C4 engine oil

[XS650]

besides, the manufacturer cannot (!) void your warranty if you use a non-API certified motor oil.

That's not what I said. I said

"That's all well and good, but by the original concern was about warranty compliance. If a person doesn't use oil that meets the manufaturers required specs, the part of the warranty that covers lubrication related failues is null and void."

Thay can't force you to use their oil unless they give it to you. That is commonly misundrstood to mean that you can use any oil your want to use, but that doesn't make it so.

If use oil that hasn't been certified to meet their specs, you are hanging out there. It then can become you responsibility to prove that the oil didn't cause the problem. The warranty is a contract, if you don't meet the terms of any contract, you put yourself in a weak bargaining position.

 

[Alex D]

Well in that case they only need to be SG/SH/Sl rated...........and they all are, including Redline and Amsoil.

That's not what I said. I said

"That's all well and good, but by the original concern was about warranty compliance. If a person doesn't use oil that meets the manufaturers required specs, the part of the warranty that covers lubrication related failues is null and void."

Thay can't force you to use their oil unless they give it to you. That is commonly misundrstood to mean that you can use any oil your want to use, but that doesn't make it so.

If use oil that hasn't been certified to meet their specs, you are hanging out there. It then can become you responsibility to prove that the oil didn't cause the problem. The warranty is a contract, if you don't meet the terms of any contract, you put yourself in a weak bargaining position.

 

[XS650]

"Well in that case they only need to be SG/SH/Sl rated...........and they all are, including Redline and Amsoil."


Don't take my word for it, check for yourself. Here's the API eolcs list URL. If they aren't on there, they aren't an officially recognized as SH, SJ or SL no matter what some oil salesman says.

http://eolcs.api.org/

I'm done with this thread. Anyone who reads this thread has enough information to check things out themselves. Then if they want to be sure their warranty will stay in effect for lubrication related failures, they just have to decide. whether they believe GM or the non-compliant by GM standards oil companies.

 

[Alex D]

I looked in all four owners manuals of my: 1994 Ford Thunderbird 4.6, 1996 Corvette LT1, 2001 Trans Am LS1 and 2002 Suburban 5.3. Nowhere does it state explicitly that you void your warranty if you are not using API certified oils, absolutely nowhere. It states terms like: "You should use..." and "....is recommended."

If they do not clearly state that it is "required", "mandatory" and "..... you must use or.....". if using other motoroils voids the warranty, they would clearly state it in bold letters for legal reason.

If use oil that hasn't been certified to meet their specs, you are hanging out there. It then can become you responsibility to prove that the oil didn't cause the problem. The warranty is a contract, if you don't meet the terms of any contract, you put yourself in a weak bargaining position.

 

[CyberFire 12]

Oil's Slippery Slope

IMHO, it seems to me that the most important oil related issue is regular oil and filter changes rather than slight differences in one's brand preference.

While there is endless debate on this and other auto related boards really how much is the brand issue really matter?

Any modern certified oil, even Dino, will protect your engine with proper care. After all, For any of these issues to be of significance, the engine would have to have very high mileage and would probably have other problems than wear from oil related factors.

I am not sure that use of any major brand or even some of the proprietary brands of oil would be detrimental because of manufacturing/additive differences.

 

[froggy47]

I agree.

With one exception, no dino oil unless you have an oil cooler. I'm talking about high performance use here. If you just drive your Vette to the Sunday matinee movies then go ahead with the dino oil. It ain't gonna matter.

 

[Ken]

Re: Oil's Slippery Slope

... protect your engine with proper care.

The key words are proper care. One must maintain their vehicles on a regular basis to ensure longevity. Changing the oil on a regular basis is part of that equation.

_ken