Oil Changes and Your Vehicle’s Warranty

There’s no denying that oil changes are essential to any auto maintenance schedule. Fresh motor oil keeps engines clean, prevents them from overheating, lubricates their moving parts, and protects them from rust. However, since this fluid breaks down over time, it needs to be replaced regularly.

There’s another reason oil changes are essential — this service can help you maintain your vehicle’s warranty coverage. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about oil change service, auto warranties, and how these two topics are linked.

The Connection Between Oil Changes and Warranty Coverage

Your new or certified pre-owned vehicle might come with a dealer’s or manufacturer’s warranty, among other benefits. If your car has a warranty, you shouldn’t have to worry about major auto repair expenses for a while. 

But if you aren’t careful, you could accidentally void this warranty. Ignoring your car’s oil change service is an easy way to do this, even if you’ve taken care of other maintenance services in the interim. As a result, oil change service should be one of your highest car care priorities.

Tips on Scheduling Oil Change Service

When deciding on an oil change interval, don’t assume you should follow the standard advice for this service (taking care of oil changes every three months or 3,000 miles). Instead, your first move should be to check the maintenance schedule provided by your car’s manufacturer. That will give you a much more specialized starting point — one created with your vehicle’s actual needs in mind.

However, you’ll need to put more thought into your oil change interval to find a schedule that’s truly right for you. More specifically, you’ll want to think about factors such as:

• Your driving habits. Do you typically drive long distances slower than 50 mph, travel on unpaved roads, or tow heavy loads? These are all considered severe driving habits, and getting oil changes more regularly than usual is an excellent way to deal with them.
• The age of your vehicle. Aging engines can’t use oil as efficiently as they did when they were new. You’ll need to get oil changes more frequently if you drive an older vehicle.
• Local weather conditions. Tulsa, OK’s hot summer weather can negatively affect your car’s motor oil. Fortunately, setting up more frequent oil changes during the summer can help.
• The oil you use. Though full synthetic oil has a higher upfront cost than conventional oil, you won’t need to change the former oil type as often as the latter.

How Can You Document Your Maintenance History?

No matter how much effort you put into auto maintenance, it won’t help if you can’t prove you took care of oil changes and other services. Even if you’ve followed your manufacturer’s recommendations to the letter, you could still end up with a revoked warranty.

Instead, you’ll want to monitor your auto maintenance records closely. As part of these efforts, you should:

• Save your receipts and invoices. Hanging on to paperwork from auto maintenance appointments will make it easy to prove these appointments happened.
• Create a folder for important documents. You can store these files physically or digitally, depending on what you feel most comfortable with.
• Record visual documentation. Short videos and photos are an excellent way to document your repair history.
• Utilize mobile apps. If you’re having trouble tracking your maintenance history by hand, specialized phone apps can make this process easier.

The Dangers of DIY Oil Changes

If you’re trying to hang on to a manufacturer’s or dealer’s warranty, taking care of your own oil changes isn’t the best idea. Though this won’t be enough to void your warranty outright, it will make it harder to prove you’ve done what’s required for auto maintenance. Since you won’t get a convenient receipt at the end of this process, you’ll have to rely solely on manual record-keeping to protect your warranty coverage.

Of course, this is just one problem associated with DIY oil changes. You’ll also spend much more time on these oil changes than you would while visiting an auto shop for this service. Furthermore, taking care of oil changes by yourself will require you to purchase specialized equipment, determine where you can get rid of old motor oil, and overcome many other obstacles.

Dealerships vs. Local Auto Shops: Where Should You Go for Oil Changes?

Since DIY oil changes aren’t a realistic option for most Tulsa drivers, you’ll want to find a local business you can count on to take care of this task for you. The next time you’re ready for oil change service, you’ll need to choose one of the following options.

Dealerships

Many Tulsa drivers assume their dealership will provide the best possible auto maintenance service, but this isn’t necessarily true. Instead, trustworthy auto repair shops can provide service on the same level (or even better) as you’d get at your dealership. Better yet, you’ll spend much less on oil changes when you visit a local auto repair shop for this work.

Auto Repair Shops

Thanks to their low rates and quality workmanship, local auto shops are the best choice for most drivers looking for an oil change. You won’t have to worry about voiding your warranty by going this route, either. In America, dealerships can’t legally revoke customers’ warranties when they decide to get service elsewhere.

Get the Best Oil Change in Tulsa at Tate Boys

When you’re due for an oil change in Tulsa, you shouldn’t trust just any auto shop to handle this task. Instead, you should try to find a business that offers advantages like:

• ASE-certified technicians. These mechanics have more auto maintenance knowledge and experience than anyone else, making them the perfect people to work on your vehicle.
• Convenient locations. The area’s best auto shops are ready to provide service near you with locations in Tulsa and communities like Bartlesville, Skiatook, and Owasso.
• Ways to save money. When an auto shop truly has your back, they’ll help you cut costs with valuable coupons and financing options.

At Tate Boys Tire & Service, we’re ready to deliver the high-quality oil changes you’re looking for. Getting started is easy — just request a quote today!