than OEM in quality.

[Hondaracer]

Yea I’d rather save $50 on non-oem parts in hopes I can sue when my valves go :/

[Rich Sandor]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

Yea I’d rather save $50 on non-oem parts in hopes I can sue when my valves go :/

I've got the experience to tell you straight up there are tons of applications where non-oe parts are just as good or better. Then there are cases where I only use OE because I know that particular part is worth the extra cost.

I know this because its actually what I do for a living.

Ive also been running non OE parts in race cars for years - and if they dont blow up a race car they sure as hell wont harm a daily.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by Rich Sandor

First of all, many "aftermarket" manufacturers are also OE suppliers. If you know the OE manufacturer you can often save money by getting the SAME EXACT PART in an Akebono box instead of a Honda box. Or a Brembo box instead of a Porsche box.

I have a Mercedes engine in a Jeep, if I stick to "OE" parts and get it from Jeep I receive a third-party supplier part with a Mercedes logo on it in a box with the Jeep logo stuck over the Mercedes one. The markup on the price follows the same process, a $40 oil filter cover is $60 at Mercedes and $80 at Chrysler, all for the same part.