GM SAYS K&N FILTER WILL VOID WARRANTY?!?

[hodo78]

I took my 6 week old '04 silverado in for service today to get a rattle in the dash checked out. I was letting the shop manager drive my truck to see if he could pin point the noise. He mentioned he saw a K&N sticker laying in there. I told him yes, that I installed a K&N drop in filter a week after I got my truck as I had done with my last 4 vehicles. He then went on to tell that It would be a good idea to take it back out. And when I questioned why, he said that GM sent out a service bulletin that specified that a K&N filter would void any warranty claims done my GM. I did asked for a copy of the bulletin, and it doesnt actually say "K&n" on it, but does say any cotton oiled type drop in replacement will voide the warranty on any '04 GM vehicle. I called K&N after I left there and asked what was going on since there website says plain as day that there filters "will not void any factory warranty". The man I spoke with, a Mr. Jackson, said that they recieved a copy of this claim about the 3rd week of march. He said it is a legit "claim". But right now, that is all it is. He said that there legal dept and GM are in the middle of some kind of ordeal. He was nice enough to say he would let me know what happens one way or another. But he did mention of course that he doesnt really see GM's point on these claims and K&N is apparently going to try and prove them wrong!

BTW, I havent taken my filter out yet and dont plan on it until I here back from mr. jackson.

JUST THOUGHT ALL YOU GUYS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS INFO....

[fakerley]

I don't know why GM would say this or what is actually behind the issue but waiting for Mr. Jackson to call back may take along time if the lawyers are involved. You might consider putting the original filter back in there until the warranty runs out. Personally I wouldn't take the chance to give GM the oppertunity to void any warranty work that I MIGHT need on my new truck.

[thepolishmafia1337]

why not just keep the old filter and if you need to put the truck in the shop just swap the filters. how are they gonna know?? unless you put those obvious stickers on.

[hodo78]

Thanks for your replies guys. I really dont want to remove the k&n, since im getting around 1 mpg more on the highway with it. Doesnt seem like much but with the gas prices like they are, it adds up. K&n said that they should know something in about a week or so. maybe, maybe not.


On another note, I called the actual dealership where i purchased the truck which is about 45 miles from here. The head mechanic told me that he wouldnt void my warranty b/c of a k&n regardless of what gm says, lol. He said they premote putting a K&n in the trucks they said.

So this makes me feel better, now i just have to take my truck 45 miles to get it serviced, lol, instead of right down the road to my local dealer.

[desertmike1]

Guys,
I read a thread awhile back, and I don't remember were?
But the guys were discussing what can happen if you install a wetted filter on late model vehicles that have a (MAF) mass air flow sensor installed.
Basically inside the MAF there is a very fine (naked) wire that runs across the incoming air stream with a small amount of current flowing thru it, this value will change with differant air loads i.e idle verse full throttle. Any how K&N oil will coat this wire and inadvertently change those values that the PCM needs for fuel management.
Now I don't really know if this is Gosple or not, but the science seems pretty sound.

May want to do some more heavy research before just throwing Mods on your trucks, that may or may not cost you $$$ later on!

-Mike

[buttnekked]

for the oil in the filter to become atomized enough to interfer with wires in the maf it would have to be very thick on the filter. I would think with the literaly millions of these running around on cars that if this were a problem it would have been brought to light long before now. As far as the dealership and warranty work just put a wal-mart special in for those trips, similiar to restoring computer with hypertech before taking it in.

[Faze2183]

ford pulled that crap with a friend of mine, and since then he "cant or it'll void the warrnty"

just because of an k&n i think thats bs because ur spendin ur own earned money to improve ur car, where gm ford and etc throw crap in there and then when ur car breaks down because of that part then gm is happy because they get money....but when u improve something then it helps the costly figure of havin to replace it with cheapo where u buy a k&n or airaid or aem ur buyin it once so u pretty much get ur moneys worth

[jeverett]

I agree with the fella that said to keep both filters and swap before you take it in. I've installed the whole K&N cold air intake on mine..im SOL!! lol

Oh well..I also have no warranty left..

[tom3]

Note that most GM vehicles have a crankcase breather hose running to the airbox, bound to get some oil fumes from this. Not sold on the tee shirt soaked in ATF type air filter myself, but they sure seem to sell a lot of them. I'd hide that K&N sticker anyway.

[hodo78]

Thanks for all your thoughts guys.....

[ctimmons]

Basically see this link for K & N response. They say GM is full of SH??.

http://www.knfilters.com/warrantyletter.htm

[04BlackSilverado]

Keep us updated on the truth. I need to know cause I won't put one in unless it won't void my warranty.
P.S. I was talking to a local mechanic also a 04 Silverado owner says its the intake tube that will void it not the filter.
I don't know....
I WANT BOTH DAMMIT!