It's time for another oil change. I have almost 20,000 on the odometer, and both time-wise (3-months) and mileage-wise (3,000) since my last oil change --- I'm due for another oil change shortly. This morning I checked the oil, and it's right at the level it was when new, and the color is almost as clear as new....

....What am I to learn from this, that I can still drive another 2-3,000 miles and/or wait another 2-3 months?

Mama, i have been through this same thing. I got my first 2 oil changes closer to 3k miles, and the oil looked like it hadnt even been used.. i now go in between 4k and 5k before i change mine, with dino oil... (still works out to be about 3 months or so since i drive 365 miles per week).. last time, i got it changed it at 4,800 miles and i asked the guy, he said the oil still looked good... im not gonna push mine longer than that unless i switch to synth oil (i might in the future)... i could actually go 6k-7k with dino without changing it since im all highway....

So the best indication is the COLOR of the oil, right? Which makes sense to me.... Like checking the color (and the SMELL) of your transmission fluid....

well, no, the best indication is to get it tested after you get it changed, but short of that, if it still looks good after 3k miles, then its probably a good indication that it could be pushed a little further

Actually color is not the "BEST" indication of oil quality, but it is ONE indication you can use. The best indication is to have your oil analyzed on a regular basis to determine it's quality over time. Multiple analysis' will prove if your oil is capable of being used over longer intervals. And once you have a pattern established, many often do extend drain intervals.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

or for a more detailed explanation of an oil analysis...
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/whatisoilanalysis.htm

Hello, mama.

You know you still have warranty, so the most judicious thing to do is to follow Hyundai's recommended intervals. :grin: :grin: :grin: ^_^
If the oil is pitch black, then you know you have passed the draining interval, but the oil analysis is a good way to start.

The Hyundai engines run very clean and burn almost no oil - in my experience.

So, if the oil is clear (mine always is) - the oil might be bad - this corresponds with the school of thought that the color of the oil is only one indicator.

BUT, if the oil is dirty looking - then I would change it in a hurry - along with filter. I would not continue to use dirty looking oil in the Hyundai no matter what any test said.

As an aside, the price of dino oil is up to about 1/2 the price of Mobil One in my area - so why not switch to synthetic anyway?

I don't feel like spending time and money on oil analysis....

kn5owa, the oil after 3,000 miles looks clear but of course, a bit tainted, almost like new transmission fluid.... I know what dirty oil looks like, I used to have the oil changed on my old Buick and it always came out BLACK.

Following Hyundai's recommended intervals, well we all know that interval is ranging between 3,000 and 7,500....

I guess I'll wait another month or two.

My oil goes in almost clear (Valvoline) and comes out after 3,000 miles amber, but still clear. It doesn't use a drop, and since oil is so cheap, I'll keep changing it every 3,000 miles, which is about every 8-10 weeks for me. I have almost 10,000 miles on the V6 now. I think since our engines run so lean, there is almost no deposits being dumped into the oil.

This post has been edited by boehmb: Sep 3 2008, 05:28 PM

Before you decide to save a few bucks and not change your oil at the recommended interval, read the post about the guy whose engine blew up at 30,000 miles and Hyundai may deny his warranty claim because he can't prove he followed the recommended oil change interval. If your driving fits into Hyundai's requirements for 3,000 mile oil changes, then to keep your warranty intact you should change the oil at 3,000 miles regardless of how the oil looks.

the other guy cant PROVE he changed the oil because he save no real reeipts and never kept a log.. Hyundai actually recommends 7,500 miles except in extreme driving conditions... Mama waiting until 4k or 5k still works within the recommended interval

plus, Mama can prove when he gets it done... big difference...

A quick google search reveals this is a highly debated topic. Dig this:

The 3000 Mile Myth



The 3000 mile oil change interval has been pounded into people's heads for decades. It had a scientific basis when engines used non-multi-weight, non-detergent oil. It no longer has any scientific basis, but it is still being promoted by certain entities, most notably the oil change industry in the United States. This myth is also sometimes known as the "Cheap Insurance Myth."




The 3000 Mile Fact



There are still vehicles that need 3K oil changes, but it's not because the oil goes bad after 3K miles. One example is the Saturn S series. These vehicles have a timing chain system that is very sensitive to clean oil because oil pressure is used as hydraulic fluid to ratchet up the timing chain tensioner. If varnish forms in the timing chain tensioner bore then this system can fail and the chain will become loose and eventually break. Dealers have gone as far as tearing out the normal service schedule (6000 miles) and leaving only the severe service schedule. If your engine is destroyed (under warranty) by a failed timing chain then the dealer will legitimately request evidence of oil changes. Unfortunately this problem usually won't manifest itself during the warranty period.



The Dark Oil Myth


Dark oil does not indicate the need for an oil change. The way modern detergent motor oil works is that minute particles of soot are suspended in the oil. These minute particles pose no danger to your engine, but they cause the oil to darken. A non-detergent oil would stay clearer than a detergent oil because all the soot would be left on the internal engine parts and would create sludge. If you never changed your oil, eventually the oil would no longer be able to suspend any more particles in the oil and sludge would form. Fortunately, by following the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval, you are changing your oil long before the oil has become saturated. Remember, a good oil should get dirty as it does it's work cleaning out the engine. The dispersant should stop all the gunk from depositing in the oil pan.

The only real way to determine whether oil is truly in need of changing is to have an oil analysis performed. Since most people don't want to bother with this, it's acceptable to err heavily on the safe side and simply follow the manufacturer's recommended change interval for severe service. There are still a few cars that specify 3K intervals for severe service, but not many. If you look at countries other than the U.S., the oil recommended change interval is much higher than even the normal interval specified by vehicle manufacturers in the U.S.



I'm no expert, but agree with the statement that the only real way to tell if the oil is in need of changing is via an analysis. Time, mileage and colour really can't give you a good picture.

pukey or not....3k says it's time for a change. Tests and such be dam ' d. :amen:

Yes you can drive another 2-3000 miles. Regardless of what everyone thinks the age of your oil will not cause your engine to throw a rod.

With that said a considerable lack of oil, unfavorable tolerances in the engine oil pump, defective factory installed connecting rod bearings, and abusive high engine rpm for an extended period will all overheat the rod bearings and cause a premature failure.

The one instance that comes to mind are the BMW M3 E46 engines. The admission by BMW that the factory connecting rod bearings needed to be replaced and that the owner should not operate the engine over 5500 rpm due to overheating of the rod bearings. See link below.

http://www.yoy.com/yoy/auto/m3_failwhat.shtml

As I mentioned in another post, Honda has added a Maintenance Minder system which tells you when to change you oil and how much of a percentage you have left. Hyundai really needs to incorporate this into their new model cars. When you have a range from 3000-7000 miles in your owner's manual who is to say you fall under severe or normal conditions. I tend to believe that if you live in the city, in the desert or a tundra to fall into the extreme category. With that said, the rest of us fall into the normal category.

On my sister's last oil change it went 7600 miles. While the Maintenance Minder is based off of Dino oil, I use synthetic as it's only $10 more for the jug.

With that said I used Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my sister's 99 Elantra and changed the oil every 5k miles. It had no issues up to 120k miles when the transmission blew out. She dumped the car as it needed a new transmission and a timing belt. I'm still disappointed that the transmission went at that time.

So this morning I checked both my Sonata and my wife's V6 Accord ('05, which does not have the Maintenance Minder, which came only in the next model year).

Both cars had an oil change 3 months ago, same day, same Shell station. Both got the same exact oil. I have 3,000 miles accumulated since, while she has only 1,000 accumulated.... She drives mostly around the neighborhood suburbs, her work is like 2 miles away...

The Accord's oil looked definitely DARKER than mine. Maybe a V6 gets the oil dirtier, I don't know, but what I DO know, is that her driving I define as SEVERE, and that's why I do take extra care to have the oil changed every 3, sometimes 4 months, even though mileage-wise she's far from the 3,000 intervals.

I change my oil every 7,500 miles or six months whichever comes first.