Santa Fe Owners-Change your transmission fluid!

[CKN]

So the wife's 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe w/the 3.3 and 6 speed has 43,000 miles on it and is coming up on four years of ownership. I noticed a degradation in the shifts of the transmission. I researched garages and found one - a garage/tire shop chain here in Utah that uses Valvoline Maxlife Transmission fluid. I made an appointment. After waiting an hour-the manager came out to apologize for the delay and said that are doing an additional cycle of fluid because the fluid was burnt and looked very poor. So my advice is to change the fluid out around 30,000 miles. It turns out the dealers recommend a 50,000 mile flush-and Hyundai says it's "lifetime". Which I guess means 100,000 miles-the length of the power train warranty!

It should be noted in this case the dealer recommendation is actually better for your vehicle than the manufacturer.

I didn't attempt this my self because it's simply awkward to perform service on this transmission in this particular vehicle.

 

[GR_CoB]

There was recently a couple threads about Santa Fe of that (3rd?) generation transmissions going out before the warranty period is over... I'm a used car kinda guy, so I guess I'll stay far from that one in the future.

Edit: If as posted below a DIY change is actually doable, then maybe change it every 2nd or 3rd oil change?

 

[nicholas]

It's not as bad......once you do it once you realize it's easier than an oil change.

I agree on the fluid change the OEM fluid is Dino and the Santa fe and other SUV's weight a lot.

A good syn like maxlife is key to a long atf life.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I think this is good advice for everyone.

 

[Jetronic]

So the wife's 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe w/the 3.3 and 6 speed has 43,000 miles on it and is coming up on four years of ownership. I noticed a degradation in the shifts of the transmission. I researched garages and found one - a garage/tire shop chain here in Utah that uses Valvoline Maxlife Transmission fluid. I made an appointment. After waiting an hour-the manager came out to apologize for the delay and said that are doing an additional cycle of fluid because the fluid was burnt and looked very poor. So my advice is to change the fluid out around 30,000 miles. It turns out the dealers recommend a 50,000 mile flush-and Hyundai says it's "lifetime". Which I guess means 100,000 miles-the length of the power train warranty!

It should be noted in this case the dealer recommendation is actually better for your vehicle than the manufacturer.

I didn't attempt this my self because it's simply awkward to perform service on this transmission in this particular vehicle.

Yes we did them every 60.000 km, they always came out burned and we had failures as low as 78.000 km....

 

[BMW Dom]

How is it shifting now, any better than before?

The more I read about Maxlife, the more confidence I have in it.

 

[oggb]

It has been my experience that both Hyundai SP-III and SP-IV/SPH-IV turn dark and foul smelling very quickly.

 

[The Critic]

Just remember that if the transmission fails, Hyundai is known to collect fluid samples to confirm that SPIV was in the transmission.

 

[CKN]

How is it shifting now, any better than before?

The more I read about Maxlife, the more confidence I have in it.

It is shifting better. It seems that those who use Maxlife-in any vehicle it's recommended for-says it works great.

 

[michaelluscher]

Just remember that if the transmission fails, Hyundai is known to collect fluid samples to confirm that SPIV was in the transmission.

That's a game changer right there

Are OEM Hyundai fluids particularly expensive?

I mean, I get Motorcraft Mercon V for $5 a qt or so, Toyota T-IV for $4.something at my local dealer

Even if Maxlife is superior, why not keep your warranty kosher

 

[CKN]

Just remember that if the transmission fails, Hyundai is known to collect fluid samples to confirm that SPIV was in the transmission.

Critic-while I appreciate your comment-you should know me well enough to know that I can fight and raise H*ll with the best of them. The specs of the Maxlife are very, very close to that of the OEM fluid.

 

[CKN]

That's a game changer right there

Are OEM Hyundai fluids particularly expensive?

I mean, I get Motorcraft Mercon V for $5 a qt or so, Toyota T-IV for $4.something at my local dealer

Even if Maxlife is superior, why not keep your warranty kosher

The 6 speed doesn't seem to be problematic-as long as maintenance is done. The car will be traded in-right before the warranty is up-either by time or miles.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

All Hyundai’s burn up some transmission fluid, at least around here in the dc-metro area. I’d pull a dipstick at a 10-15k oil change and the fluid would be dark brown and smell…although Hyundai stated brown fluid doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to service it.

 

[CKN]

All Hyundai’s burn up some transmission fluid, at least around here in the dc-metro area. I’d pull a dipstick at a 10-15k oil change and the fluid would be dark brown and smell…although Hyundai stated brown fluid doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to service it.

That maybe-but as I mentioned-it wasn't shifting as it was when new. That was my clue.

 

[MolaKule]

Critic-while I appreciate your comment-you should know me well enough to know that I can fight and raise H*ll with the best of them. The specs of the Maxlife are very, very close to that of the OEM fluid.

Does Hyundai do an $800 forensics analysis? I doubt it.

 

[Rand]

Whats the procedure? I thought most hyundais had drain plugs?

I was actually at the hyundai dealer picking up the 2010 accent a few years ago(exhaust bracket fell off) and the service advisor next to me was denying a transmission repair for non-oem fluid.

 

[SatinSilver]

Do any other fluids need changing like the differential/transfer case etc.? Sounds like a good shop changed the atf.

 

[CKN]

Whats the procedure? I thought most hyundais had drain plugs?

Yes but to fill it back up-there is a fill hole under neath and a "over flow indicator" hole. OR you disassemble the air cleaner housing-and there is a breather hole you can use. The car has to be on jacks (perfectly level). You can't get underneath it to perform the work (in your own garage) otherwise. Of course-the place I used had pits.

 

[Jetronic]

Do any other fluids need changing like the differential/transfer case etc.? Sounds like a good shop changed the atf.

yes they do, if it's AWD

 

[CKN]

Do any other fluids need changing like the differential/transfer case etc.? Sounds like a good shop changed the atf.

Yes-I think there is some fluid in the AWD "box" that can be changed in the rear of the vehicle. Yes-it's a small family owned tire/garage shop that has a few locations. Each brother of the family runs a store.

The system uses electronic sensors and microcomputer controls to sense slippage in a vehicle's front wheels and automatically transfers power to the rear wheels. Then, when the front wheels are no longer slipping, the system reduces or eliminates power to the rear wheels.

I think Hyundai has about 3 or 4 different AWD systems depending on year, model, etc. Of course, the Genesis line gets the best one!