[jsunma]

Originally Posted by sharadn

I regularly use FPC and ship items back for refunds but was unaware of the PP return shipping service. I don't see how to sign up for or activate it though. The link says go to activity but when I do I cannot see how to activate. Can someone help?

Alright. So I'm going to ask (and potentially hijack the thread...Yes, I try to change my oil every 5K miles, regardless of how long it takes to get to 5K) something that I've wondered in these various threads that bring up the FCP warranty.

Do you REALLY feel ok about sending back dirty oil for a full warranty refund?

I absolutely use FCP's warranty for parts. I've returned a radiator that failed within a year. And damn but that I won't send back the valve cover that I bought from them if that fails...ever. (although I wouldn't try to get $ back on the gasket if that's all that I bought, because that's a consumable part imo) And ok...I've sent back brake components (+1 on the info about using PayPal's free return shipping so that next time I don't pay $40 in return shipping to send 30 pounds of steel back to Connecticut). But I do a brakes maybe once every couple of years. And absolutely I will give FCP my enduring purchase loyalty for having this amazing warranty policy.

But.... Doesn't it seem like kind of bad karma to be using their warranty to get for free something that any normal car owner would expect to pay for on a regular and frequent basis? I mean, a $60 oil change a couple of times a year ($60 is what I just spent for my oil change kit from FCP this week) is what we should normally expect to pay to own and operate our cars. Just because we CAN get someone else to pay for it, does that mean we should?

[iqraceworks]

For the price of Rotella T6 ($20 a gallon)..I'm not messing around with sending used oil back for a refund. The hassle isn't worth the small savings.

But...if you want to mess with bottling up used oil, boxing it up, taking it to the UPS store or post office, paying to ship it back...more power to you.

My time is worth more to me.

[Dave92N54]

Originally Posted by jsunma

Alright. So I'm going to ask (and potentially hijack the thread...Yes, I try to change my oil every 5K miles, regardless of how long it takes to get to 5K) something that I've wondered in these various threads that bring up the FCP warranty.

Do you REALLY feel ok about sending back dirty oil for a full warranty refund?

I absolutely use FCP's warranty for parts. I've returned a radiator that failed within a year. And damn but that I won't send back the valve cover that I bought from them if that fails...ever. (although I wouldn't try to get $ back on the gasket if that's all that I bought, because that's a consumable part imo) And ok...I've sent back brake components (+1 on the info about using PayPal's free return shipping so that next time I don't pay $40 in return shipping to send 30 pounds of steel back to Connecticut). But I do a brakes maybe once every couple of years. And absolutely I will give FCP my enduring purchase loyalty for having this amazing warranty policy.

But.... Doesn't it seem like kind of bad karma to be using their warranty to get for free something that any normal car owner would expect to pay for on a regular and frequent basis? I mean, a $60 oil change a couple of times a year ($60 is what I just spent for my oil change kit from FCP this week) is what we should normally expect to pay to own and operate our cars. Just because we CAN get someone else to pay for it, does that mean we should?

I do not feel bad about it one bit. It's literally something they advertise. If it were an issue for them, they wouldn't include oil in the warranty. I mean they've done a very good job at covering their market. They've hooked me for life, along with many others. I will never buy a part anywhere else unless it's incredibly urgent, and that's what they bank on. They still make a profit (very much so btw) every year AND I have to this day not met a single person who dislikes them. I work part time at one of the big chain auto parts stores (college student lol) and the customer dissatisfaction is pretty much through the roof most of the time, parts are wrong, too expensive, cheap quality, the list keeps going. FCP has perfected the parts model imo.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by dmatre

Wondering why there's no option for 'whenever the CBS calls for it'?

Idk, never thought anyone would follow what the CBS says

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Idk, never thought anyone would follow what the CBS says

Lol, I do.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Lol, I do.

Yaaa, I know you do

Idk how you do it. I would start going crazy if I had to change my oil every 2 year or 15k miles

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Dave92N54

I do not feel bad about it one bit. It's literally something they advertise. If it were an issue for them, they wouldn't include oil in the warranty. I mean they've done a very good job at covering their market. They've hooked me for life, along with many others. I will never buy a part anywhere else unless it's incredibly urgent, and that's what they bank on. They still make a profit (very much so btw) every year AND I have to this day not met a single person who dislikes them. I work part time at one of the big chain auto parts stores (college student lol) and the customer dissatisfaction is pretty much through the roof most of the time, parts are wrong, too expensive, cheap quality, the list keeps going. FCP has perfected the parts model imo.

I ordered oil pan gasket and bolts and some other things for my project yesterday from FCP and they were here today, and this is with choosing the long estimate free shipping. Another large vendor lost me when after spending thousands with them they wouldn't waive shipping on a $3 bolt I forgot that would have fit in a envelope. I'd buy from them even without the oil warranty. I'll use the warranty tho

[Mark963]

Castrol 0W40 European at Wally World for around $22/gallon. I went 1.4 years, 4100 miles on the last interval and it was looking at lot better than the first change after I got the car. 1.5 years or 7000 miles - whichever comes first. Covid has dropped my yearly mileage.

I've used FCP customer service and they are good, but I do things just to buy into someone advertising plan. The cost of oil is so much less than what I spend on gas, it just doesn't matter to me.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Yaaa, I know you do

Idk how you do it. I would start going crazy if I had to change my oil every 2 year or 15k miles

The people who have convinced you long oil change intervals are bad are the same people who sell you oil and oil filters... Believe the science.

[Fritzer]

Every 4-5 months or 5,000 miles. 5W-40 Liqui Moly Molygen, Mann Oil Filter, LiquiMoly ProLine Engine Detergent. Purchased through FCPEuro.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

My 325 burns about a quart every 1000-1500 miles.

Dude, please do your head-gasket, or piston rings, or whatever! That consumption sucks!

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Dude, please do your head-gasket, or piston rings, or whatever! That consumption sucks!

How is that possible?

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

How is that possible?

What do you mean? I'm asking him, in semi-hyperbole, to take off his head, service the cylinders etc, in order to fix his consumption issues.

[Piano_Black]

Every 5k miles. How often are the air filter & cabin air filter supposed to be replaced? Every 2nd or 3rd oil change?

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by Piano_Black

Every 5k miles. How often are the air filter & cabin air filter supposed to be replaced? Every 2nd or 3rd oil change?

I just do it ever year. I drive like in the commercials. Its easy to do so I just do it. Cabin air filter helps out with smell kinda!

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Every 4-5 months or 5,000 miles. 5W-40 Liqui Moly Molygen, Mann Oil Filter, LiquiMoly ProLine Engine Detergent. Purchased through FCPEuro.

Proline engine flush?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

For the price of Rotella T6 ($20 a gallon)..I'm not messing around with sending used oil back for a refund. The hassle isn't worth the small savings.

But...if you want to mess with bottling up used oil, boxing it up, taking it to the UPS store or post office, paying to ship it back...more power to you.

My time is worth more to me.

I have five vehicles and drive around 40,000 - 45,000 per year. Even with long drain intervals, it's a lot of oil to drain and dispose of. What I do is keep a 55-gallon drum in the corner of my shop. I have a deal with a local independent auto parts/power equipment dealer who uses oil to heat his shop. He gave me the drum and I fill it up and bring it back. It takes about two and a half years of oil changes to fill the drum. I bought a drum lifting claw from Northern Tool, use my backhoe to lift the drum into my pickup and take it to his shop. He has a loader that takes the drum out of my pickup. Takes about 1 hour out of my life every two and a half years or so.

Definitely beats packing up 7 quarts of oil and taking it to UPS. I try to buy as many car/equipment parts as possible from him to keep the relationship healthy.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I have five vehicles and drive around 40,000 - 45,000 per year. Even with long drain intervals, it's a lot of oil to drain and dispose of. What I do is keep a 55-gallon drum in the corner of my shop. I have a deal with a local independent auto parts/power equipment dealer who uses oil to heat his shop. He gave me the drum and I fill it up and bring it back. It takes about two and a half years of oil changes to fill the drum. I bought a drum lifting claw from Northern Tool, use my backhoe to lift the drum into my pickup and take it to his shop. He has a loader that takes the drum out of my pickup. Takes about 1 hour out of my life every two and a half years or so.

Definitely beats packing up 7 quarts of oil and taking it to UPS. I try to buy as many car/equipment parts as possible from him to keep the relationship healthy.

I pour it into the fuel tank of my 7.3 IDI trucks, with their 21:1 compression they happily consider it fuel. Poof it's gone

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Dude, please do your head-gasket, or piston rings, or whatever! That consumption sucks!

If you have a brand new BMW they won't do shit unless it's worse than one quart per 750 miles. This car has 255K miles on it now. I don't know the maintenance history, but there's ZERO smoke and it runs perfectly fine.

I suspect it's either rings or valve guide seals. Until it fouls a cat or visibly smokes I'm not doing shit. $5 of oil every 1000-1500 is worth the convenience of not having to remove the head or block.

I also have a 330i with an N52 that has 140K miles. Zero oil consumption.

[Dave92N54]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

If you have a brand new BMW they won't do shit unless it's worse than one quart per 750 miles. This car has 255K miles on it now. I don't know the maintenance history, but there's ZERO smoke and it runs perfectly fine.

I suspect it's either rings or valve guide seals. Until it fouls a cat or visibly smokes I'm not doing shit. $5 of oil every 1000-1500 is worth the convenience of not having to remove the head or block.

I also have a 330i with an N52 that has 140K miles. Zero oil consumption.

Chances are you're not actually consuming it then, i'd guess it's pissing it all out. My old E53 (M54) would go through oil that quickly and it was a combo of multiple oil leaks and worn piston rings. Never left a drop on the ground but oh boy when I finally went to see how I was burning that much oil... well I wasn't, my entire engine bay and underside were covered. (safe to say I got to work on fixing that )

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

If you have a brand new BMW they won't do shit unless it's worse than one quart per 750 miles. This car has 255K miles on it now. I don't know the maintenance history, but there's ZERO smoke and it runs perfectly fine.

I suspect it's either rings or valve guide seals. Until it fouls a cat or visibly smokes I'm not doing shit. $5 of oil every 1000-1500 is worth the convenience of not having to remove the head or block.

I also have a 330i with an N52 that has 140K miles. Zero oil consumption.

I guess it makes sense on your beater. I just mentioned it because I've never had a stock BMW engine burn more than maybe 500mL/~10,000 miles or lower interval. Anything from a N55 to a M50. But if it's your beater and not neccessarily needed, might as well let it sit like you have decided until it becomes an issue. Personally for me, even if it was on my beater I would try to fix whatever the cause is ASAP. But that's just me....

Originally Posted by Dave92N54

Chances are you're not actually consuming it then, i'd guess it's pissing it all out.

lowryder seems pretty mechanically inclined from reading his posts for the last couple of days. I would be confident in his own assessment of it burning 1000-1500mL instead of leaking it. I'm sure he would notice if more than a liter was leaking from the engine in such a short time frame, especially if he does his own servicing etc.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Proline engine flush?

Yes, not the Ceratec oil additive. The engine flush. You could use Ceratec, but I never do. Liqui Moly generally has really good additives already integrated into their oils, especially in their products like Molygen which is what I use. Most of the time, any additives are not needed when using a Liqui Moly oil, I would say.

Right before you service the oil, put 1-2 cans of the Proline engine flush (should be 1.5ish, but two doesn't hurt, i do two) into the oil fill on top of the engine. Then drive the car just lightly around the neighborhood for about 10-15 minutes or just let the engine idle.

Then after the 10-15 minutes, do the oil service right away and drain the old stuff. In your scenario I would do it for the next 4 oil services, then every 4th oil service for the rest of your ownership. Then stick to the same weight/viscosity(I would also say brand because I'm a stickler) of oil from there on out.

Generally the engine flush product for Liquid Moly is for buildup after getting a car that hasn't been maintained properly, or if you are changing the type or specs of oil in your car. Their recommended interval for using it under normal conditions is about every 4th oil service I believe.