for a performance parts/mods or for this matter,any after-market parts to void a warranty, this part need to be the cause,either directly or indirectly,of the problem that will otherwise be covered under warranty.
For example:
You put a supercharger on your car and you blow the engine.
Warranty denied due to the DIRECT relation between the faillure and the performance part.
You put a supercharger on your car and you break one of you rear half-shaft.
Warranty denied due to the indirect relation (more power) between the faillure and the performance part.
You put a supercharger on your car and your radio/cd go bad.
Warranty will cover it since there is NO relation between the performance part and the faillure.
I think that Jon B is wrong on the air filter.
There is a Federal law that state that manufacturers cannot deny a warranty claim for not using their parts, as long that they (the manufacturer) doesn't offer it for free and that the after market parts (oil,oil filter,air filter,spark plugs,etc,)meet manufacturer specifications.
There are many ways to go around a warranty issue.
Let's say for example that your car/truck is using 1 quart of oil for every 1000 miles.
Most manufacturers will say that it is "normal" and not over their own guidelines.
Of course we know that it is not true,so what can you do?
Very simple, the dealership will do an " oil consumption test", that mean that they will fill your engine with the correct amount of oil and ask you to come back after 1000 miles to check how much oil your engine used.
They will usually do this test twice.
To beat the manufacturers at their own game, you need to say that you car/truck is using 2 QUARTS every 1000 miles because this amount is more that their guidelines.
(Make sure to call/see another dealer to find out exactly what are the guidelines for your specific engine)
After that, just before bringing you car/truck for the 1000 miles inspection,REMOVE through the dipstick (important because some time they will put a mark on the oil drain to make sure that nobody removed it)enough oil to be 2 quarts low.
Some peoples will say that doing that is not being honest,my answer to them is that if the manufacturers were honest in the first place we will not have to do it.
Try to sell a car/truck and tell the potential buyer that the engine use 1 QT per 1000 miles but that it is normal,and see how fast this buyer is going to run.
Luc.
