Chevrolet Silverado Owner Says,”My Chevy Dealer Is Trying To Sell Me Snake Oil, Said If I Buy This Oil Additive They Will Warranty My Engine For Life”

Is a Chevrolet dealer trying to pull a fast one on a 2024 Chevy Silverado owner? Are they selling "snake oil"?

Imagine pulling your Silverado pickup into the service drive of your local Chevrolet dealer for a routine oil change. 

The service advisor greets you and asks, "What can I help you with today?" 

"I have an appointment to get my oil changed," you say.

"Okay, let me get your vehicle information, and we will get you taken care of."

After entering your Silverado's vehicle information into his computer with a few keystrokes, he says, Will you be using synthetic or regular oil today?"

"I only use synthetic oil in my truck," you say with conviction.  

"Okay, I see in our records that you change your oil every 5,000 miles and take good care of your truck. You could go 7,500 without a problem," he says.

You say, "No, I'm good with 5,000; I want my truck to last." 

"Great, no problem. Let me tell you about a new program we are offering all our Silverado customers."

"If we install this BG MOA oil additive in your truck, and you use it in every oil change and have us do your oil changes, they will warranty your truck's engine for the life of the vehicle," the service advisor proposes.

"How much extra does that cost?" you ask

"It's $20.00 if you have us put it in for you at every oil change,' he says.

"That's a lot of money for a can of oil additive. I've seen it at the parts store for $9.95. "Is this stuff legit?” you ask. "It sounds like snake oil to me."

"No, it's legitimate. We have been selling it in our service department for quite a while now."

"I'm not sure if I need it, you say with a wary eye. "Just give me the standard synthetic oil change. I think I'll pass."

"Okay," he says, "But it will protect your engine."  

Pat Dincher says this on the Chevrolet Silverado Owner's Facebook page. 

"My local Chevy dealership keeps trying to sell me on this stuff. I think it’s snake oil. They said, if I use the BG oil additive product and use it every time they change the oil, there will be a warranty for the life of the engine."

This was in response to Paul Zambello's Facebook post saying he uses it all the time.

Is This a Legitimate Product?

Paul says, "Yes, they cover engines and transmissions. We use BG at my work. There's some stuff on the market that's snake oil, but I do believe in the MOA and 44K products."

David Gaither - "That's what I have, and yeah, I use it. I've known the BG rep for 11 years. I trust him, and I like the stuff."

What Does BG Say About Its Warranty?

The BG website says, "Routine maintenance with BG products extends the life of your customers' vehicles and instills trust in your shop."

"We're so confident in the quality of BG that we back our automotive maintenance services with lifetime vehicle coverage."

"The complimentary Lifetime BG Protection Plan covers seven major systems: fuel, engine, transmission, driveline, cooling, power steering, and brakes."

They are confident in their product. 

The company, located in Wichita, Kansas, offers up to $4,000 in coverage for the vehicle's engine if your car or truck has less than 50,000 miles on it. For vehicles with over 50,000 miles, they cover $2,000 in engine coverage. 

However, that would not come close to replacing a new engine in the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado.

The website goes on to say, "The coverage lasts for the life of the vehicle, and it's transferable if you want to sell."

"For qualified vehicles, to maintain the lifetime protection, all you have to do is keep coming back to your Chevrolet service department for routine BG maintenance."

However, not all Silverado owners are sold on it.

Ryan Egstad - "How long have you been using this oil and additive together? The reason I ask is that some additives are incompatible with the engine oil's additive package. Oil Geek has an excellent video on it."

David Eldridge - "Make sure you get the warranty in writing and make sure you keep your receipts. If you miss one oil change, the whole thing is void."

Read the Fine Print

The BG website says, "Failure to furnish all necessary records will render this Plan null and void."

"Vehicle repairs included in an NHTSA or manufacturer-issued recall, TSB, or vehicles with known manufacturer issues will not be covered by this Plan."

Well, that last one will exclude many newer Silverado trucks. 

GM recalled nearly 600,000 trucks and SUVs due to potential engine failure.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models with the 6.2-liter V8 engine are included in the massive recall. General Motors issued the recall for specific 2021-2024 models of the Silverado 1500, as well as other GM trucks and SUVs, due to a manufacturing defect in the connecting rod and/or crankshaft components. 

So, there you go. 

The BG warranty would be null and void for a Chevy Silverado or any vehicle if it were under an engine recall. 

Joe Modz, a Reddit user, says his car dealer added the BG MOA and didn't even ask if he wanted it.

"I checked the line items from my wife's most recent oil change done at Fox Subaru in Macomb, MI, and they added BG MOA oil conditioner for $28.38. It wasn't a "Hey, do you want this?" It was part of the default service. This is a scammy up-charge.”

Conclusion:

Note: It's important to know that the service advisor and the technician both get a "spiff" or commission for every can of BG product or service that they sell. This could influence their recommendation, so it's important to consider this when making your decision. 

Because there are financial incentives in place for dealership staff to sell BG products, these incentives can be a factor in the dealership's employees’ recommendations provided to customers. 

How About You?

Would you buy an oil additive if, by using it in every dealer oil change, your engine would be warranted for life? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know what you think.

Check out my 2025 Chevrolet Silverado story:

I Bought a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss in March, and This Thing Is a Piece of Work. I’ve Never Had This Many Problems With a Truck in Such a Short Time

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl