Sounds Fishy to me, but what do I know

[MadMingus]

Hey guys -

I'm in Florida and just took my Genesis in for it's first service and checkup. Coming from Hondas & Toyotas with 7,500 regularly scheduled maintenance intervals, I've always changed at or around 5k, and have never had any issues. Put 261k on the 4Runner, and 212k on the Pilot with no issues. My question is this, when I bought the Genesis (5.0 Tech) the sales douche told me 7,500k intervals, as does the manual. Now the stealership is trying to tell me that Florida is, as defined by Hyundai USA, a "severe" climate, and regular maintenance intervals should be done at 3k, or void my warranty... I'm a little perplexed, and I doubt they can void my written warranty, however, I am skeptical of them making any issues that may arise, challenging to resolve. Anyone else in Florida (or other "severe" climate states hear anything like this from their stealerships?? Thanks in advance for the feedback.

 

[kn5owa]

Obvious bunk - this sort of obvious nonsense is actually useful - it tells you to go elsewhere post haste ----

Kind of like hanging a neon sign out that they are crooks and/or fools.

I use to have a nice condo in Punta Gorda - climate nothing really unusual.

 

[AustinTX]

Hey guys -

I'm in Florida and just took my Genesis in for it's first service and checkup. Coming from Hondas & Toyotas with 7,500 regularly scheduled maintenance intervals, I've always changed at or around 5k, and have never had any issues. Put 261k on the 4Runner, and 212k on the Pilot with no issues. My question is this, when I bought the Genesis (5.0 Tech) the sales douche told me 7,500k intervals, as does the manual. Now the stealership is trying to tell me that Florida is, as defined by Hyundai USA, a "severe" climate, and regular maintenance intervals should be done at 3k, or void my warranty... I'm a little perplexed, and I doubt they can void my written warranty, however, I am skeptical of them making any issues that may arise, challenging to resolve. Anyone else in Florida (or other "severe" climate states hear anything like this from their stealerships?? Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Report this dealership to Hyundai and put the name of the dealership in this thread so people can avoid them. 3k oil changes? DO we live in the 60's?

I refuse to do business with people who try to scare me into wasting money for their benefit. That's what this dealership is clearly doing. Crooks!!!

 

[Mark_888]

Follow the owners manual and ignore the "stealership." If you are uncomfortable with them hassling you, use another dealer. Warranty and maintenance service can be performed at any USA Hyundai dealer.

Personally, I am a big believer in synthetic oil, but I do my own oil changes and therefore the extra cost is negligible. Some dealers will allow you to bring your own oil and get a discount of the oil change, but there is always the question of whether or not they actually use it (by mistake or on purpose).

 

[LincolntoHyundai]

However, from the manual:
Follow Normal Maintenance
Schedule if the vehicle is usually
operated where none of the following
conditions apply. If any of the following
conditions apply, you must follow
the Maintenance Under Severe
Usage Conditions.
• Repeated short distance driving.
• Driving in dusty conditions or
sandy areas.
• Extensive use of brakes.
• Driving in areas where salt or other
corrosive materials are used.
• Driving on rough or muddy roads.
• Driving in mountainous areas.
• Extended periods of idling or low
speed operation.
• Driving for a prolonged period in
cold temperatures and/or extremely
humid climates.
• More than 50% driving in heavy
city traffic during hot weather
above 90°F (32°C).
For additional information or assistance
see your authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.

I'm from Connecticut and Florida is definitely hot and humid to me so based on the manual it appears Florida owners must follow a maintenance program for "Severe" conditions. You may disagree with Hyundai's definition, but there is a basis for the dealer's statement.

 

[losboricua]

Just do your normal maintenance and don't take it to the stealership. I do my own and I change my oil about every 5500 miles with Mobil1 Extended Performance because it gives me a piece of mind because I know GDI engine dirty the oil quicker. I still buy my filter from the dealership for $9 and then buy jugs of Mobil 1 Extended Performance from Walmart for $27 a 5 quart jug.

 

[RickA1]

However, from the manual:
Follow Normal Maintenance
Schedule if the vehicle is usually
operated where none of the following
conditions apply. If any of the following
conditions apply, you must follow
the Maintenance Under Severe
Usage Conditions.
• Repeated short distance driving.
• Driving in dusty conditions or
sandy areas.
• Extensive use of brakes.
• Driving in areas where salt or other
corrosive materials are used.
• Driving on rough or muddy roads.
• Driving in mountainous areas.
• Extended periods of idling or low
speed operation.
• Driving for a prolonged period in
cold temperatures and/or extremely
humid climates.
• More than 50% driving in heavy
city traffic during hot weather
above 90°F (32°C).
For additional information or assistance
see your authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.

I'm from Connecticut and Florida is definitely hot and humid to me so based on the manual it appears Florida owners must follow a maintenance program for "Severe" conditions. You may disagree with Hyundai's definition, but there is a basis for the dealer's statement.

Interesting. I admit I have not read the manual......but based on this 80% of the drivers in US (And maybe 100% in Canada) should follow severe maintenance plan. Salt in the north, humid in the south, and most everywhere else there will be mountains, traffic....and...use of brakes???

I also wonder what salt and use of brakes has to do with the oil change interval.....

 

[chris41]

Sounds like your dealer is using regular motor oil and not synthetic. Synthetic gives you at least 5k mile oil changes and certainly double that depending on your level of comfort.

I remember when I bought a KIA several years ago (Hyundai's brother), the dealer told me that KIA never required anything specific like at least synthetic blend, so he told me just to use regular dino oil. But the severe maintenance required no more than 3700 miles between oil changes.

I don't think anyone on here would use anything less than synthetic blend, and most of us will use synthetic.

 

[MikeyTG]

However, from the manual:
Follow Normal Maintenance
Schedule if the vehicle is usually
operated where none of the following
conditions apply. If any of the following
conditions apply, you must follow
the Maintenance Under Severe
Usage Conditions.
• Repeated short distance driving.
• Driving in dusty conditions or
sandy areas.
• Extensive use of brakes.
• Driving in areas where salt or other
corrosive materials are used.
• Driving on rough or muddy roads.
• Driving in mountainous areas.
• Extended periods of idling or low
speed operation.
• Driving for a prolonged period in
cold temperatures and/or extremely
humid climates.
• More than 50% driving in heavy
city traffic during hot weather
above 90°F (32°C).
For additional information or assistance
see your authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.

I'm from Connecticut and Florida is definitely hot and humid to me so based on the manual it appears Florida owners must follow a maintenance program for "Severe" conditions. You may disagree with Hyundai's definition, but there is a basis for the dealer's statement.

Has anyone ever been denied warranty repairs based on these requirements? I've never heard of one.

They all seem vague and/or unprovable. My gut tells me that the dealers got Hyundai to put this stuff in place so they would have a way to make more from maintenance while Hyundai could still claim long service intervals.

PS I'm sure this doesn't apply to just Hyundai.

 

[Mark_888]

I also wonder what salt and use of brakes has to do with the oil change interval.....

The severe maintenance schedule affects other maintenance items besides oil changes.

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[Mark_888]

Interesting. I admit I have not read the manual......but based on this 80% of the drivers in US (And maybe 100% in Canada) should follow severe maintenance plan. Salt in the north, humid in the south, and most everywhere else there will be mountains, traffic....and...use of brakes???

I think the general interpretation is that your driving conditions would have to be in the severe category almost all the time, such as a vehicle used as a taxi in stop and go city traffic.

If sever applied to 80% of all owners, the FTC would be all over Hyundai regarding their warranty and advertised maintenance schedules.

 

[Mark_888]

My gut tells me that the dealers got Hyundai to put this stuff in place so they would have a way to make more from maintenance while Hyundai could still claim long service intervals.

PS I'm sure this doesn't apply to just Hyundai.

I agree, but Hyundai dealers are more likely to pull stunts like that because their customers tend to be less sophisticated (have owned fewer cars) than other brands.

Keep in mind that a large percentage of Hyundai sales are Accent, Elantra, and Sonata, and for a high percentage of these owners, it is their first new car, and they tend to believe whatever the service advisor tells them.

 

[krik71]

Which dealership? Brandon Hyundai? Courtesy? I'm in Wesley Chapel and was planning on taking to Wesley Chapel Hyundai for oil change. But not till closer to 7500 miles.

 

[ksoze]

I have no problem paying $30 and getting my oil changes a little early. Either that or switch to synthetic and extend the time. Seems like to much analysis over something that can only be good for the car and is not a huge financial hit. As far as the warranty threat, that is a bit much.

 

[jsmit86]

More frequent oil changes are suggested by most manufactures in "severe" service conditions. In some cases, it's probably overkill.

 

[kn5owa]

Seems like to much analysis over something that can only be good for the car and is not a huge financial hit.

Assuming, of course, that the work is done properly.

 

[Mark_888]

Which dealership? Brandon Hyundai? Courtesy? I'm in Wesley Chapel and was planning on taking to Wesley Chapel Hyundai for oil change. But not till closer to 7500 miles.

Who cares? If the service advisor tells you they recommend (or that Hyundai requires) the severe service schedule, just ignore what they say.

Since when did owners start believing everything that service advisors tell us? Just say no, and tell them what you want done, and when you want it done. They are not going "flag" your car as needing the severe schedule, and it will not affect your warranty, unless you are using the car for a taxi or something.

 

[ksoze]

Assuming, of course, that the work is done properly.

My level of confidence of my dealer properly changing an oil and filter is pretty high. It's certainly higher than me doing it

I recently pre-bought 4 oil changes for around $70. Not much to spend on the one single thing that likely effects the cars engine longevity.

 

[chris41]

Who cares? If the service advisor tells you they recommend (or that Hyundai requires) the severe service schedule, just ignore what they say.

Since when did owners start believing everything that service advisors tell us?

Mark, you'd be surprised on how many folks on forums take the word of their service department as a complete fact. My experience is they love to lie, especially with an answer for "problem can't be duplicated" I've had forum members elsewhere jump all over me about an opinion because "there dealer mechanic told them so". I could just go on and on about this....

 

[Mark_888]

Mark, you'd be surprised on how many folks on forums take the word of their service department as a complete fact. My experience is they love to lie, especially with an answer for "problem can't be duplicated" I've had forum members elsewhere jump all over me about an opinion because "there dealer mechanic told them so". I could just go on and on about this....

I have been on this forum a long time, so not completely surprised, although I am dismayed.

I hate to generalize about this, and don't want to offend anyone in the car business, but many sales people and service advisors are often encouraged to lie, paid to lie, and many would be fired if they didn't lie. After awhile, many of them become pathological liars, as lying becomes a habit.

Why people believe everything they say is beyond me. Many people don't even realize that dealers in the USA are independent businesses, not owned or controlled by the car manufacturer (as required by law in almost all states that I know of).