Recommended servicing on my Elantra 2003 GLS seems dubious

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Victek

I have a little more then 95k on my 2003 Elantra GLS (manual 5 speed) and
took it in for an oil change and tire rotation recently. The shop came back
with the following:


The power steering fluid is "dirty" and needs to be flushed = $55

Fuel system is dirty and need to be cleaned = $80 (but they won't do the
filter)

Oil system cleaning was recommended at next oil change = $36

Coolant system flush = $75


The only thing that sounds reasonable is the coolant, which I can do myself.
Googling this NG brings up a thread from 2006 where the majority declared
these extra services as unnecessary. I'm disappointed as until now this
shop has not tried to play this kind of game with me - perhaps the bad
economy is making them desperate. On the other hand three years have
passed, so perhaps something has changed...?
 
Victek said:
I have a little more then 95k on my 2003 Elantra GLS (manual 5 speed) and
took it in for an oil change and tire rotation recently. The shop came
back with the following:


The power steering fluid is "dirty" and needs to be flushed = $55

Fuel system is dirty and need to be cleaned = $80 (but they won't do the
filter)

Oil system cleaning was recommended at next oil change = $36

Coolant system flush = $75


The only thing that sounds reasonable is the coolant, which I can do
myself. Googling this NG brings up a thread from 2006 where the majority
declared these extra services as unnecessary. I'm disappointed as until
now this shop has not tried to play this kind of game with me - perhaps
the bad economy is making them desperate. On the other hand three years
have passed, so perhaps something has changed...?
Click to expand...

Sounds more like a wallet cleaning to me. Coolant, yes. I've never changed
PS fluid in cars with 200K miles, nor the other two services. What is
entailed in cleaning the oil system? That is a new one to me.
 
I have a little more then 95k on my 2003 Elantra GLS (manual 5 speed) and
Sounds more like a wallet cleaning to me. Coolant, yes. I've never
changed PS fluid in cars with 200K miles, nor the other two services.
What is entailed in cleaning the oil system? That is a new one to me.
Click to expand...
Their "oil system cleaning" involves draining the oil, pouring in some kind
of additive and running the engine briefly. Then they drain it and add new
oil and filter - sounds right up there with Marvel Mystery Oil.
 
Victek said:
Their "oil system cleaning" involves draining the oil, pouring in some
kind of additive and running the engine briefly. Then they drain it and
add new oil and filter - sounds right up there with Marvel Mystery Oil.
Click to expand...

That made sense in 1959, but not so much today.
 
|I have a little more then 95k on my 2003 Elantra GLS (manual 5 speed) and
| took it in for an oil change and tire rotation recently. The shop came
back
| with the following:
|
|
| The power steering fluid is "dirty" and needs to be flushed = $55
bogus!
|
| Fuel system is dirty and need to be cleaned = $80 (but they won't do the
| filter)
Bogus. But do the filter.
|
| Oil system cleaning was recommended at next oil change = $36
Bogus as long as you've been using a good oil and changing within the
guidelines. My shop that I usually trust tried to convince me that I needed
an oil change because the oil was "very dirty" but I argued with them since
I change it myself, use a good synthetic and it had been done 5 mos./ 3K
miles previously. The oiul is dirty because it's doing its job.

| Coolant system flush = $75
|
|
| The only thing that sounds reasonable is the coolant, which I can do
myself.
Yeah but to do it right is a pain.

| Googling this NG brings up a thread from 2006 where the majority declared
| these extra services as unnecessary. I'm disappointed as until now this
| shop has not tried to play this kind of game with me - perhaps the bad
| economy is making them desperate. On the other hand three years have
| passed, so perhaps something has changed...?
|
I'm surprised they didn't suggest a brake fluid flush which is actually a
good thing to do every 3-4 years.
 
I have a little more then 95k on my 2003 Elantra GLS (manual 5 speed) and
took it in for an oil change and tire rotation recently.  The shop cameback
with the following:

The power steering fluid is "dirty" and needs to be flushed = $55

Fuel system is dirty and need to be cleaned = $80 (but they won't do the
filter)

Oil system cleaning was recommended at next oil change = $36

Coolant system flush = $75

The only thing that sounds reasonable is the coolant, which I can do myself.
Googling this NG brings up a thread from 2006 where the majority declared
these extra services as unnecessary.  I'm disappointed as until now this
shop has not tried to play this kind of game with me - perhaps the bad
economy is making them desperate.  On the other hand three years have
passed, so perhaps something has changed...?
Click to expand...

BS. Nearly all of it.

I've never flushed the power steering fluid in any of my cars. Ever.
And I've never had to replace a pump due to failure, either. There
are some older GM products that had steering rack issues that would
somewhat abate with a flush. Power steering systems on '01 to '06
Elantras are very reliable with the possible exception of the leaks
from the hoses, and a flush won't affect that.

My experience is that most fuel system cleaners pushed today are very
ineffective at cleaning anything. If there are no issues with
misfires or anything else related to the fuel system, there's no
reason to do a cleaning.

If you've changed the oil at the proper interval and used the proper
oil, there's no reason you should need a crankcase cleaning. Oils
that meet Hyundai's specifications for this car have additives that
help prevent them from prematurely sludging. Unless the shop has a
crystal ball (or you need the service now), there's no way they'd know
you'll need it at the next oil change. Additionally, I've seen none
of these products that actually do a good job of cleaning the sludge
out of an engine.

Coolant flush could be on point. Hyundai recommends servicing the
coolant every 2 years/30k miles. I don't see where mileage plays any
significant part of coolant degradation, so I just recommend a coolant
service every 2 years.
 
I have a little more then 95k on my 2003 Elantra GLS (manual 5 speed) and
BS. Nearly all of it.

I've never flushed the power steering fluid in any of my cars. Ever.
And I've never had to replace a pump due to failure, either. There
are some older GM products that had steering rack issues that would
somewhat abate with a flush. Power steering systems on '01 to '06
Elantras are very reliable with the possible exception of the leaks
from the hoses, and a flush won't affect that.

My experience is that most fuel system cleaners pushed today are very
ineffective at cleaning anything. If there are no issues with
misfires or anything else related to the fuel system, there's no
reason to do a cleaning.

If you've changed the oil at the proper interval and used the proper
oil, there's no reason you should need a crankcase cleaning. Oils
that meet Hyundai's specifications for this car have additives that
help prevent them from prematurely sludging. Unless the shop has a
crystal ball (or you need the service now), there's no way they'd know
you'll need it at the next oil change. Additionally, I've seen none
of these products that actually do a good job of cleaning the sludge
out of an engine.

Coolant flush could be on point. Hyundai recommends servicing the
coolant every 2 years/30k miles. I don't see where mileage plays any
significant part of coolant degradation, so I just recommend a coolant
service every 2 years.
Click to expand...
..
Thanks to everyone who responded and confirmed what maintenance is and is
not worth doing!
 
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