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A 300,000 mile engine warranty, is it for you?
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While automakers, auto dealers, environmentalists, politicians and President Obama want to get old cars off the road with a so-called “cash for clunkers” program, there’s at least one company that wants to keep cars on the road longer.
That’s not necessarily cars that are defined as clunkers, but Valvoline Oil is offering a 300,000 mile engine warranty that, if an owner changes oil every 3,000 miles, will repair any lubrication-related engine damage.
There are caveats, of course, including the need to register a car before 75,000 miles. Other stipulations include:
- Changing oil every 3,000 miles (certain “forgiveness” terms are included)
- Using Valvoline’s top grade oil (shorter guarantees are available for lower grades)
- Engine failure means a) the engine will not run, solely due to lubricated engine part and component failures, and b) all other systems and components (such as cooling and exhaust systems) are working properly.
- All lubricated engine parts and components (cylinder heads, oil pump, pistons) are covered except for the timing chain. No other components or systems, (such as a turbocharger and supercharger) are covered.
- And the guarantee is not transferable. If an owner sells the car, the guarantee doesn’t go with it.
It’s a legitimate offer, and no doubt Valvoline will stand behind its promise. We doubt they’ll have to pay out much for it, however, because it’s likely the rest of the car will wear out before the engine does. And we doubt very many drivers will keep the same car for 300,000 miles. At 30,000 miles per year—a high figure for even a new car—it would take ten years for a car to accumulate that many miles.
Of course, the engine damage may occur before that period is completed, so it might be said then that a car is covered for ten years. Of course, a driver who changes oil every 3,000 miles is unlikely to have any lubrication related problems, regardless of oil used that meets basic standards.
And of course, very few owners will keep a car long enough to collect, even any problems do occur during that time.
It’s not that we don’t think Valvoline is an excellent product. It’s just that as a claim of putting their money where their mouth is, we think they’ve incurred little risk. On the other hand, maybe that’s the point.
Illustration courtesy Valvoline.
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