Warranties

[shatto]

Warranties
and the
Magnuson-Moss Act


If you are interested in using AMSOIL motor oil, but concerned that using a synthetic oil or extending your oil drain interval will void his warranty, you have no need for concern. Congress in 1975 enacted the federal Magnuson-Moss Act to regulate written consumer product warranties. An examination of the law reveals warranties remain intact when AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants are used.

The law was meant to give consumers detailed information about warranty coverage before they buy.

Congress charged the Federal Trade Commission with creation of the specifics of the law.

The FTC set down three rules under the Act: the Disclosure Rule, the Pre-Sale Availability Rule and the Dispute Resolution Rule.

Those rules require warrantors to title their written warranty as either full or limited, provide a single, clear and easy-to-read document that spells out certain information about coverage and ensure that warranties are available where the products are sold so that consumers can read them before buying.

In passing the Act, Congress meant to give consumers access to warranty information, let consumers comparison shop for warranties, encourage warranty competition and promote timely and complete performance of warranty obligations.

While the Magnuson-Moss Act does not require manufacturers to provide a written warranty, it provides specific rules when one is provided. Among those provisions, FTC regulations state: (c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission if (1) the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and (2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest. (15 U.S.C.2302(C))

That means your warranty stands when you use AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants.

Vehicle manufacturers recommend lubricants according to their viscosity grade and service classification. Any oil, whether its conventional petroleum motor oil or synthetic, meeting the correct viscosity grade, 5W-30 for example, and the current API and ILSAC North American service classifications may be used without affecting warranty coverage. AMSOIL motor oils are recommended for use in applications requiring these specifications.

Furthermore, the practice of extending oil drain intervals does not void warranties. Original equipment manufacturers pay or deny warranty claims based on the findings of failure analysis. To affect the vehicle warranty, the lubricant must be directly responsible for the failure. If the oil didn't cause the problem the warranty cannot be voided, regardless of brand or length of time in use.

Synthetic motor oil was introduced to the automotive public in 1972 by AMSOIL, INC., with the world's first API rated synthetic motor oil specially formulated for long service and superior performance and protection to that of conventional oils.

Nearly 30 years ago, AMSOIL synthetics represented a vision of the future and technology ahead of their time. Since then, every major engine oil manufacturer has introduced synthetic oils of their own. To be sure, many original equipment manufacturers would like you to believe you can only use their products. However, it's a violation of the consumer protections set forth in the Magnuson-Moss Act, unless they're willing to provide you those products free of charge.

AMSOIL offers a warranty that covers the cost of repair or replacement of a proven mechanically sound engine damaged as a result of using AMSOIL synthetic motor oil. However, it has never happened. Thirty years of experience proves AMSOIL can be installed in any vehicle with complete confidence.

AMSOIL further backs its products with action when a Dealer or customer reports being told their warranty is voided if they use synthetics.

If you have heard from any member of a business that the use of AMSOIL Motor Oil or the practice of extending drain intervals will void warranties, send AMSOIL all the details including the name of the business, business owner or manager and the individual making the claims, in a signed and dated letter. Send the letter to the Technical Services Department at corporate headquarters and an AMSOIL representative will send them a letter explaining the facts.

Access to the complete Magnuson-Moss Act is available on the Internet by key words Magnuson-Moss Act or Federal Trade Commission.

[theclencher]

Man, and I thought I wasted too much of my time on stupid stuff...

[shatto]

Knowledge IS a big drain, ain't it.

[theclencher]

If I ever go on Jeopardy and Alex asks me about Amsoil and warranties, I'll take it back.

Reminds me of waaaaay back in college, my roommate was taking a Biology class and complained that there would NEVER be an occasion for him to have to know that opossum sperm have two flagella. I said LOL, now watch, we will never forget that useless factoid. And I haven't!

Cool huh, Mr. Spam?

[theholycow]

We probably don't need two threads with the Magnuson-Moss act and its effect on your favorite product.

It is an important law to know, though. There's a huge amount of consumer protection in it, it works against exactly the sort of abuse that too many consumers receive, yet almost nobody knows about it. Folks on this forum don't have much opportunity to discuss it because most don't have warranties, but on other forums the concern is constantly discussed...they ask things like "if I put new tires on, will that void my car's warranty" or "will window tint void my transmission warranty", etc. It's awful.

The facts are as follows:

• Legally, your warranty cannot be "voided".
• Legally, if they think your modification has caused the failure they can deny that particular warranty claim (and you might expect them to put it on record so that you don't come back with the same problem and the modification gone).

Realistically, to enforce the Magnuson-Moss act in a particularly bad situation you may have to take legal action, which is likely to cost more than the repair does. The dealer is counting on that, or may be ignorant of the law.

Another concern when talking about realism is that if you did take it to court, the people who make those decisions (judges, or can a jury be requested for this?) won't understand the technical stuff while the party denying the warranty will certainly do a good job casting doubt on the safety of your modification.

However, it is my opinion that everyone should always try to use it when appropriate. If your modification really could have caused the problem (transmission failure after increasing your engine power, for example, or wheel bearings fail after putting on huge tires) then you should be reasonable and not abuse the law. If, OTOH, your WAI is being blamed for your stereo failing, you should definitely invoke the law; don't just stand there and whine about it, take action. Get the manufacturer's regional rep involved, get a newspaper involved, or get a consumer watchdog group involved (or maybe the ACLU would help) to help by providing a lawyer.

When we accept the abuse we make it acceptable and OK. When en masse we don't take it, we help change the atmosphere so that it's less likely to happen.