DIY oil change vs warranty?

[Kamran]

Hi guys,
First post!
Bought a ‘26 Crosstrek last month. I usually do most of my own maintenance work, including oil changes. Anyone has any experience with warranty work if you do your own oil changes?

For reference I’m in the Seattle/Bellevue area, if you had experience with local dealers on warranty.

 

[piste]

if you have access to the internet just type your question in and you will get your answer.

 

[DanielC]

Hi guys,
First post!
Bought a ‘26 Crosstrek last month. I usually do most of my own maintenance work, including oil changes. Anyone has any experience with warranty work if you do your own oil changes?

For reference I’m in the Seattle/Bellevue area, if you had experience with local dealers on warranty.

Best to contact Subaru of America to confirm what might invalidate your warranty instead of second hand opinion. Or it could be stated in the minutia of the warranty details. I went ahead and bought the oil change warranty from Subaru for the first time-any authorized Subaru dealer can do the work. No appointment necessary and it's fairly quick- about an hour & 15 min or so. They'll also rotate tires and do a multi point check up in that time. The cost works out to be cheaper than the oil change drive throughs I was using. Have fun with your Crosstrek!!

 

[Kamran]

T

Best to contact Subaru of America to confirm what might invalidate your warranty instead of second hand opinion. Or it could be stated in the minutia of the warranty details. I went ahead and bought the oil change warranty from Subaru for the first time-any authorized Subaru dealer can do the work. No appointment necessary and it's fairly quick- about an hour & 15 min or so. They'll also rotate tires and do a multi point check up in that time. The cost works out to be cheaper than the oil change drive throughs I was using. Have fun with your Crosstrek!!

I did contact Subaru America. Their answer was a tailored standard reply, emphasizing any damage I cause would void the warranty and be on me (dah!), instead of answering my question specifically; refusing to give me a yes/no answer. Their response “implied” the warranty would be intact since they didn’t say it’d void my warranty. But didn’t make me feel comfortable with their answer either. I’ll do the 500 mile oil change myself, and let them do all the other scheduled oil changes, every 6 months. It’s just that by the time I drive the car over, I could have done the oil change myself (20 min vs 2 hours), and the peace of mind that it’s done right. I understand DIY is not everyone’s cup of tea.

 

[piste]

Best to contact Subaru of America to confirm what might invalidate your warranty instead of second hand opinion. Or it could be stated in the minutia of the warranty details. I went ahead and bought the oil change warranty from Subaru for the first time-any authorized Subaru dealer can do the work. No appointment necessary and it's fairly quick- about an hour & 15 min or so. They'll also rotate tires and do a multi point check up in that time. The cost works out to be cheaper than the oil change drive throughs I was using. Have fun with your Crosstrek!

Good lord....see post #2. It is illegal for them to void warranty if you do your own oil change and keep receipts.

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[keith3267]

I just went through this with a Nissan Frontier, rod knock at <50k miles. They primarily would like to see the receipts for the oil filters. Subaru oil filters cost about the same at the dealer as they do anywhere else, so I'd suggest that you buy them from the dealership and keep the receipts. If you do lose them, the dealer should be able to check their records. Also record all your oil changes in your owners manual. There should be a section marked "Notes".

BTW, Nissan replaced the whole engine under warranty.

Edit: I had an issue with the transmission and two with the evap system of my 2014 Legacy, both repaired under warranty by the dealer, no questions asked in those cases and oil changes would not have mattered as they were not oil related.

 

[Train Dan]

Best to contact Subaru of America to confirm what might invalidate your warranty instead of second hand opinion. Or it could be stated in the minutia of the warranty details. I went ahead and bought the oil change warranty from Subaru for the first time-any authorized Subaru dealer can do the work. No appointment necessary and it's fairly quick- about an hour & 15 min or so. They'll also rotate tires and do a multi point check up in that time. The cost works out to be cheaper than the oil change drive throughs I was using. Have fun with your Crosstrek!!

I'll let the dealer do it. Last car I did all the maintenance was an '03 Jeep Wrangler, which was uncommon easy for oil changes. No jacks required, just slide under on a creeper.
But what I paid for in good oil, I wasn't really saving any money.
Is there drama under a 'roo? I gave up changing the oil in my bride's VW Passat, which had an aerodynamic bellypan. Getting it off/on, from a creeper, led to many un-Christian remarks, and, again, I wasn't really saving much.
I know it's satisfying doing at least some of your own work, and does help to get-out-and-get-under, just bonding with your machine, and keeping an eye on things. But the times they are a changing.
Dan

 

[piste]

I'll let the dealer do it. Last car I did all the maintenance was an '03 Jeep Wrangler, which was uncommon easy for oil changes. No jacks required, just slide under on a creeper.
But what I paid for in good oil, I wasn't really saving any money.
Is there drama under a 'roo? I gave up changing the oil in my bride's VW Passat, which had an aerodynamic bellypan. Getting it off/on, from a creeper, led to many un-Christian remarks, and, again, I wasn't really saving much.
I know it's satisfying doing at least some of your own work, and does help to get-out-and-get-under, just bonding with your machine, and keeping an eye on things. But the times they are a changing.
Dan

When my cars were under warranty was also when the kids were younger so dealer did EVERYTHING..and ya I got financially raped for that. Anything ever went sideways I was just "well what ya gonna do to fix it since it all on you". Now all three of my Subes off warranty and kids are grown. I do anything and everything I can on my own until some day I can't. And actually...oil changes alone you can save a great deal of money. Things like brakes or hubs/bearings etc...BEEG BEEG savings both parts and labor...talking hundreds per job...with much better quality result...at least for me. But to each their own and that all good. But just know dealers gouge for oil changes. DIY can save $40 per oil change or more. And with a Fumoto and a funnel....well...the living is EEEE ZEEE.

 

[Train Dan]

I used to order a factory shop manual for each new car. The last one, for the Wrangler, was about the size of a hard copy of War and Peace.
Without a manual, and with the proliferation of electronic this and digital that, I'll leave it to the pros. Even better, if a tire rotation is included, with the oil change.
BTW, without a spare, has anyone rotated their own tires lately? It was no big deal with the Wrangler, other than the size and weight of the tires...the beam axles could sit on jackstands. It's more difficult with unibodies and only four rims.
Anyway, YMMV.
Dan

 

[Kamran]

Well, I decided to do my own oil change and keep records. It’s actually one of the easiest cars to change oil/filter with filter being on top. Belly aero plate has a large cut out to access drain bolt. Only thing is oil shoots out way sideway (45 degree angle)!!!
Our local dealers charge around $140 for oil change, plus my time that I value! My cost was $40 ($25 Mobil 1, $10 filter + tax), along with half a day of driving to and from dealer and wait time that I saved. 6” ramps do the work nicely.

 

[bmart]

In nearly all cases, it is better to do the job yourself. With (some portion of) the money you save, buy quality tools and keep it rolling.

 

[Kamran]

In nearly all cases, it is better to do the job yourself. With (some portion of) the money you save, buy quality tools and keep it rolling.

Exactly, I agree. I’ve had enough bad experiences relying on dealer mechanics rushing thru jobs to make more money (as many of them get paid by the job, not hourly).
Not enough oil in engine, loose wheel lugnuts, etc. luckily, I have a habit of back checking everything to make sure…