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Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs
When I used to visit the TDI forums I recall this happening to a Jetta owner. He had all the receipts in order. He took his car to the dealer for service at all the required intervals. VW turned down his claim because the dealer didn't use the required oil.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unclebilly
Here is my take on this...
The engineering team that designed the engine specified a particular oil for a reason. There is no monetary incentive for them to spec synthetic over Dino oils or 5:20 over 15:40.
If a oil change guy thinks he knows something about the engine and oils that the BMW engineers didn't and told his customer to use a different oil, this is partly on him. The customer is also partially to blame for allowing the oil change guy to use the wrong product.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wdfifteen
Ha!
i remember talking to a Porsche factory rep back in the early 60s. Somebody in the group asked if it was OK to use detergent oil (or multi viscosity or something - let's say it was detergent). The German service rep said very sternly, "If vee vanted you to use detergent oils, vee vould have specified detergent oils."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins
Why anyone would service or operate an under warranty vehicle outside of the factory specifications is beyond me. In doing so, one assumes all responsibility. It's just that simple. If you expect someone else to assume responsibility in the event of a failure, you absolutely must follow their recommendations or you don't have a leg to stand on. This one is entirely on the owner. If he wants to pursue a warranty claim, and if that means you have to tear the thing down, he needs to pay your hourly rate. This should in no way turn into any kind of a burden to you.
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All of the above are correct. The false economy of using the wrong oil, (or fuel/oil/air filter, etc.), has always baffled me. Even if the vehicle is only worth a few thousand dollars, it's dumb. It's an expensive lump of machinery.
I own a VW TDI and VW will absolutely deny warrantee claims if you cannot prove that you used the correct, (specified), oil. It has a spec, (502.1 I think), that is specified everywhere in literature, online, under the hood, etc.
Unlike Sammy, I generally sympathize w anyone who has bad fortune in life but this guy learned an expensive, easily avoided lesson. The oil change place needs to change their protocol and train their people on this issue.