How do you document your oil changes if you change your own oil? Another forum member "VetLag", has a thread regarding his 427's loss of oil pressure and the dealer requesting proof of oil changes. This started me thinking about my own practices when changing oil. I usually buy my Mobil 1 filters in bulk and stock many bottles (5 qt and 1 qt) of Mobil 1 oil in my garage. When completed, I reset the DIC and let OnStar's records show my oil change.

What do the rest of you do? I would hate to think that my extended warranty would be refused because I didn't keep better records!

I have talked to some friends who are so paranoid that they photograph the newspaper with their new filter and oil in front of the jacked-up car as documentation. Others use a log book. Some don't even record it, depending on the DIC to tell them when to change oil.

 

I don't think it matters anymore. My understanding is that the oil monitor stores changes?

 

I just stick my window stickers in my glove box with my corvette book.

 

Assuming you continue to keep your car bone stock to avoid voiding the warranty, the chances of having an engine failure that has had normal maintenance is between slim and none. In addition, the chances of having an engine failure due to an oil related problem are significantly less than just slim.

If, by that next to impossible odds, you did have an engine failure that was oil related, a simple check of the OLM and an oil analysis would rule out any failure on your part of proper maintenance.

Just because you purchased oil and filters on a regular basis is no guarantee they were put in your car.

 

I document all maintenance done on all of my vehicles, whether done by myself or others, in a three ring binder with forms I created on a spreadsheet. If the vehicle is still under warranty, I save the fluid and filter receipts. I have a folder of receipts for each car.

 

is it not documented by on star? when changing oil don't we have to reset the dic? if so i think it's computerized by onstar when the oil info is reset on the dic. i could be wrong. anyone want to share their opinion on this one?

 

yep and you can pull it all the way from day 1

 

I just put together a simple spreadsheet where I list the date, the service and the cost along with the mileage. Keep the receipts in an envelope.

 

I read the same thread and wondered the same thing as I do all my own service work. Can they void your warranty for doing your own service work? None of the responses I have seen have actually answered the question. I also have a notebook where I document all the work I do on all my cars, but I can't believe that is going to get me anywhere. Heck, anyone could make up that.

 

This, I also number the oil changes and write that number on the reciepts.

 

I snap a quick cellphone pic with the hood up, empty oil bottles and the drained oil still under the car and another of the odometer. I keep the receipts and log mileage. If they argue that isn't enough, I'll gladly ask how the dealership proves they actually change the oil.

 

While my car is covered by Factory warranty, I have it changed at a Corvette friendly dealer. Provides a paper trail for maintenance.

If you do it yourself, I would keep receipts in a folder showing type and viscosity of the oil and the date and mileage when complete.

Onstar and the Oil Life reset may record oil changes, but don't know what you put in it. We must use only GM approved oils in our cars.

 

This is what I do too. I also make sure to buy the oil and filter on a dated receipt about the same time I change it for just that oil change. I dont buy/stock up on oil and filters for that very reason. I figure the few bucks that saves it's not worth the potential hassles of dated reciepts not matching up with changes..YMMV

 

On Sunday my son in law got a low oil pressure turn off engine message. he was in a parking lot so he turn off the 2009 5.4 GMC v8 with 79,000 miles . turned it back on and no oil pressure same message so he turned it off again. waited and turned it on no oil pressure so turned it right off and had it towed to dealer. dealer called today and said complete internal engine failure and wants proof of the last four oil changes. Luckily he does it himself and always buys from auto Zone so he was able to go back through his debit card statements and find the last four purchases and visit 3 Auto Zones and with his phone numbers they were able to pull the receipts. While searching the web last nite i was able to pull up several discussions in the GM truck forums about low or no oil pressure in this family of engines . i also was able to pull up a GM service bulletin on this issue that discussed glogged internal screens . It maybe that by using synthetic oil the Corvettes have been able to avoid this problem. I use the dealer to change the oil on my vehicles during warranty. Years ago Toyota had a big issue with engine sludge because of poor venting design and was avoiding costs by demanding receipts. So do the best possible to document required maintenance during maintence with actual receipts.

 

why? i keep the receipts from amsoil and advance auto when i buy in bulk. they always list the amount purchased. i.e. 12 quarts oil or 6 oil filters. just keep the receipts with your cars manual and you'll never lose it. and like i had stated before, on star also has a record of the oil info when you reset the dic after changing your oil. i write that in back of the manual, ( date changed )

 

Does anybody realize how silly some of this documentation is?
I could buy oil for my wifes Hummer today and use those receipts for my ZR1 that I changed the oil in April if it blew its motor. As was already stated CORRECTLY, you can buy your oil/filters in bulk and use them whenever. So, the receipt things are a joke. Taking pics of the hood up, with drained oil and a pic of todays newspaper on the fender is also hillarious! Carry on boys, I love it!!

 

I write the date and miles in the back of the owners manual. I save receipts for everything bought/service for the car in an envelope in my desk.

 

I document everything on my vette ,not that it helps me much, I traded my 05 for a 2011 a year ago and the dealer could care less that I did oil changes at 70% DIC, replaced trans oil and diff with Amsoil, and had 4 receipts for clutch fluid change on an car that had 30,000KM not miles, I still got what a average 2005 car would trade in for no more no less

With my 11 I do the same thing she has 7100 miles on her has had 3 oil changes and 2 clutch fluid I would rather be able to prove it than not !

 

me too

 

It's silly.......until you need to prove documentation like this fella..

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...e-failure.html