Changing Oil in New Hyundai With Lo Milieage

What does the owners manual say? It may be different from US. I always like to get the oil out of a new engine much quicker than I would later. No telling what may be left in pan/engine after assembly. Looking at the dip stick only tells you how much oil is in the pan. Nothing about the oil itself.

There are many schools of though on this. Driving conditions are important as well as actual miles. It is probably cold where you live too so a mid-winter change may be a good idea. I'd probably go in February. Check the manual to be sure what they say.

First, keep in mind an oil change is about $25 to $40. Doing this a couple of times a year is cheap insurance. On a new car, I'd say twice a year minimum. Once you hit the end of the warranty, a little longer is not so bad.

Short trips are hard on oil, even if it looks clean. You don't burn off the contaminants like you would on a 20 or 50 mile trip.

In any case, be sure to ask about a discount. My dealer does the first oil change for free, then he gives me a $5 coupon for the next one. While you don't have to go to the dealer, for the first check or two, it is a good idea as they will usually do a safety check and look for any problems that may have come up on the new car.

Also, I'd avoid the big chains as most have poor reputations. Use the dealer or find a good local shop.

Ed,

Did you read in Sunday's Courant about the elderly lady here in CT that went to a chain for a $35 oil change and left with an $800+ service charge?

Yes, someone should go to jail.

Many of these lube places try to sell you transmission flushes, power steering flushes, and stuff you don't need. Some have been found to charge and do nothing.

When I lived in PA, your car had to go through inspection twice a year. Typical brakes, lights, ball joints, etc. It was a money maker for the garages that did it.

Some places would sell you work not needed but that the average person had no idea how to check, such as ball joints, drag link bushings and brake pads.

Other shops got you for little things. I took three cars in the same day to one shop and each needed a headlight adjustment for $2 (this was the 1960's) so you paid it and did not complain as the crapmobiles we drove back then really did need major work to really pass.

Other shops just took you money and did nothing internal. They just checked lights that could be spotted by a state inspector watching the place.

The potential for fraud is incredibly high in the auto repair business. If you have a good honest shop, keep them and pay promptly for a fair price. There are some really good ones out there.

Many thanks for your excellent replies, gentlemen. They are very helpful.

Regarding the owners manual, mine (2003 Elantra GLS) says replace the oil and filter every 7,500 miles unless the car is driven under "severe usage conditions", in which case every 3,000 miles. It goes on to list examples of severe usage conditions, but unless it's very obvious - for instance you drive on dusty, unpaved roads or tow a trailer - you're left making a judgment call. I used to think that the color of the oil was some indication - brown equal oxidation/contamination? - but I've heard that isn't reliable either. The oil changing industry treats "every 3,000 miles" as if it was gospel, but really it's just the shortest interval they can get away with recommending. What I've been doing is splitting the difference and having it done every 5,000 miles since it coincides with having my tires rotated. The car still runs well at 145k. As to the OP's question I would agree that the "first" oil change should be thought of differently and done sooner rather than later. Is there a real possibility that new engines can have fine metal particles circulating in the oil as a result of assembly? Who knows.

The 3000 miles probably goes back to the 1950's or so when that would be a good interval. As you note, 7500 is common today and I've used that for year with no problems. I do a fair amount of highway driving and my commute to work is 24 miles of easy driving.

I rotate tires at 10,000 miles though, or a bit more. I drive about

That goes back to older engines too when the first change was something like 1000 miles. I'd still err on the light side myself. Cheap enough to avoid the risk.

On every new car that i have purchased, I have done the first oil change wi= th filter at 2,000 miles ... then in accordance with the MFG'r Recommendat= ion. I feel the very first oil change is a critical one with the break-in= of the engine to remove any particulates that are in the oils circulation.=