Santa Fe Transmission Fluid

I've no experience with ATF+4 in Hyundais. It's possible it'll be okay. Possibly not. Bottom line, it's not the specified fluid. Take it back and demand the shop flush the transmission with the correct fluid. If they won't, take it to the dealer and have it flushed with the correct fluid, even if you must pay for it. It won't be cheap, but it'll be far less expensive than paying for a transmission in the event Hyundai denies warranty coverage.

As mentioned in the recent XG thread, it's not abnormal for the fluid to turn brown after a relatively short amount of driving. Typically, it'll still be relatively transparent. If it's opaque or has a burnt odor, then it should be changed.

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Thank you very much. Hyundai gave me very confusing maintenance guide. User's manual suggests to go with month and milage whichever comes first, the online quick guide and Hyundai dealr service manager sugguest go with milage, especially for transmission fluid. If going with milage, it does not make sense to change transmission oil at 15k! that means I need to do that every 24 months! I drive my car to work, shop, church, and it is about 50% free way.

What is your opinion?

It really discourage me from buying Hyundai any more.

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The maintenance interval for transmission fluid in your owner's manual is guide you should follow. If you want to go exactly by the letter of the manual, you'll need to change it at 105,000 miles, or seven years, whichever comes first. You'll also need to replace the fluid if the required inspection at 30,000 miles (or two years) indicates it needs to be replaced.

My opinion, however, is there's no reason to change transmission fluid based on time. It should be based on mileage and condition. So I'd say if the condition hasn't warranted up to 105k, change it then.

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Quote: >You'll also need to replace the fluid if the

Question: Required inspection by Whom? Dealer or anyone.?

I had a very similar experience. I was at an independent auto shop getting their "free-checkup" . They told me that the traniie fluid was too dark and needed to be changed. I asked them what kind of fluid they would put in. They said a regular off-the-shelf fluid that had some special additive that made it suitable for the Hyundai trannie.

I reminded them what my owners manual stated in regard to SP-III. They told me that was it was a violation of the Moss-Magnusan Act for Hyundai to tell the owners that they cannot use the fluid they wanted to put in.

I left that shop and went to the Hyundai dealer parts department and purchased 5 quarts of SP-III. Brought it home, put a pan under the trannie, pulled the plug, drained the fluid. and put the 5 quarts back in.

That has been quite some time ago. More recently I was in the mountains and the trannie appeared to get overheated while going up some very steep upgrades. I let it cool down and after I got home I once again drained and added the 5 quarts of SP-III. Trannies are too expensive to be careless with their care.

Old_Timer

I was told that ATF+4 meets the SP III specifications, but Hyundai dealer and Consumer Affair said it is not compatible with ATF+4. They told me that the only compatible ones are those listed on the user's manual, that is their best knowledge.

Old Timer, how often you change your fluid? based on miles or months? Did you ever do a complete flush ever?

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I have 64000 miles on the car and have doen the drain five and add five 3 times. The last time ws solely becuase of overheating the trannis onthe mountain road climb. I could probalby avoided the overheat situtaion if I had put it into 2nd gear for the climb,

Old_Timer

Anyone. If you look at your owner's manual, you'll see an "I" at 30k for the transmissin fluid. This means it should be inspected, and if necessary, replaced. At 105k, you'll see an "R."

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I really don't know how much metalic debris I had on the first two times. I simply did not take notice. On the third, most recent, only a vey small amount of metalic debris.

Old_Timer

I had to replace the compression washer after about the 3rd drain and fill. No big deal, but a little panic mode adrenalin rush when I saw the pool of tranny fluid on the garage floor the next day. Just pick one up and be ready.

Dan

I think changing tranny fluid often on a highway driver is a bit of a scam. Go down to the barber shop and ask the guys you put zillions of miles on Electras, Fairlanes, Polaras, Cutlasses, Caprices etc how ofetn they changed their tranny fluid....betcha once in a 100k at best.........that being said I changed mine once in 62k on the sonata-obliged the dealer around 30k miles on his insistence. Of course, if fluid is burnt (why is that happening), change it. if you live atop Pikes peek, of tow a house trailer ymmv !

PS Why was OP vehicle in tranny shop at 15K?? Also, if a shop said my fluid looked bad at that mileage on a routine visit, I'd like to take a look and sniff myself.

The service was to comply with the maitenance requirements in the user's manual, 24 months or 30k whichever comes first. I only put 15k in 2 years. Some guys here do drain and fill in stead of flush, do not know if this practice is good enough.

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Drain and fill qualifies as "replacing transmission fluid."

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Did you get a chance to see/smell the fluid?? I've known guys of dubious character to wipe the dipstick with a dirty and rag and say "see, your fluid looks like heck". (same guys would rattle an empty bottle of drygas in the filler neck and say"you're all set mam, that'll be 4 bucks" ) Fox in charge of hen house kind of scenario. I do understand wanting to keep your warranty in good order, I just doubt the Actual Need for that frequency .

I got a qt. of transmission oil in case I needed to add some at my local auto parts store and they gave me Valvoline Mercon V full synthetic. Is the Hyundai transmission oil synthetic or a blend?

I suspect it's synthetic, but there's nothing that indicates, so I don't know. DO NOT use the Mercon V.

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Agree. Anything that says Dexron or Mercon should be avoided.

Mr. HyundaiTech, you and I have gone around a time or two about the compatibility of certain other fluids (like ATF+4). But those two fluids are the ones that my dealership also EXPRESSLY says you must stay away from.

Speaking of tranny fluid, Castrol has come out with a new set of "multi-vehicle transmission fluids." One of them is called "Import." It is the first fluid I have seen which is expressly labeled, "Approved for use in transmissions requiring Mitsubishi Diamond ATF SP, SPII, and SPIII." It also lists other import trannys and fluids.

It is apparently also being sold now under some store names. Any thoughts about this fluid, especially since the terms "Dexron" and "Mercon" are nowhere to be found on this fluid (though ATF+4 is)?

I've been using Amsoil's full synthetic for some time now. It's also Hyundia SPIII approved. I'm much more satisfied with it than the OEM fluid.