Tips for low running Hyundai Genesis 3.8

[Nikhil Malhotra]

My car is hardly being driven in the pandemic. I go once a week (or less) on a 10 - 30 mile drive , just to take the car out a bit .
What are the tips for making sure the car remains good ... now that its going to stay like this till the mid of 2021.

- I had is serviced in July 2020.
- They did all sorts of things at 45k service (including a engine cleaning by adding fuel additives).
- The battery test came out ok , the tires were ok , and everything else was ok in their test.

The next service interval shows 7000 miles away . I dont think in 2021 i will drive 7k miles .

What should i do ?
I am thinking to get just a oil change in Feb 2021 and Sep 2021

 

[princelybug]

Driving it once a week for 10-30mi is not a bad idea.

I think 1 oil change per year is sufficient, but there's nothing wrong with doing it twice.

I would also buy a battery tender.

 

[EdP]

My car is hardly being driven in the pandemic. I go once a week (or less) on a 10 - 30 mile drive , just to take the car out a bit .
What are the tips for making sure the car remains good ... now that its going to stay like this till the mid of 2021.

- I had is serviced in July 2020.
- They did all sorts of things at 45k service (including a engine cleaning by adding fuel additives).
- The battery test came out ok , the tires were ok , and everything else was ok in their test.

The next service interval shows 7000 miles away . I dont think in 2021 i will drive 7k miles .

What should i do ?
I am thinking to get just a oil change in Feb 2021 and Sep 2021

If it sits a long time get a battery tender. It will keep it properly charged so the electronics don't get screwed up. If the battery is old, even more critical.
I'd do the twice a year oil changes.
The 30 mile drive is good too. Warms up the oil and helps keep from forming gunk like short rides can.

 

[bobb4484]

Sounds like a good plan to me considering the times. Actually one oil change would work with the low mileage. I'm in the same situation as we have two cars and I doubt if either has 500 miles since February.

 

[Ragnar]

Anyone have a recommendation for a really good battery tender?
Reading on Amazon and they tend to be scatter all over from marvelous to don’t waste your money!

 

[PMCErnie]

The only thing you need to do is take the car out for a good spin a couple of times a week. There’s no pandemic rule that prohibits that, at least not in my state. If you’re not out on a grocery run, just drive to your favorite restaurant and look in the window there. Then drive home and make yourself a sandwich.

 

[bobb4484]

Battery charger/tender suggestion. I recently purchased this charger/tender for our personal autos. It will charge at 8 amps, then reduce the charging rate levels until the battery is fully charged. Once fully charged it will switch to a tender mode and maintain the charge. I've only used it 3 times but so far I'm impressed. Easy to use and understand. I suggest you read the reviews before purchasing. While designed for the Optima batteries it works great on all AGM batteries and can restore near dead batteries. There is another more expensive model available for more money, both do about the same thing.

Amazon.com: Optima 150-40000 Digital 400 12V Performance Maintainer and Battery Charger

 

[RyanB]

I have been using a Noco Genius battery tender on my genny for years. Still rocking the OEM battery 4 years later. Didn't cost that much and does its job. Other than that I would suggest adding some Sea Foam or other additive to your oil to help any moisture buildup. Also keep some added to your gas to stabilize it once you run through your currently treated tank.

 

[Nikhil Malhotra]

The battery tender gets fitted in the front + / - terminals of the car right ?
In the Maintenance section its recommended to
- never charge a battery when its connected to the car.
- disconnect the battery when not using car for longer times.

 

[bobb4484]

When using a battery tender on the Genesis I use the engine compartment terminals and have experienced no problem. The battery on the Genesis is vented so any charging gas would be expelled from the trunk location. IMO if you can connect jumper cables at the engine compartment terminals then you should be able to charge/tender the battery from there. It is important not to overcharge the battery in the trunk or out.

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[Kraig Wilkinson]

When using a battery tender on the Genesis I use the engine compartment terminals and have experienced no problem. The battery on the Genesis is vented so any charging gas would be expelled from the trunk location. IMO if you can connect jumper cables at the engine compartment terminals then you should be able to charge/tender the battery from there. It is important not to overcharge the battery in the trunk or out.

I did the same thing, hard wired plug for tender to the terminals under the hood 14 months ago. Works really well and no need to fiddle with the little covers over the terminals.

 

[princelybug]

I did the same thing, hard wired plug for tender to the terminals under the hood 14 months ago. Works really well and no need to fiddle with the little covers over the terminals.

Kraig, would you be able to post a photo of this?

 

[Kraig Wilkinson]

Kraig, would you be able to post a photo of this?

I would be more than happy to princelybug. when I get home tonight I will take some pics..

 

[joereef]

The battery tender gets fitted in the front + / - terminals of the car right ?
In the Maintenance section its recommended to
- never charge a battery when its connected to the car.
- disconnect the battery when not using car for longer times.
View attachment 33606

I just suffered through the infamous "dead battery" on my 2016 Genesis. I tried restarting it with the "Engine Start" switch on my battery charger. It didn't work a bit! So I left the car overnight in the 12 Amp setting. I did not disconnect the battery. In the morning, it was fine. Knowing these batteries cost ~$300 plus installation to replace, I went to the dealership with much trepidation. I was told I don't drive the car enough. He recommended I use a charger once/month. After reading your note today, I called him back and asked him if they disconnect during charging as the manual says. He said no but they only charge for a few hours if that makes a difference. He also stated, like others have said here, that using the front terminals is fine. I've never had a charging problem on any previous car that I have driven five of seven days and the batteries never went dead. Is this the future for us with these highly electronic cars?

 

[TinsleyC]

The car should be fine being started and run once a week. If not, they need to work on the electronics drain.

I run mine 2-3 times times a week and no problem so far, but it's a '19 base model (less electronics) and only 5700 miles.

 

[Kraig Wilkinson]

Kraig, would you be able to post a photo of this?

Here are some pictures of the locations under the hood where I wired in my Battery Tender.

 

[princelybug]

Here are some pictures of the locations under the hood where I wired in my Battery Tender.

Good job! Definitely more convenient than taking that cover off every time like I do...

 

[Nikhil Malhotra]

The one issue i have seen in my car is sometimes its totally wiped out all the gas average data . I see its turned to 0 mpg , and then when i drive it , it gets back between 20 - 24 mpg after a 20 - 30 mile.

Not a issue at all . Just an observation .

 

[EdP]

The one issue i have seen in my car is sometimes its totally wiped out all the gas average data . I see its turned to 0 mpg , and then when i drive it , it gets back between 20 - 24 mpg after a 20 - 30 mile.

Not a issue at all . Just an observation .

On both screens? The one resets after stopped for four hours, the other you reset manually.

 

[Nikhil Malhotra]

Yes
In Settings -> Fuel Economy Auto Reset is checked OFF .
Avg on the main screen shows 23.3mpg as of now . There is also similar Avg in the Trip A and Trip B.

These avg on the main screen shows 0mpg when car is not started over 7 - 10 days .