Hyundai Forums banner

New Car Oil Change - Confussion

2.9K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  ADIBIGS  
#1 ·
I have a new Sonata that has 2,500 miles on it.. We are heading out on a long trip this weekend (4,000 miles).. and I took it in to get the oil changed (not a dealer).. They told me that I should be "Good" with the breakin oil until 5 or 6 K miles... so change it when I get back.. I called the dealer and they said really makes no difference..??? . Any opinions on this? I am tempted to just get it changed to get the original oil along with any mfg particles out of the engine...
 
#4 ·
The oil is good for 7,500 miles for normal driving conditions. However if it was my car i would only take it to a Hyundai dealer and let them change it before your trip. I have learned with passed Hyundai's to befriend the service department and that way if say ummm at 60,500 miles your power window goes out they might be more inclined to help get it fixed or not charge you as much since you have giving them your business since day one. I change my oil at 4,000 miles. And did that with my 06 since i bought it and put 123,000 miles on it and never used a drop of oil.
 
#5 ·
Originally posted by dd716ted@Oct 23 2008, 01:04 PM
They told me that I should be "Good" with the breakin oil until 5 or 6 K miles...
[snapback]198070[/snapback]​

i actually disagree with this.. the first oil change should be the shortest interval.. from what I have been told by a few people in the past, all of the impurities in the new engine usually make their way into the oil when the car is new...

i would suggest having it changed before you drive another 4k miles... better safe than sorry for $25-$30....
 
#6 ·
Does any of the severe driving conditions apply to you?

If No:
Change your oil now with Mobil1 Synthetic Extended Mileage and continue every six months or 7500 miles

If Yes:
Change your oil now with Mobil1 Synthetic and continue every three months or 3000 miles.

Make sure you use ONLY the recommended grade. I think for 09 it is 5W-20 for both i4 and v6, 5W-30 if 5W-20 not available.
 
#7 ·
Originally posted by spex@Oct 23 2008, 02:16 PM


If No:
Change your oil now with Mobil1 Synthetic Extended Mileage and continue every six months or 7500 miles

If Yes:
Change your oil now with Mobil1 Synthetic and continue every three months or 3000 miles.


[snapback]198085[/snapback]​

why on EARTH would someone switch to Synthetic and still use the normal "dino" intervals? part of the draw for Synthetic is for LONGER intervals
 
#8 ·
I guess I'm of a different opinion when I say you should keep the factory oil in there for the full recommended interval. In this case, changing after the trip.

The oil is not going to break down or burn off or get too "dirty" because the engine is new... the old adage that the first oil change should be sooner because of the "manufacturing wear products" and other nasties doesn't really apply anymore. In fact, there are so few contaminants in your engine at its birth that the oil should, in theory, last longer.

That being said, I can't come up for a good reason NOT to change it if you really want to, but I also don't see a reason to change it now when you'll want to change it immediately after your trip. Hyundai recommends 7500 mile oil change intervals under normal conditions. Consider this also:

A 4000 mile trip (provided not all mountain driving) would be a less stressful experience on your engine than 4000 miles of local driving. A warm, happy engine at highway speeds for the majority of 4000 miles, or a mixture of cold and warm city/highway driving for 4000 miles?

I vote to change it after. :57:
 
#9 ·
Originally posted by ddix1026@Oct 23 2008, 01:31 PM
why on EARTH would someone switch to Synthetic and still use the normal "dino" intervals?  part of the draw for Synthetic is for LONGER intervals
[snapback]198089[/snapback]​


Because, if the driving conditions have any elements of "severe driving conditions" as laid out by Hyundai in the owner's manual, you have to change oil every 3000 miles, synthetic or not. So, it is really to keep your warranty intact.
 
#10 ·
Originally posted by spex@Oct 23 2008, 03:12 PM
Because, if the driving conditions have any elements of "severe driving conditions" as laid out by Hyundai in the owner's manual, you have to change oil every 3000 miles, synthetic or not. So, it is really to keep your warranty intact.
[snapback]198098[/snapback]​

then why use Synthetic at all? if you change it at the same intervals, using Synthetic's advantage is virtually annulled... the car wont perform better with Synthetic Oil or upgraded gas or anything.. the longevity of Synthetic is its main draw...

spend $50 on Synthetic oil change every 3 months or spend $25 on dino oil change every 3 months... hmm.. choice is pretty easy for me...

if i were to use Synth, I would certainly pus it longer... (for my particular driving pattern, I could conceivably go 8k-10k miles with Synth as I get my dino changed in between 4k-5k)
 
#11 ·
If you think that "the longevity of Synthetic is its main draw", in my opinion you are mistaken. Synthetic oil offers better thermal protection than conventional oil and also prevents deposits better than conventional oil. Conventional oil also is more prone to thickening, which reduces engine efficiency.
 
#12 ·
Originally posted by ddix1026@Oct 23 2008, 02:24 PM
if i were to use Synth, I would certainly pus it longer...  (for my particular driving pattern, I could conceivably go 8k-10k miles with Synth as I get my dino changed in between 4k-5k)
[snapback]198101[/snapback]​


No one is saying that you couldn't go longer with Synthetic. As a matter of fact, the Extended mileage ones from Mobil says it's good for up to 15,000 miles.
But that's not the point. If there is anything wrong with the engine and you tell Hyundai kept your oil longer than you should have (according to manual), you are going to have a fight.

I have both a 2005 Elantra and a 2006 Sonata. Guess what? The Sonata has even tighter restrictions on what is considered to be "severe driving condition". For example, driving in areas where they use road salt or extreme cold are NOT severe driving condition for Elantra, but they are for the Sonata.

They changed the "definition" of severe driving condition for legitimate reason and they are aware of it. That's why it is not advisable that you go past the recommended oil change interval.
 
#13 ·
well, to be fair, i drive in decidedly NOT severe conditions (95% highway, not typically too hot or too cold, paved roads, high miles each trip) and i dont push my changes past 5k miles.. but im using dino oil... if i switched to Synth, I would certainly take ot to the 7,500 mile limit.. my warranty is up in a little less than 12k miles, so i might push it further AFTER that... (i only have the 5/60 warranty - i bought used)

i just dont really see the point in putting Synth in for regular 3k or 4k changes.. dino doesnt break down that fast...

but hey, to each their own.. :57:
 
#15 ·
I would change the oil before the trip for these reasons:
1: Hyundai requires proof of the oil being changed every 3000 miles (+/- 900)
2: They (Hyundai) will not give ANY leway from recommended services if there is a problem needing warrenty work performed in the future.
3: Hyundai Will skimp out of paying a bill and/or repairs anyway they can, don't give them an excuse not to give you a decent warrenty.

Follow the recommended services in your owners manual, follow it to the letter.
 
#16 ·
Originally posted by dcjwlee@Oct 23 2008, 05:34 PM
I would change it just cause you don't know how long that car was sitting on a lot until you got it......

3000mi or 3 months, whichever comes sooner.
[snapback]198164[/snapback]​


Good point Willayy!. But as just mentioned I think it is only every 3000 Miles

with no specific time requirement. I know we have read otherwise, but many

Dealers go with the 3000 Mile schedule.
 
#17 ·
Originally posted by lecatpuke@Oct 23 2008, 02:57 PM

The oil is not going to break down or burn off or get too "dirty" because the engine is new... the old adage that the first oil change should be sooner because of the "manufacturing wear products" and other nasties doesn't really apply anymore.  In fact, there are so few contaminants in your engine at its birth that the oil should, in theory, last longer.

[snapback]198095[/snapback]​
Did you do your own oil change for the first change or did dealer do it? How many on "new" engines have you done?

I did on my Sonata, my Sequoia, and my Corolla within the first couple hundred miles and about 4 times before 2,000 miles on each. I also used (still do) a Filtermag on the oil filter to catch more of the micro metallic particles that will stick. That said I can tell you that the first change on each contained the most metallic stuff stuck to the inside of the filter housing, yes each one gets cut open with a filter cutter that slices like a pipe cutter and does not add extra metal filing like a hacksaw would. Each change after that had less material stuck to it and now has minimal but there is always some.

First oil out from each you could see the reflection of a lot of metallic stuff. If it was a color it would Hyundai silver/bronze/copper sparkle 5W-20. After a couple changes it does go away to just plain Hyundai 5W-20 (or in my case Mobil1 or Penzoil Platinum 5W-20).

The first couple changes were just plain dino as it was a few hundred miles only (but did contain a lot of "glitter" each time)

My vote change before you go and after you get back. Also pending where you are going could effect product choice. mainly base on if you are driving into colder temps for that startup protection. I.e 31 degrees here on the way to work tonight on Long Island but Fairbanks Alaska will be -6 (yup negative) on Monday low temp while Disney World will be almost 80 degrees during the day. Synthetic flows easier at cold temps.
 
#19 ·
I do an oil/filter change on new cars at fairly low mileages (<1500 miles) because:

1. It's not that expensive - I do the jobs myself.

2. You have no knowledge whatsoever as to what the factory oil is - except you can bet it is the cheapest stuff known to mankind.

3. I am a firm believer in synthetics and getting them in the engine fairly soon. Since I do my own work, I then know exactly what is in the engine.

4. Who knows?? Maybe a new engine does produce some crud at break-in.

5. I learn how to do the oil/filter change on the new car. And you may get a little surprise. When I did a filter change on a new Taurus, the filter was on so tight that I had to use the biggest channelock pliers that I had to get it out. Why?? The factory filter gasket was obviously never lubed and the filter was torqued on by an idiot.
 
#20 ·
Originally posted by kn5owa@Oct 24 2008, 05:01 PM

2.  You have no knowledge whatsoever as to what the factory oil is - except you can bet it is the cheapest stuff known to mankind.

[snapback]198319[/snapback]​


When I first got my Sonata it got the "new car stink" so bad that I thought it was burning oil.
 
#23 ·
I havent heard of the manufactures using break in oil for some time now - the newer engines and oil grades are far better then ever , any new vehicle i have the oil is dropped at 1,000 miles.

yes the new sonatas do use 5w-20 for the engines to work best ,

any brand conventional oil of 5w-20 is more then plenty most people feel more secure with synthetic oils because of their praising. synthetic oils do not last longer and i dont believe they should be left in any longer then base stock oils. i always stick with the 3,000 mile rule you will never have a sludge problem if you keep to it.

i did notice the new owner manuals stating hyundai recommends quaker state for their vehicles - hyundai had done my first oil change and i noticed the tech using valvoline i brought it to their attention and the serv. depart nor the tech had any clue of what i was talking about - typical they purchased the oil at a good price.

i used pennzoil platinum myself with an oem filter , i dont think i will use it again the car is leased and it was more a test to see if there was any difference in performance.