A. A few auto dealer service representatives might falsely claim that a filter other than “theirs” will “void the vehicle’s warranty.” That claim, however, is not true Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a vehicle manufacturer may not make its vehicle warranty conditional on the use of any one brand of filter, unless the manufacturer provides the filter free of charge.

If you want to pursue this a step further, ask your particular dealer’s service representative to provide you with their policy in writing. You won’t get it. There is absolutely no reason a consumer should feel uneasy about using a replacement oil or air filter that is not exactly the same as the manufacturer’s original equipment. The specifications used by major suppliers of oil and air filters, such as Fram, Purolater and Pennzoil, are every bit as good as original manufacturer’s specifications, if not better.