How to Protect Warranty if Changing your Own Oil?

Gee, the title just about says it all. I'd feel better if I did the work and torque settings myself but don't want problems from the dealer.

 

Unless you neglect/abuse the oil changes, you won't get any hassle from dealers, even if warranty engine work is required. An experienced tech can look an engine internally and tell when vehicle maintenance has been neglected, and they see plenty. Those battles were fought long ago.

You can also record your oil and filter changes on the Toyota.com Owner's page. They really don't allow you to enter anything beyond minor maintenance. You'll always have that to show if any grumbling starts up. Also, start a folder and keep receipts of all maintenance and materials.

Enter your information into the Toyota website WHEN you do the maintenance. It's going to look kind of fishy if you add all the information on dates, mileages, information on oil/filter changes two days before you have the tow truck deliver your truck to the dealer.

 

Nothing to it really.... I do all my own changes and I just keep a copy of the receipts for oil, filters, etc.... Then you can record the date, mileage and what you did on Toyota.com, make a spreadsheet, etc....

 

Like said above. Keep reciepts with mileage and date(s) recorded, and Toyota owners page you can record what maintenace performed.

 

I keep a record in the Toyota warranty booklet of the owners manual. I record the date and mileage when it was done.

 

I had a buddy that would keep a small sample of oil from each change along with an record book of all other info. The vials were overkill imo.

My dad had an engine go out on his infinity m45, they tried for a minute to say the engine blew because they didn't have any records of oil changes. He went to the Chevron drive thru oil place that he takes all their cars to and got a printout. They 180'd and installed a new long block. To me, its worth having the records with Toyota so that there isn't any hassle.

 

I record everything in the Toyota owners website. I don't keep any receipts or anything else. Nothing in the owners manual says that you have to keep receipts for DIY work. It does say this, though:
"When maintenance and repairs are paid for by you, these services may be performed by you or by any automotive service provider you choose. Toyota will not deny a warranty claim solely because you used a service provider other than a Toyota dealership for maintenance and repairs."

Let's say I had an engine failure and they ask if I did proper oils changes, etc. I would say yes and refer them to the records I post online after every oil change, tire rotation, and other maintenance. If they said, well, we need receipts that you changed your oil because the engine failed because of that. I would tell them to pound sand and ask that they provide proof that the engine failed because of a lack of maintenance. they would not be able to do that because any inspection and test they ran would find a well maintained engine.

 

Bought mine new, dealer told me to just keep detailed records (mileage, date, work performed, parts used and part numbers, receipts) and there would be no issues with warranty.

 

I use my phone / Contacts / Tundra

09/23/2018 Mileage 9084 - In house oil and filter change - Mobil 1 0W20 Full synthetic 8 quarts, Fram TG10295 oil cartridge. $68.00 + $30.00 labor = $98.00
09/23/2018 Mileage 9084 - In house service - Anti-seize all of the transmission bolts so they wont snap off during a trans service. Labor $120
10/10/2018 Mileage 10,133 - Gill's Automotive Replaced all 4 shocks with Bilstein 51100's leveled out the front by 2.5 inches. All labor $471.95
10/14/2018 Mileage 10,421 - Replaced the running boards with N-Fab Stainless Steel Podium Step HPT0786CC-SS Nerf bars. $562.95 + $150 labor = 712.95
10/14/2018 Mileage 12,617 - In house installed Firestone ride-right air bags kit

$388 W217602445 Ride-Rite Kit for Toyota Tundra

W217602445 and a digital air compressor in the cousel. Rotated tires. $425 + $380 labor = $805.00
11/25/2018 Mileage 14,071 - In house installed TRD OEM rear sway bar Kit #

$401 PTR11-34070 TRD Rear Sway Bar

PTR11-34070 $239 plus $125 labor = $364
12/04/2018 Mileage 14,320 - St. Charles Toyota installed a TRD front skid plate with a oil filter door in it. $135.00 labor Part $373.75 = $508.75
12/17/2018 Mileage 15,010 - LED interior lighting kit $250
12/29/2018 Mileage 15,060 - Added SEAFOAM to the oil and gas. $8
01/06/2019 Mileage 15,201 - St. Charles Toyota front end alignment $109.95
01/09/2019 Mileage 15,356 - Discount tire replaced 4 tires. Cooper AT3 4S 275/60-20 115 OWL $172.25 Each = $689 + 4 certificats = $121 + Mntg Bal $80 =$966.82
02/25/2019 Mileage 16,758 - Synthetic Mobil 1 0W20 9 quarts added Seafoam to oil. New Dimple M12x1.25x12 Magnetic oil drain plug. $90
05/03/2019 Mileage 20,502 - Synthetic oil change. 0W20 full synthetic oil 9 quarts. $35.00
05/15/2019 Mileage 20,744 - Discount Tire rotate and balance tires. N/C
06/08/2019 Mileage 21,033 - Added a 1500XL Bedslide in the truck bed. $1,400
10/03/2019 Mileage 25,195 - Synthetic 0W20 9 Quarts and K&N Oil filter PS-7018 $65
01/03/2020 Mileage 28,217 - New TRD exhaust from the cat back purchased at St. Charles Toyota for $1,055.70 Installed by Velasquez Muffler for $160.00 = $1,215.70
02/11/2020 Mileage 29,750 - Synthetic 0W20 oil change 9 quarts and replaced the plastic oil canister to a aluminum canister Toyota #

$25 15620-31060 Toyota Oil Filter Cap - 15620-31060

15620-31060 . $134.00
08/30/2020 Mileage 34,221 - Synthetic 0W20 oil change 9 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum and a Napa Gold 7041 cartridge $65
08/30/2020 Mileage 34,221 - Rotate tires.
10/01/2020 Mileage 36,200 - Diamondback bed cover installed by Diversified Fleet Services in Batavia 630-406-5705 $2,148.76
10/06/2020 Mileage 36,290 - Updated the map information to 2020 version $60
03/12/2021 Mileage 39,235 - Oil and filter change Pennzoil Platinum 0W20 9 quarts and a Toyota filter cartridge 04152-YZZA4 $65

 

There was a Tundra with 113,000 km (65,000 miles) on Kijiji (like Craigslist) for sale a couple days ago. He stated it had a bad knock. He said he did the oil change and didn't install the cartridge right. His comments, my bad, I know.

Whatever, i will still do my own. I didn't know about logging your work on Toyota.Com, cool

 

I've had new Toyotas since 1985. Trucks. Cars. 7 for me. 2 for girlfriends (at the time). NEVER once had to make a warranty claim. Never had a condition develop AFTER the warranty expiration where I said "I sure wish that had happened within the warranty period." Nothing. Oil. Air filter. Tires. Plugs. One radiator. Two clutches in the 1997 T-100 five speed. Collectively somewhere around 1,250,000 miles.

 

One benefit of doing it yourself, you won't lose your skid platebof fascia bolts.....that seems to be common lately at the dealerships.

 

Records are you friend and not just for warranty claims...come resale time its a nice feature to show a vehicle has been maintained properly.

No need to get fancy - a cheap vinyl accordion file of receipts for work or purchase of materials is sufficient.

And do it regularly based on the calendar and not just the "mileage" - if you drive 3k a year and change every 10k - that still doesn't say "regular" maintenance to me - it might meet the warranty inspector approval - but on the resale side.

 

Mine are gone. Serviced at the dealer since new.

 

I used to use an excel sheet, I've since adopted the Simply Auto app. It has a space for notes and the ability to attach image files to specific records. It backs up to the cloud so no need for hard copies.

 

You put 2.688 gallons of fuel in your truck you really like keeping that baby topped offed eh

 

It was 31 miles though!!

I think I filled my mower gas can and just topped the tank while I was at it.

I usually top my truck off when it approaches a half tank. Habit I guess.