Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Originally Posted By: vindex1963
In my 31 years of riding I've never heard of a warranty claim denied because of oil choice and I've never heard of an oil test being done to deny a warranty issue. I've had engine work done under warranty and oil was never brought up or even hinted about. I think warrantee denied is way to much of a blanket statement and has gotten people so paranoid as to exaggerate the facts about it. Seems these things are internet facts more than real life facts.
You will likely only ever get in trouble if they ask and you respond honestly. In the automotive world it does happen, especially when people put the wrong transmission fluid in and the thing burns up.
I think you'll agree that transmissions are a little different case. The only reason I could see them denying claim is if you came in with a slipping clutch [MC] or burnt transmission [clutches]... which definitely can be culprits of incorrect oil/fluid choice.
Originally Posted By: dnewton3
There are examples of people, even here at BITOG, who have had to provide evidence for some form of warranty claim.
Three decades ago, when I had repeated issues with a 5.0L Mustang, after 12 (twelve!) trips in for warranty service issues regarding the engine, I finally started a case via the State Atty General for a "lemon law" vehicle. And that's when Ford got really serious about wanting to see every detail about what I did, even though lube had nothing to do with the electrical/computer issue controlling the engine.
The upside to this is that because failures are rare, and companies typically want to avoid poor publicity, they will often take care of things that they do not have to under warranty for the sake of good public relations. However, that does not change the conditions of a written limited warranty, nor the risk associated with not following those conditions.
I agree, people should be aware... but not something they should practically worry about. If its gets to that point, personally, I would go buy a genuine factory filter and oil, replace both and bring the bike in for service.