How to Prove Oil Changes ?

[Mako Koiwai]

Karen's daily driver Subaru Legacy Outback is back at Timmon's Subaru. Last year the engine ingested something that apparently broke off in the turbo, while just cruising down the freeway ... at about 45K. The engine rebuild was covered under warranty since the turbo is considered part of the emissions system, which in CA is automatically covered up to 50K. They pretty much replaced everything in the engine except ONE piston!

Last week there was a terrible clatter when Karen started up the car to go to work. We had the car flat bedded to Timmons to be checked out. Just found out yesterday that they were waiting for proof of oil changes or a $1,250 deposit before proceeding with the engine tear down!

Looks like we're just going to squeeze in under the one year warranty for the rebuild but they want proof of oil changes. It's been 12K since the rebuild during which time I did one oil change myself. Subaru recommends an oil change every 7,500 miles when driving under easy conditions. I consider free way commuting in our mild climate to be very easy miles. We had done the oil change on the early side and were just thinking about having the next one done. Timmon's told us to just take it easy for the break in and didn't suggest an early oil change. The Outback is always driven easy.

I'm still looking but I doubt I have the receipt from AutoZone or where every I bought the oil filter. I might be able to find a receipt for a case of oil from Costco.

I asked them to save a sample of the oil before doing the tear down. The oil ... which I checked after hearing the clattering last week ... still looks good. A bit darkish but still translucent.

Any suggestions how I can prove that I did the one required oil change since the rebuild? I hope they're honest with the oil sample, which I imagine we could have analyzed.

[Steve Lepper]

Did you pay for it with an ATM or Credit card? Your bank statement would show the vendor name, amount, and transaction date. The store may be able to help you from there: I know my local NAPA store was able to pull an invoice copy for a customer in a similar situation.

[Kurt Rahn]

I send sample of my oil after changing to Blackstone. I just do it preventatively to make sure there's nothing wrong. I never thought about it, but if I ever need to prove my oil changes, I imagine that would work. Just one more reason to get your oil analyzed.

[Arthur Grant]

Thus one of the key reasons I don't do my own oil changes on any of my in warranty cars.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Sign and note that says you changed the oil on or about a date certain on or about an approximate mileage. You are allowed in this country to maintain your car by factory standards at places other than the dealer.

[Bob Pl]

Can't help adding any ideas, but for future I start a file on each car and just put EVERY receipt in the file. Every so often I organize then with paper clips into catagories: repairs/oil change/filters/fluids, tires/rotations/. If I DIY I put a dated note in the file with what I did. This "should" hold up pretty well in the event......

[Jayson Woodruff]

Sign and note that says you changed the oil on or about a date certain on or about an approximate mileage. You are allowed in this country to maintain your car by factory standards at places other than the dealer.

This one. Especially since I assume the owners manual has a DIY section that gives you some info on changing the oil.

Jay W

[Craig Naylor]

I've used this program for the last 6 years or so. Keeps track of multiple cars. Has a free trial to check it out.

http://www.lonewolf-software.com/Automo ... 20Info.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ramin Beizaie]

Mako, go to my.subaru.com and enter in and backdate an oil change in the service history section. Then print it out and take it to them.

[Mako Koiwai]

too obvious ... I do my own oil changes. That's the trouble, proving that I changed the oil in a timely manner. Then I remember that Karen bought the oil filter from their parts department, so they could look it up.

[Mako Koiwai]

Timmon's thought it was "just" the Cam Pulley that needed to be replaced (covered by the Drive Train warranty) ... but they then discovered metal fillings and are now doing a complete engine tear down ... covered by last years rebuild.

[Mako Koiwai]

Since it's taking so long to get the Suby motor rebuilt (does it really seem economical for a dealer to rebuild an engine instead of replacing it?) ... Timmon's is giving Karen a free rental car ... especially good considering all three of her cars are scattered around the Southland in various garages.

She's been given a nice new KIA! Now why wouldn't Subaru take this opportunity to lend Karen a latest edition Subaru to woo her. Her Legacy is our third Suby and probably the last one. They just aren't worth it ... and Subaru doesn't seemed interested in proving otherwise ...

My ex is constantly being given cool new Lexus's as loaner cars ... terrific service, at least for Complaining Cindy. (But maybe not for all Lexus owners. They once accidentally gave her someone else's new Lexus, which she didn't realize until she was halfway to San Francisco ... and looked in the middle consul compartment only to discover all types of personal belongings! She called them to tell them their mistake. They pleaded with her to bring it back ... and she said no way, she was on her way to SF, but she would treat it carefully. We never found out how they explained the extra 900 miles! They should have offered her airplane tickets.)

[Mako Koiwai]

After 25 days Karen has the Legacy back ... with basically a new engine ... again! They replaced the short block, all valves, camshafts, oil pump, heads, at least part of the turbo, drive belts. Cost her $130 for the insurance part of the rental KIA.

Should we sell it?! After the last engine rebuild Karen wanted to sell ... I said, Why ... you've practically got a new car. This time Tom B. is saying to keep it. This time we just squeaked in under the one year warranty on the last rebuild. What if it had happened a week later?! Same thing could happen again.

Bob B. says he's heard that SOA now requires all Turbo Suby's to use synthetic oil and replace it every 3,500 miles. Timmon's Subaru didn't tell Karen to do anything ...

The Miata is suppose to be finished tomorrow ... new clutch.

We were told by an experienced Vette racer friend that our Z06 is probably suffering from a contaminated MAF sensor ... from our new K&N air filter, ie. never cleaned and re-oiled by us. The garage that has the Vette was suppose to clean the MAF today ... but we never heard back from them. None of the places that folks recommended to fix the electrical have gotten back to us, so assuming that "Mike" didn't have any success cleaning the MAF we're having the Vette flat bedded to Cormier tomorrow

[Q V]

So just out of curiousity, what did Timmon's finally accept as proof of oil change?

Glad you at least have the Suby back

[Steve Ekstrand]

I'd keep the subie. Its past its any real value as a trade-in, yet it still has significant utility left. With such a fresh engine, I'd say its an opportunity to drive it for 1-2 more years nearly for free.

[Will Kalman]

Get someone to work on your 'vette who know 'vettes and has the diagnostic equipment and experience. Nothing's worse than throwing parts at guesses when the codes and voltages are there for the reading and measuring. My father used to teach at the GM Delco training center and he says there's no excuse for not being able to pin down the cause if you know what you're doing.

And, I have heard that the oil from a K&N can gum up a hot-wire air flow sensor - it happened to a friends '96 T-bird a few years back.

[Mako Koiwai]

We purchased our oil filter from their parts store.

Although Bob B. said that a friend said that Suby now specifies Synthetic oil for their turbo engined cars and oil changes every 3,500 miles ... Timmon's told us that they don't use Synthetic oil ... but they'd like US to change our oil every 3,000 miles ... even though all that car does is drive down the freeway in rush hour traffic from South Pasadena to Long Beach and back ... with occasional runs up to Santa Barbara.

I guess we'll use it when we go up to Vancouver and Calgary to visit Karen's relatives ...

[Bob Pl]

After 25 days Karen has the Legacy back ... with basically a new engine ... again! They replaced the short block, all valves, camshafts, oil pump, heads, at least part of the turbo, drive belts. Cost her $130 for the insurance part of the rental KIA.

Should we sell it?! After the last engine rebuild Karen wanted to sell ... I said, Why ... you've practically got a new car. This time Tom B. is saying to keep it. This time we just squeaked in under the one year warranty on the last rebuild. What if it had happened a week later?! Same thing could happen again.

Bob B. says he's heard that SOA now requires all Turbo Suby's to use synthetic oil and replace it every 3,500 miles. Timmon's Subaru didn't tell Karen to do anything ...

The Miata is suppose to be finished tomorrow ... new clutch.

We were told by an experienced Vette racer friend that our Z06 is probably suffering from a contaminated MAF sensor ... from our new K&N air filter, ie. never cleaned and re-oiled by us. The garage that has the Vette was suppose to clean the MAF today ... but we never heard back from them. None of the places that folks recommended to fix the electrical have gotten back to us, so assuming that "Mike" didn't have any success cleaning the MAF we're having the Vette flat bedded to Cormier tomorrow

That could be, but I use K&N on both my Vettes with zero issues. And a bunch of other cars/trucks.

[Mako Koiwai]

So the official reason why our Legacy engine failed this time was "a bad batch of rod bearings." I believe this might have been the same issue that was plaguing the early '09 WRX's ... that or left over manufacturing machining debris that got into the rod bearings.