Santa Fe Transmission Fluid

Hi, Hyundai Tech,

I have a 2006 Santa Fe. my local shop found that my transmission fluid is
in dark brown color and had burn smell though there is only 15k miles,
then they changed the transmission fluid 3 days ago, but they used ATF+4,
they said it is compatible with SPIII.

After search this forum, I am concerned about it, Some recommend to use
OEM type fluid, while others said it is okay to use ATF+4 which is a more
advanced product.

In your opinion, is it okay? or should I have it re-flushed with SPIII?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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."

 

Hi Group,
I have the XG300 (2001) with 122,000 km (about 80,000 mi) & I too have
changed fluid 3 times, the last being fairly recent. I do the change per HMA
directions for this model (i.e. take off the tranny return line & crank it
at the end until it bubbles -takes 7 + litres this way). That said I drive
quite steep mountain roads (10% grades) all the time & sometimes pull a
small trailer. The new fluid may stay the same colour for quite a while &
suddenly go dark. Like Hyundaitech says this is not necessarily something to
worry about unless it's burnt -should have an odour to it then. I suspect
that heat is what darkens the fluid especially on a hot summer day when
you're cranking up those kind of grades. I have always used the Hyundai auto
tranny fluid which used to be SPII but is now SPIII. Unless I get a burned
odour I plan to keep that fluid for about 60,000 km. One other thing I have
done to reassure me all is well is to pull the drain plug when cold, hold my
finger over the drain & examine how much metallic debris is attached to said
magnetic plug. First time there was an amount about equal to the end of my
thumb (from the bottom of the thumbnail). Last time quite a bit less, so I
think I'll monitor it once a year like this b/c I don't even loose a 1/4 L
with this check. Any feed back on checking this way??
BCinBC

 

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 !

< flame suit on :>) >

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.

 

Drain and fill qualifies as "replacing transmission fluid."

 

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.

 

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.