Depends on your school of thought. I am of the it only cost me about 30 to change oil in my car...its a piece of mind. There are millions and millions of cars that go longer than the required oil change and don't seem to suffer ill will.

Without a shadow of doubt I would say at MINIMUM follow the manual for recommended oil change interval.

 

I am at 3,000 with my new 2014 too. Going to do first oil change with regular oil. Will do every 5,000 after that with regular oil till I get to 10,000...then swap over to synthetics. I personally will do it all at the dealer using the stock oil filter. Its not expensive....and they can fix anything else that might be wrong while they are there.

Roman

 

So what is thinking behind conv oil first, then synthetic after 10k?

 

My understanding is it gives the seals time to break in and seat correctly, and also more frequent oil changes with conventional oil will allow for metal chips and such during breaking to be removed earlier. (and if more than normal..to be detected earlier...which might mean problems)

 

Odd - I've read Hyundai ships from factory with synthetic already in the crankcase.

 

Times have changed, manufacturing techniques are such that metal fragments are not in the engine anymore, changing oil early for the first time is no longer necessary so go with what lets you sleep at night. Engines no longer require a break in period.

 

Cool. Learn something new every day if your paying attention..

Will change oil at 5000 intervals from now on using synthetic.

Roman

 

I have a 2014 GLS Sonata and was also told the first oil change could be done at 7500. But I'm old school about breaking in new engines, and had mine done at 2400. The first oil change is free anyway. From this point on I will be following the 6 month schedule, because I'm retired and will only be driving it about 500 miles a month, or 3000 in 6 months. For example, I drove it off the dealers lot on March 1st, and right now have a little under 3000 miles on it. I would base my oil change frequency on how hard I push the car and under what conditions.

On another note, I sent an email to Hyundai USA regarding what they considered a "severe usage" area and how it might affect oil changes in my part of the country. (I live in Missouri) This was their reply.

We recommend at minimum to follow the Normal Maintenance Schedule unless any one of the Severe Usage Conditions applies to you. The Severe Usage Maintenance Schedule should be followed if your vehicle is driven:

- for repeated short distances
- in dusty or sandy areas
- in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are used
- on rough or muddy roads, or in mountainous areas
- for extended periods of idling or low speed operation
- for prolonged periods in cold or extremely humid climates
- more than 50% of the time in heavy city traffic in temperatures above 90°F
- with brakes are used extensively

If you have any questions regarding which maintenance schedule to follow, we recommend consulting with the service department of your local Hyundai dealership. The dealership?s technicians will work with you to keep your vehicle in top operating condition many years to come.

 

Their reply is exactly what is in the owner's manual!

 

I also live in Missouri, near St. Louis. My dealership had told me that everyone in St. Louis was considered to be in severe driving conditions, so I called Hyundai to verify this, and I was told that Hyundai did not state that; in fact, Hyundai told me is was totally my call if I was driving in severe or normal conditions.

 

I was told the same thing by the dealer, so I called Hyundai. They stated that they do NOT classify areas as severe or normal.

 

I went thru that same BS with the dealers service manager. He claimed the severe usage condition covered me because I live in an area where road salts & chemicals are used, and I must get 3000 mile or 3 month oil changes.

When I bought my 2014 Sonata, they threw in the "Forever Warranty" that extends the manuf. full engine & drive train warranty for as long as I own it, so I called their company and they said this question has come up a lot in the past, and it's been tested in court, and the "SEVERE USAGE" conditions are too vague, and all they expect you to do is follow the MINIMUM schedule as listed in your owners manual. Their policy is to ignore the "severe usage" conditions.

NONE of those conditions apply to me, and I see no need to follow the "severe usage" schedule because of road salt or chemicals, because I never intend to drive the Sonata in snow or icy conditions anyway. I have other vehicles for severe road conditions. If it ever became a legal issue, I would challenge Hyundai to provide proof and evidence that road chemicals damaged ny engine because I didn't change my oil often enough.

I was thinking about having some fun with that service manager next time I go for service. I would like to ask him if he would be kind enough to offer some of his professional advice on video camera for others to learn from on YouTube. If he agrees to do it, I'll start the video and ask him to explain to us unknowing car owners how operating a vehicle on salty roads for 2 or 3 weeks a year (which is what most of us experience throughout an average Missouri winter) should require us to get oil changes every 3000 miles or 3 months ALL YEAR long. Also please explain exactly how these chemicals get into a sealed engine in large enough quantity so as to lessen the normal life of the oil or filter?

I'm pretty sure that video won't make it to YouTube. >

 

...and I must get 3000 mile or 3 month oil changes.

For 2012 and 2013 2.4, severe schedule calls for oil change every 6 months or 3,750 miles, not every 3 months.

 

Think of the sever/normal change cycle like this: If you put 15,000 miles on your car annually, and the dealer changes it every 7,500 miles...well, he only gets to you twice.

But if he sells you on the idea of 3,750 intervals, he gets into your wallet 4 times a year, with double the chance of upselling you on "recommended" service that isn't even recommended. Recommended by the dealer, maybe...but not Hyundai. My two cents worth.

 

I honestly think it should be illegal for these dealer to up sell the way they do. Telling you that you need oil changes every 3,500 when our manual from hyundai says completely different. Telling me my cabin filter needs replaced and then when I check it to change it's perfectly fine. Telling me my tires are at the hard minimum corpses I t state inspection, the. I take it back 4 months later for an oil change and those same tires are magically at 4 and 5/10's...I just hate dealers.