g2020
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
This post is a reference document for my post on Links to Prices.
Warranty as a Decision Factor
For the engine air filter, I have changed my preference from K&N to a paper filter because the K&N warranty does not cover damage to other parts.
For coolant, PEAK Purple is my top pick, but ZEREX G30 might displace MOPAR as my second preference if I can find the G30 concentrate online. The PEAK and ZEREX coolant warranties are structured differently, but both cover damage to other parts. The PEAK warranty is longer, but it is limited to the cooling system only. The ZEREX warranty is shorter, but it is a make-it-right (my words) warranty. Both warranties exclude off-road vehicle use.
Simple Warranty
In May 2026, I added a special designation, or badge, called "Simple warranty" to Links to Prices. It means that the language used in the warranty is clear. After reviewing dozens of warranties hundreds of times, I noticed something different about the ROYAL PURPLE warranty:
Of course, a warranty is just a piece of paper, or a statement, until a claim is paid. However, every other warranty that I have seen, including the MOPAR warranty, contains the word "abuse" or similar exclusionary & ambiguous language. Abuse can have a broad interpretation.
In 2025, I called Valvoline to ask them whether off-road use is excluded from the warranty on XEREX G30. I was hopeful because the XEREX warranty is even shorter than the ROYAL purple warranty, and "abuse" is not used in their warranty statement. Instead, they use "...operated within the limits of...." However, the Valvoline phone representative gave me the bad news: Off-road use is not covered by the XEREX warranty.
This does not mean that warranties such as those provided by major players, such as XEREX and Mobil 1, are less valuable to the customer. It just means that the ROYAL PURPLE warranty, by avoiding that one word, is clearer.
ATF for the Automatic Transmission - After the Powertrain Warranty Expires
If you use your vehicle as a daily driver, never take it off-road, and never do any trailer towing, it will be a while (93,000 miles, or maybe a bit sooner) before you need to do an automatic transmission service. The dealer calls this ATF a "lifetime fluid", but it will need to be changed at some point. Just not as soon or as often as it's done on vehicles that hit the trail every weekend.
I am not taking a position on which ATF for the automatic transmission to use, for DIY, after the power train warranty expires. An argument can be made to use 1) a ZF-approved equivalent (including MOPAR) with no warranty coverage of damage to other parts, or 2) an aftermarket ATF with warranty coverage of damage to other parts (AMSOIL, ROYAL PURPLE, or Valvoline). If you use an aftermarket fluid, I recommend that you use one that has this warranty coverage, and have the old & new fluids tested by a lab. If possible, the testing should be performed by the same lab that the manufacturer of the new fluid uses. The lab results on your ATF can serve as crucial evidence in case of a warranty claim.
The warranty on MOPAR parts installed by an FCA/Jeep dealer covers damage to other parts for 24 months.
MOPAR
While the Mopar Basic Limited Warranty covers damage to other parts if the covered part is installed by a dealer, it does not provide the same coverage for a DIY installation; also see the summary of MOPAR warranty limitations in the last section of my post on Key Info
Limits: 24 months (unless owner's manual specifies a shorter service interval)
1. Warranties on Fluids and Filters by Application
- In general, only warranties with coverage of damage to other parts, for DIY installation, are shown
- Within each section, the hyperlinks to the warranties are listed twice (horizontally and vertically)
FRAM
FRAM
2. References
3. Other Posts by the Same Gladiator Owner
- This post does not address the 3/36 Bumper-to-Bumper or 5/60 Powertrain warranties
- This post lists warranties with coverage of damage to other parts, on parts listed in my post on Links to Prices
- MOPAR is not mentioned in every case because guidance, for warranty coverage of damage to other parts, is the same for every part; see section on MOPAR below
Warranty as a Decision Factor
For the engine air filter, I have changed my preference from K&N to a paper filter because the K&N warranty does not cover damage to other parts.
For coolant, PEAK Purple is my top pick, but ZEREX G30 might displace MOPAR as my second preference if I can find the G30 concentrate online. The PEAK and ZEREX coolant warranties are structured differently, but both cover damage to other parts. The PEAK warranty is longer, but it is limited to the cooling system only. The ZEREX warranty is shorter, but it is a make-it-right (my words) warranty. Both warranties exclude off-road vehicle use.
Simple Warranty
In May 2026, I added a special designation, or badge, called "Simple warranty" to Links to Prices. It means that the language used in the warranty is clear. After reviewing dozens of warranties hundreds of times, I noticed something different about the ROYAL PURPLE warranty:
The ROYAL PURPLE Limited Warranty for Consumer Lubricants does not contain the word "abuse" or any wording that has a similar meaning (excludes racing/commercial/ag)
- Note: In my opinion, proving that a vehicle has been "reasonably maintained", as stated in this warranty, is a clear requirement. Keep records including invoices, receipts, and date/mileage/location of service.
Of course, a warranty is just a piece of paper, or a statement, until a claim is paid. However, every other warranty that I have seen, including the MOPAR warranty, contains the word "abuse" or similar exclusionary & ambiguous language. Abuse can have a broad interpretation.
In 2025, I called Valvoline to ask them whether off-road use is excluded from the warranty on XEREX G30. I was hopeful because the XEREX warranty is even shorter than the ROYAL purple warranty, and "abuse" is not used in their warranty statement. Instead, they use "...operated within the limits of...." However, the Valvoline phone representative gave me the bad news: Off-road use is not covered by the XEREX warranty.
This does not mean that warranties such as those provided by major players, such as XEREX and Mobil 1, are less valuable to the customer. It just means that the ROYAL PURPLE warranty, by avoiding that one word, is clearer.
ATF for the Automatic Transmission - After the Powertrain Warranty Expires
If you use your vehicle as a daily driver, never take it off-road, and never do any trailer towing, it will be a while (93,000 miles, or maybe a bit sooner) before you need to do an automatic transmission service. The dealer calls this ATF a "lifetime fluid", but it will need to be changed at some point. Just not as soon or as often as it's done on vehicles that hit the trail every weekend.
I am not taking a position on which ATF for the automatic transmission to use, for DIY, after the power train warranty expires. An argument can be made to use 1) a ZF-approved equivalent (including MOPAR) with no warranty coverage of damage to other parts, or 2) an aftermarket ATF with warranty coverage of damage to other parts (AMSOIL, ROYAL PURPLE, or Valvoline). If you use an aftermarket fluid, I recommend that you use one that has this warranty coverage, and have the old & new fluids tested by a lab. If possible, the testing should be performed by the same lab that the manufacturer of the new fluid uses. The lab results on your ATF can serve as crucial evidence in case of a warranty claim.
The warranty on MOPAR parts installed by an FCA/Jeep dealer covers damage to other parts for 24 months.
MOPAR
While the Mopar Basic Limited Warranty covers damage to other parts if the covered part is installed by a dealer, it does not provide the same coverage for a DIY installation; also see the summary of MOPAR warranty limitations in the last section of my post on Key Info
Limits: 24 months (unless owner's manual specifies a shorter service interval)
1. Warranties on Fluids and Filters by Application
- In general, only warranties with coverage of damage to other parts, for DIY installation, are shown
- Exception: MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF; damage to other parts is covered only when installed by a dealer
- For product details, see the matching section in Links to Prices (for example, Section 1.1 below aligns with Section 1.1 in Links to Prices )- Within each section, the hyperlinks to the warranties are listed twice (horizontally and vertically)
- Some warranties, that do not cover damage to other parts for a specific application, are included on the (detailed) vertical list to explain that, in writing, they do not cover damage to other parts for the specific application
1.1 Brake Fluid
Warranty on damage to other parts: AMSOIL
1.2 Cabin Air Filter
Warranty on damage to other parts: No aftermarket Cabin Air Filter options investigated
No aftermarket Cabin Air Filter options investigated
1.3 Differential Fluid
AMSOIL (same link as PDS below)
PDS (severe service life of 50K miles, including off-road and trailer towing)
Warranty (general lubricant warranty)
Limit: "critical engine parts lubricated by the lubricant"
CAUTION: This Mobil 1 warranty covers damage to other "critical engine parts", but a reasonable interpretation of "engine parts" does not include the differential
Limit: "engine part"; this is the lubricant warranty, provided by Walmart, for Super Tech gear lubricant
CAUTION: This Walmart Super Tech warranty covers damage to other parts, but only for the engine
1.4 Engine Air Filter
Notice: FRAM websites have been taken down. First Brands, the parent company of FRAM, is bankrupt as of September 2025. In this post, references to the FRAM engine air filter and oil filter, for the Jeep Gladiator, are shown in strike-through font. According to a Reddit post, this has also affected Champion Laboratories.
NAPA
WIX
1.5 Motor Oil
Warranty on damage to other parts: AMSOIL, Mobil 1 EP, Pennzoil Platinum & Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, ROYAL PURPLE, Valvoline
Additional warranty coverage: AMSOIL PDS (same link as AMSOIL above, and PDS below)
Special warranty requirements: Pennzoil first-use requirement (same link as Pennzoil above, and exclusive usage warranty below)
AMSOIL (same link as PDS below)
PDS (severe service life of up to 15K miles or one year, whichever comes first, including off-road and trailer towing; use of proper AMSOIL oil filter required; not API Certified)
Warranty (general lubricant warranty)
Pennzoil Platinum (same link as exclusive usage warranty below)
Label (guarantee of 15,000 miles (or 1 year, whichever comes first) printed on label; enrollment required)
Exclusive usage warranty (when first used before 125,000 miles and 72 months)
Additional limits: $5,000 max liability when first use occurs before 75,000 miles, and $2,500 max liability when first use occurs between 75,001 miles and 125,000 miles; up to 15 years / 500,000 miles, whichever comes first; enrollment, purchase receipts, engine/emissions service receipts, and annual reporting required; other conditions apply; excludes Severe Duty
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum (same link as exclusive usage warranty below)
Label (guarantee of 20,000 miles (or 1 year, whichever comes first) printed on label; enrollment required)
Exclusive usage warranty (when first used before 125,000 miles and 72 months)
Additional Limits: $5,000 max liability when first use occurs before 75,000 miles, and $2,500 max liability when first use occurs between 75,001 miles and 125,000 miles; lifetime of vehicle; enrollment, purchase receipts, engine/emissions service receipts, and annual reporting required; other conditions apply; excludes Severe Duty
1.6 Oil Filter
NAPA
WIX
1.7 Power Steering Fluid
Warranty on damage to other parts: AMSOIL
1.8 Radiator Fluid
Warranty on damage to other parts: PEAK Purple, Prestone Platinum Purple & Prestone Max Purple, ZEREX G30
Note: Warranty statement with $1,500 limit on cooling system is accessible through owi.com (dated 2023-01-31), but does not specify PEAK Purple coolant
Limits: 15Y / 350K mi; cooling system only, $1,000 max liability, off-road use excluded
Note: Compatible with OAT, but not specifically compliant with MS.90032 or MS-12106
Limits: 5Y / 150K mi; make-it-right warranty; off-road use excluded (confirmed by email with Valvoline Product Support)
1.9 Transfer Case Fluid
1.10.1 ATF Equivalents for AUTOMATIC Transmission
ZF-approved equivalents:
Warranty on damage to other parts: MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF, only when installed by a dealer (damage to other parts is not covered for DIY jobs)
Note: As a dealer service using a MOPAR part, the duration of the warranty is 24 months
Aftermarket options:
Warranty on damage to other parts: AMSOIL SS FE ATF, ROYAL PURPLE MAX ATF, Valvoline EP ATF & Valvoline MAXLIFE MV ATF
Note: According to a knowledgeable member of this forum, the additive package in AMSOIL SS FE ATF is closer (than that of Valvoline MAXLIFE MV ATF) to the additive package used in MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF; there are technical advantages to continuing to use MOPAR 8 & 9 Speed ATF, or a ZF-approved equivalent, even though warranty coverage, for DIY jobs, is limited to product replacement
1.10.2 ATF for MANUAL Transmission
1.11 Transmission Oil Filter
Warranty on damage to other parts: No aftermarket Transmission Oil Filter options
No aftermarket Transmission Oil Filter options
2. References
The URLs for the links in this post are included in the References section of Links to Prices
Note: In case of conflict, warranty guidance in this post supersedes warranty guidance in all of my other posts
3. Other Posts by the Same Gladiator Owner
This post is a collection of links to my articles on fluids & filters for a Jeep Gladiator
Sponsored
Last edited:
