See my sig.
I'm a newly minted synthetic (specifically Amsoil) guy. I'd like to think that I know a lot about the subject, but I really do not. I did a lot of reading, though (mostly on car forums like this all over the place) and believe I made an informed choice. I've always said, if you don't have an informed opinion about something and want to form one quickly, take random samples from as many enthusiasts from as many different places as possible, and use that as your baseline. That's what I did.
Whether or not synthetic oil is really worthwhile in this day and age, and specifically, in this car, is certainly debatable. Sure, there are stress tests that indicate it's superiority in some fundamental areas (moreso for some than others), but most of those circumstances are only likely to occur in abnormal operating conditions for average drivers, the benefits may not truly prove cost-effective over time.
For me, the choice to use Amsoil in the Genesis (over stock anything) basically comes down to two main factors. #1. I plan to keep the car a long time; the benefits are more likely to manifest themselves at high mileage. #2. I believe engine oil is fundamentally very important in the smooth operation of the machine as a whole, and the piece of mind that I'm using very good oil is worth the increased cost to me. Another minor point is that I am likely to do significant cold winter driving in this car during it's lifetime (for various reasons), and I know how difficult it can be for a high mileage vehicle to turn over in the morning, in the dead of winter, up north, with "lesser" oil.
As for miles between oil changes... I'll be sticking to the 7500 mi Hyundai warranty limit. I'll go into the dealer every 5000-7500 mi (hopefully not more often) and get the whole deal done -- general inspection and maintenance as well as a change of oil, of my choosing.
I know there are synthetic oils that can hold up to 25000+ mi of regular driving between changes, and I think that those brands willing to stand behind products under those kinds of conditions must manufacture very good oil. I don't
need that kind of oil. Still, I'm happy to spend a slight premium on oil that may or may not be overkill. If nothing else, the Tau deserves some pampering.
