8-Speed Transmission Flush

[Benhur]

Hello, our '12 Genesis 3.8 Sedan has about 71K on the odometer and I would like to flush and fill the transmission fluid. To be on the safe side, I'd like to follow the severe service interval of 60K miles. Anybody has done this yet? What fluid meets the OEM specs. ? Thanks in advance for all your input!

 

[homeofstone]

I have a drain and refill done on my 2011 every 50,000 or so. Just had my 3rd one done along with a new Pan/filter. Cost is about 600.00 which is high but about right for a Luxury car. I don't have info on the 8 speed. Mine is the zf transmission and the fluid is expensive and is not available at parts stores like Autozone. Also it is a sealed transmission, no dip stick.

 

[amartz]

I think the 8-speed uses a so-called life-time fluid, I don't believe that Hyundai calls for a 60k flush. I'd check with my service writer on this one.

 

[Mark_888]

Hello, our '12 Genesis 3.8 Sedan has about 71K on the odometer and I would like to flush and fill the transmission fluid. To be on the safe side, I'd like to follow the severe service interval of 60K miles. Anybody has done this yet? What fluid meets the OEM specs. ? Thanks in advance for all your input!

Be careful about which fluid you use. I would recommend the OEM fluid from a Hyundai dealer. There is more than one type of synthetic fluid and using the wrong one can cause problems. The MSRP of a new transmission is $8,400.

 

[jglenn21]

on my 2014 they list a fluid change at 60,000 under heavy service..

 

[homeofstone]

Be careful about which fluid you use. I would recommend the OEM fluid from a Hyundai dealer. There is more than one type of synthetic fluid and using the wrong one can cause problems. The MSRP of a new transmission is $8,400.

+1 ... and there is no such thing as lifetime fluid unless the life expectancy is about 100,000 miles. I have also had bad advice from service writers and service managers that have not been trained properly and/or just really want to wait until a transmission fails then charge you for the new transmission.

 

[Benhur]

Hey guys. Thank you very much again for chiming in! I have decided to postpone this work to next spring. We are already dipping into 30s here in MN and we have bunch of other things on the pre-winter list to do (e.g. seal the deck, prep snow blower, prep motorcycles etc. etc. )
As some of you mentioned this sealed tranny has a supposedly lifetime fluid. But I wanted to be on the safe side and stick to a regular maintenance interval.

I did some research in the meantime as well. I'm more of a DIY kind of guy on a budget. So, sounds like my route will be using Valvoline Import or Maxlife Synthetic which meet Hyundai specs. I will drain as much as I can and refill. Since this is a partial drain. I might do it every 30K or so. I will keep you posted how things go!

All the best!

 

[homeofstone]

Hey guys. Thank you very much again for chiming in! I have decided to postpone this work to next spring. We are already dipping into 30s here in MN and we have bunch of other things on the pre-winter list to do (e.g. seal the deck, prep snow blower, prep motorcycles etc. etc. )
As some of you mentioned this sealed tranny has a supposedly lifetime fluid. But I wanted to be on the safe side and stick to a regular maintenance interval.

I did some research in the meantime as well. I'm more of a DIY kind of guy on a budget. So, sounds like my route will be using Valvoline Import or Maxlife Synthetic which meet Hyundai specs. I will drain as much as I can and refill. Since this is a partial drain. I might do it every 30K or so. I will keep you posted how things go!

All the best!

Make sure it meets specs for the exact transmission you have. Hyundai has used at least three different transmission fluids in the last five years. An 8 speed transmission is very very expensive to replace ($7000.00 to $8000.00 for the transmission plus labor).

 

[srobak]

I think the 8-speed uses a so-called life-time fluid, I don't believe that Hyundai calls for a 60k flush.

As some of you mentioned this sealed tranny has a supposedly lifetime fluid. But I wanted to be on the safe side and stick to a regular maintenance interval.

Even though Hyundai claims it is a "lifetime transmission fluid" - you'd be best served to change it out anyway as there is no such thing. ALL lubricant - no matter how heavy duty it is - breaks down, loses viscosity and suffers from the effects of heat. Hyundai says "lifetime" because to them a lifetime is 100k - the length of the powertrain warranty. Even that is pushing it, honestly.

I wouldn't run it more than 50k before doing so. Unfortunately without a complete trans removal you can only do 5 of 11 quarts at a time. "Draining" - and even dropping the pan does not empty out the whole system - including the valves, gear train and torque converter. For that - I'd recommend you change it 3 times. Drain & fill 5 qts, drive for an hour, drain and fill again, drive, drain and fill. Make sure the car is level (jack stands up front, floor jack on the rear diff in the back). Will cost you about $100 in fluid and 5 hours of your time - but you only need 2 wrenches, a screwdriver and a drain pan to do it. Better than having a dealer replacing your trans if you don't need it (yet).

and there is no such thing as lifetime fluid unless the life expectancy is about 100,000 miles. [They] just really want to wait until a transmission fails then charge you for the new transmission.

This. Thank you If folks take care of their Gennys they will last well past the "lifetime" that Hyundai expects them to.

 

[jglenn21]

I'd also Highly recommend you look at adding lubeguard when you change it...

I've had 3 different trannies( not Hyundai yet ) make it over 300,000 changing the fluid and using Lubeguard.

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[Ambush]

Very interesting as I am in the same boat. I am almost at 63k miles on my 12'. My last oil change, the dealer recommended their tranny fluid exchange for $600. A machine sucks out the old and replaces with conditioners and new tranny fluid.
Does that sound right?

 

[srobak]

My last oil change, the dealer recommended their tranny fluid exchange for $600. A machine sucks out the old and replaces with conditioners and new tranny fluid.
Does that sound right?

*coughs*

Goddamn that is steep. Seriously. Maybe that's the new normal... and if so I need to change careers.

While an evacuator will get MORE fluid out - it will not get ALL of the fluid out. It simply cannot be done unless/until the car is run through gears and the torque converter is in motion. That being said - a lot of that fluid cannot be displaced (read: sent back to the pan) until there is new fluid being pushed in there to move it further down the line. Trying to suck it dry with the machine while doing the above will result in a shot trans and is not an action that any shop would ever do.

I have heard of a different kind of flush system that supplies fresh fluid while evacuating the old and being run through the gears - but those are bloody expensive machines and I have seen them few and far between. They are non-existent in every Hyundai, Honda and BMW shop I have ever set foot in. Most actual trans shops would opt to remove the trans, I think.

If you are ok with the cost - then go ahead.... but again - don't think you are getting a really thorough change - or a more thorough one than if you did it yourself... especially if you did it 3x.

 

[homeofstone]

*coughs*

Goddamn that is steep. Seriously. Maybe that's the new normal... and if so I need to change careers.

While an evacuator will get MORE fluid out - it will not get ALL of the fluid out. It simply cannot be done unless/until the car is run through gears and the torque converter is in motion. That being said - a lot of that fluid cannot be displaced (read: sent back to the pan) until there is new fluid being pushed in there to move it further down the line. Trying to suck it dry with the machine while doing the above will result in a shot trans and is not an action that any shop would ever do.

I have heard of a different kind of flush system that supplies fresh fluid while evacuating the old and being run through the gears - but those are bloody expensive machines and I have seen them few and far between. They are non-existent in every Hyundai, Honda and BMW shop I have ever set foot in. Most actual trans shops would opt to remove the trans, I think.

If you are ok with the cost - then go ahead.... but again - don't think you are getting a really thorough change - or a more thorough one than if you did it yourself... especially if you did it 3x.

My last fluid change was 1100.00 however transmissions cost 12k to 18k these days.

 

[srobak]

My last fluid change was 1100.00 however transmissions cost 12k to 18k these days.

Was this on the Ferrari? Because if it was on the Genny - someone was lying to you - badly. And you got taken to the cleaners.

 

[homeofstone]

Was this on the Ferrari? Because if it was on the Genny - someone was lying to you - badly. And you got taken to the cleaners.

This included a new pan/filter which I requested. The filter is integrated in the pan of the ZF transmission and with over 160k on it I wanted a new pan/filter.

 

[srobak]

ah ok.... that's a bit different, then.

 

[Ambush]

OMG! I just saw $1100 and just fainted.
Well that is Hyundai's price. Would a speedshop be a bad place to take it?
I see them with Genny coupes modding and tuning all of the time. They have to be cheaper than that. I know I have to pay to play but if their service is not getting all the gunk out what it is the purpose ya know?

Just wondering.

 

[homeofstone]

OMG! I just saw $1100 and just fainted.
Well that is Hyundai's price. Would a speedshop be a bad place to take it?
I see them with Genny coupes modding and tuning all of the time. They have to be cheaper than that. I know I have to pay to play but if their service is not getting all the gunk out what it is the purpose ya know?

Just wondering.

That price included a new pan/filter otherwise its just a fluid change and the old filter remains in the ZF transmission. Its the only time I have paid that much and it was at my request. I don't like to keep a dirty transmission filter when the car has over 160k miles. You should be able to get a change for lass than $600.00.

 

[Benhur]

FYI: I just got the official letter from Valvoline that their lube is in Hyundai spec:

Ben, thank you for contacting Valvoline for your automatic transmission fluid application.

For your 2012 Hyundai Genesis application, we recommend the use of our Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF product to meet the SP-IV RR specifications recommended by your manufacturer. This product is 100% compatible for mixture or replacement in your vehicle and will not void any new car warranties.

Additionally, attached to this email, you will find a copy of the official letter listing all of the specifications our MaxLife ATF will cover.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via email or by phone at 800 TEAM VAL. Thank you once again for contacting Valvoline Product Support and have a great day.

Dave
Valvoline Product Support


Thank you,



Valvoline Product Support

 

[Benhur]

I couldn't figure out a way to place the attached doc here. But this is fantastic news!