Elantra Oil Capacity (again)

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dkortz@gisco.net - 30 Apr 2005 10:26 GMT

>From reading through this group I know the issue of the true oil change

capacity of the Elantra is less than stated in the manual. (I recently
did the first oil change on my '05 GT and, using the manual as a guide,
overfilled it by dumping in 4+ qts.) Anyway I was wondering if anyone
has ever had any word from Hyundai on whether the manual is wrong, or
possibly, is the dipstick wrong, IOW, is it really supposed to take
4.25 US Qts? It just baffles me that this could have been wrong in the
manual for so long (it seems this problem dates back several model
years) and they haven't corrected it. Right now my oil level is
registering about 1/4 inch over full and I decided to just leave it, as
it didn't seem to have any negative effect on the engine - no evidence
of foaming, etc, but is that too overfilled? On my Jetta there were
warnings that it could damage the catalytic converter if overfilled. I
was also questioning the viscocity chart in the manual as opposed to
the webtech chart - it seems the manual says go with 5/30, but the
webtech site recommends 10/40 if the temps are warmer (I live in
northern NY and used 5/30 for this change, but am wondering about next
time when the temps will probably (hopefully) be in the 70-80 range)

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Brian Nystrom - 30 Apr 2005 15:56 GMT

>>From reading through this group I know the issue of the true oil change
> capacity of the Elantra is less than stated in the manual. (I recently
> did the first oil change on my '05 GT and, using the manual as a guide,
> overfilled it by dumping in 4+ qts.)

You should always check the dipstick as you add the new oil. Once you
reach the full line, start the car, let it run for ~30 seconds, then
shut it off and let the oil drain back into the crankcase for a few
minutes. Check the oil level, then top it off if necessary.

> Anyway I was wondering if anyone
> has ever had any word from Hyundai on whether the manual is wrong, or
> possibly, is the dipstick wrong, IOW, is it really supposed to take
> 4.25 US Qts?

That may be what it takes to fill a dry engine. You'll never get all the
oil out of an engine once it's been filled, but there shouldn't be a
large disparity.

> It just baffles me that this could have been wrong in the
> manual for so long (it seems this problem dates back several model
> years) and they haven't corrected it. Right now my oil level is
> registering about 1/4 inch over full and I decided to just leave it, as
> it didn't seem to have any negative effect on the engine - no evidence
> of foaming, etc, but is that too overfilled?

I can't say for sure, but if it was my car, I'd drain some of it out.

> I was also questioning the viscocity chart in the manual as opposed to
> the webtech chart - it seems the manual says go with 5/30, but the
> webtech site recommends 10/40 if the temps are warmer (I live in
> northern NY and used 5/30 for this change, but am wondering about next
> time when the temps will probably (hopefully) be in the 70-80 range)

5W-30 should be fine at those temps. That's what I run year round and it
will sometimes get into the 90's here.

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hyundaitech - 30 Apr 2005 16:56 GMT

Don't sweat the additional oil. It's not enough to make a difference.

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Michael - 30 Apr 2005 17:40 GMT

> >From reading through this group I know the issue of the true oil change
> capacity of the Elantra is less than stated in the manual. (I recently
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> northern NY and used 5/30 for this change, but am wondering about next
> time when the temps will probably (hopefully) be in the 70-80 range)

My 2002 says the same thing BUT it is wrong !!

They amended that to 3.25, I have free oil changes for life but I asked
the service guy and he said the info in the shop had been updated...

Good luck

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