Jan. 28, 2022—A Canadian Ram owner is facing some expensive consequences after not following OEM-prescribed intervals for oil changes.
Moses Fosuo, an Ontario man who drives a 2018 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup, said his engine seized and he was barely able to get to the side of the road safely, according to a report from CTV News per Car Buzz. After taking it to Ram dealer, he learned the engine was going to have to be replaced.
Initially, he thought that wouldn't be too big of an issue since he only had 56,500 miles on the truck, which had a 64,000 mile warranty. However, the dealer told him the warranty was voided because "he had failed to get the oil changed at the appropriate times."
Fosuo had been getting oil changes every 15,000 miles from an aftermarket shop after someone at the shop told him that the truck could go that long between changes. Despite that, Ram says oil change intervals should not exceed just under 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Though Fosuo said he didn't receive an owner's manual with the vehicle and didn't know the correct interval, a Ram spokesperson said in the article that everything owners need to know is available online.
"There is no hesitancy on our part to comply with the provisions of a warranty, as long as they apply to a factory defect," the spokesperson said. "Damage or failures attributed to any other source are the owner's responsibility."
Fosuo will have to spend around $15,000 if he wants the engine fixed.
This story serves as a cautionary tale to always follow OEM-recommended procedures, even down to how often oil should be changed.
Image: Stellantis
