Do-It-Yourself Maintenance

So I love my new 2017 Big Horn Crew Cab!!!! However, I hate going to the dealership to get an oil change or a tire rotation, you know the easy stuff you can do on your own at the house. Has anyone ever had any issues with warranties after doing your own maintenance? I know that keeping receipts and logging what was done and when is important here, and all to easy. Just wondering if it'll bite me in the butt in the long run.

Yes, someone just had an issue link. You need to keep receipts, or be willing to fight, they have no right to deny you for anything they can't prove.

Your local lemon laws dictate how easy it is for the dealer to act like a fkin *******. Here in CA, they through them under the bus if they deny.

Magnusum-moss protects you, but if it is under 50k, they go to state court, and thus your relief is what your state says.

unless you have a lift, I would pay for the "easy stuff" and try to save money and DIY when the high dollar repairs pop up.

many places offer specials for oil changes and tire rotations. do you have a place to recycle the used oil? and have you ever rotated 90 pound tires on jack stands before? I would rather spend the 20 bucks and have someone else do it.

if you do decide to do your own oil changes, just save receipts of oil and filter purchases.

AirborneRam said:

So I love my new 2017 Big Horn Crew Cab!!!! However, I hate going to the dealership to get an oil change or a tire rotation, you know the easy stuff you can do on your own at the house. Has anyone ever had any issues with warranties after doing your own maintenance? I know that keeping receipts and logging what was done and when is important here, and all to easy. Just wondering if it'll bite me in the butt in the long run.

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Glad you posted this, I was thinking the same. I am a bit torn too as changing the oil is not that hard, though the filter location guarantees a mess.

I don't mind paying for the dealer service per se, it is that I don't know if I can trust my dealer service department to do a good job - that really is my biggest concern.

I've always changed my own oil and not bothered to save receipts, even had my engine replaced under warranty for the dreaded 6.4 knock, no questions asked

Stick to Pennzoil pure plus keep receipts and they can't do a damn thing, that is the ONLY oil THEY recommend. It works with the Hemi better than any other. You tube it.

17CrewCab1500 said:

Stick to Pennzoil pure plus keep receipts and they can't do a damn thing, that is the ONLY oil THEY recommend. It works with the Hemi better than any other. You tube it.

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I'm using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, it's their best. If you can't find it Walmart online will ship it to your house free in a few days. I used the Mopar filter for the first few, but switched to the Fram Ultra Synthetic filter for the last one.

I have a file (digital AND printed) and save all the receipts. I don't expect any problems, but would rather have all my records in hand.

You can use any oil that is approved for the Hemi, there is more than one.

I also do my own maintenance no need to pay someone to do the simple easy stuff.
Also if its not done to your liking there is no one to blame but your self...

69GWC said:

You can use any oil that is approved for the Hemi, there is more than one.

I also do my own maintenance no need to pay someone to do the simple easy stuff.
Also if its not done to your liking there is no one to blame but your self...

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exactly. agree 100%. a friend of mine just had his oil changed at firestone, they messed up the o ring gasket (Toyota highlander) and 15 mins later his oil pressure warning light turns on and he gets it shut down and towed back to firestone, thankfully without hurting the engine.

I've heard stuff like this happen countless times, oil leaks, stripped out oil pan drain plugs, etc.

no thank you, as long as I'm physically able to do it, I'll wrench on my own and that's the only way i know it's done correctly. just my .02

Murphy Slaw said:

I'm using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, it's their best. If you can't find it Walmart online will ship it to your house free in a few days. I used the Mopar filter for the first few, but switched to the Fram Ultra Synthetic filter for the last one.

I have a file (digital AND printed) and save all the receipts. I don't expect any problems, but would rather have all my records in hand.

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Smart man. How much is it there? I was going to get it from Amazon.



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17CrewCab1500 said:

Smart man. How much is it there? I was going to get it from Amazon.

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Looks like 10.25 a qt., 24.97 for 5 qt. jug.


https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=pennzoil ultra platinum 5w30&typeahead=pennzoil

I have the dealer do it.

I purchased the oil change package from my dealer which works out to $50 an oil change (full synthetic) with tire rotation. It is an actual service agreement with chrysler and since I have an extra vehicle I normally drop it off the night before.

I do it all myself, keep receipts in case. Had a transfer case replaced under warranty with no hassle. A good dealer wont give you much of a hard time.

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You can also annotate your maintenance on your MOPAR account. That'll save you from carrying a journal or binder full of receipts and can be pulled at the dealer to show you kept everything up to par.

Funny how the things that bothered me at 18 no longer matter at 68. I used to crawl under everything to change oil and filter and deal with disposal (Who remembers using a storm drain!!) As I got older it become something that was not worth the hassle. Give the corner garage a few bucks to do the work and stay clean. As long as you have a garage you can trust you are golden. And "tossing a bone" once in a while helps. Give him a larger job you may have chosen to DIY for true savings, like changing shocks or brakes. And if you pay someone else to do a job, if it goes south you have someone to yell at besides the idiot in the mirror in the morning!

I've had too many situations where the shop has actually screwed something up. A Jiffy Lube place stripped my pan threads and I didn't find out until the next oil change at Walmart. Had to helicoil it which luckily held until the vehicle died of other causes. Of course, the Jiffy Lube place denied it. Same vehicle, I had my wife take it in to get the brakes done because I was busy with work (never let your wife take a vehicle in for repairs ). They totally jacked her around and charged an absolutely ridiculous price for what amounted to changing the pads on the front rotors. I don't normally scream and yell in public but I was livid with these people. I pulled the wheels and brought the rotor & caliper down to the shop. Both were replaced on the invoice but were clearly original parts. I got my money back but it was totally not worth the drama.

On the same vehicle, I had a tuneup and the vehicle checked before a cross-country trip. They stripped the head putting in a spark plug and of course said nothing... letting me deal with it after I was 2000 miles across the country.

I have still taken my vehicles to shops but I watch them like a hawk now. If they won't allow me to watch while they work I go elsewhere. Luckily now I have a guy that is pretty good whom I trust. I do all my own basics, brakes, filters and such but I've had jobs I just didn't want to do (plugs on full-sized van) that I've taken over to him and he squares me away. A mechanic that you trust is hard to find so when you get one take good care of them.

There is a synthetic oil thread on here look at that. Save your receipts and use oil that is recommended and you should be fine.

I buy mobil one and a fram synthetic filter for about 35 bucks. I use a local shop that will perform a basic oil change for 20 bucks labor. They do a great job.

Man all you guys are awesome and I thank you for the replies! So I intend to use AMSOIL and keep my receipts. I read in the owners manual that as long as the oil is changed at the oil manufactures recommendations than there should be no issue. However, even with the AMSOIL XL Series I usually change at about 8000 miles instead of 10000.

I enjoy working on my own vehicles so that is not an issue what-so-ever!

I will most likely keep a record on my MOPAR Account as well as one in the truck, I am a stickler for keeping track of paperwork. (The military teaches you that its important! LOL)

Once again, y'all are awesome, this is why I love forums!

I've had too many situations where the shop has actually screwed something up.

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Yep ...been there (more than once)!