Te above reflects what is shown in my maintenance manual: New Hyundai has no ATF dipstick , basically a sealed unit which Hyundai states does not require service . **I am very skeptical about such a statement or a supposed sealed AT which is "maintenance free". The Hyundai Sonata AT has a drain plug and a bubble level port for ATF below . I still believe a drain & fill schedule for ATF is in the best interest of the AT longest life ... Your thoughts ?
Sealed AT - No Check , No Service ?
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I took our STS in and had the transmission fluid/filter done even though it also is "no service needed" transmission. It doesn't bother me to not check it-transmission fluid doesn't get burned off and any leaks would be obvious-but I prefer to have it changed every 60,000 or so.
Same for a lot of modern manufacturers. My Toyota's are all sealed.
My conclusions:
1) They don't want you messing with it.
2) They don't suspect you to keep the vehicle that long.
3) They are off the hook once the warranty expires so they rate the ATF to that point/mileage. It's "lifetime" to their warranty, not to your ownership.
A few other threads mention that the OEM does "lifetime fluid" to bypass the chemical recycling fee that get charged, something or other.
I still drain/fill every 30-40k miles.
My conclusions:
1) They don't want you messing with it.
2) They don't suspect you to keep the vehicle that long.
3) They are off the hook once the warranty expires so they rate the ATF to that point/mileage. It's "lifetime" to their warranty, not to your ownership.
A few other threads mention that the OEM does "lifetime fluid" to bypass the chemical recycling fee that get charged, something or other.
I still drain/fill every 30-40k miles.
My car had the same ridiculous instruction in the owner's manual. Being a GM product from 2002 they figured it would be a throw away car anyway, so it is easy to understand given that people don't want to do the preventative maintenance and this car wasn't exactly a brilliant product to begin with. Had I not dropped the pan and changed the filter, I imagine it would have been just fine until the end, but it does shift noticeably better so I'd follow a schedule just the same in your case.
Lifetime ATs are a joke. Nothing is really lifetime.
My Pontiac has a lifetime AT. When I purchased it, it was slipping and coming out of gear. Dropped the pan, new filter and fluid. Car shifts like it is new.
CHANGE THE FLUID!
My Pontiac has a lifetime AT. When I purchased it, it was slipping and coming out of gear. Dropped the pan, new filter and fluid. Car shifts like it is new.
CHANGE THE FLUID!
There were several threads re this and I agree with people who say to change ATF at 20-30K miles on a new car to get initial contamination out of circulation - those being mechanical, chemical and bio degradation and contamination from AT parts being broken in.
Then one can do drain and fill after that every 30-50k miles depending on ATF they use.
Then one can do drain and fill after that every 30-50k miles depending on ATF they use.
IF you want to do a drain and refill the "easy" way, just let car cool overnight. Then drain and measure exactly how much ATF comes out and add that same amount back in. Of course, this assumes it came with the correct amount from the factory.
I made a mistake and drained hot before I realized my mistake. Hot fluid takes up a greater volume than cold fluld. Remember how the old transmission dip sticks had cold and hot markings on them? Remember there was a pretty big distance between them?
I made a mistake and drained hot before I realized my mistake. Hot fluid takes up a greater volume than cold fluld. Remember how the old transmission dip sticks had cold and hot markings on them? Remember there was a pretty big distance between them?
It supposed to have 'fill/check level' hole on trans side. There should be a fill hole under air filter housing.
I've got the 2017 Elantra. Same deal with it's AT.
I'm having it flushed every 30,000.
Surely someone will post after me and say that flushes are a no-go. In older, high mileage, let's say 75,000 mile plus, never serviced before transmissions, I agree. But if done early and on a schedule, should have no problems.
I'm having it flushed every 30,000.
Surely someone will post after me and say that flushes are a no-go. In older, high mileage, let's say 75,000 mile plus, never serviced before transmissions, I agree. But if done early and on a schedule, should have no problems.
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Originally Posted By: dubber09
It supposed to have 'fill/check level' hole on trans side. There should be a fill hole under air filter housing.
Yes, from what I've read about Kias and Hyundais, they are "sealed" but actually pretty easy to service as there is an actual drain plug, a fill hole, and a check level port. You can find instructions online.
It supposed to have 'fill/check level' hole on trans side. There should be a fill hole under air filter housing.
Yes, from what I've read about Kias and Hyundais, they are "sealed" but actually pretty easy to service as there is an actual drain plug, a fill hole, and a check level port. You can find instructions online.
Originally Posted By: ChrisD46
I still believe a drain & fill schedule for ATF is in the best interest of the AT longest life ... Your thoughts ?
I think the same answers apply to the thread you started four days ago about the transmission.
When to Drain Factory Fill ATF ?
I still believe a drain & fill schedule for ATF is in the best interest of the AT longest life ... Your thoughts ?
I think the same answers apply to the thread you started four days ago about the transmission.
When to Drain Factory Fill ATF ?
Practically all AT's now are at least posted for a 100k mile service interval.
And my June 05 manufactured sig car has no dipstick and says it's fine for life. My Dad would say "whose life?"
Most debris is generated during the first portion of a transmission's life. Make sure you initially change the filter. Note if you have a "rock catcher" or a huge real filter like our ZF 8speed in the RAM does. After that initial service a passive exchange machine is an excellent way to go.
No "flushing" required, just a slow passive exchange done by your own trans pump...
And my June 05 manufactured sig car has no dipstick and says it's fine for life. My Dad would say "whose life?"
Most debris is generated during the first portion of a transmission's life. Make sure you initially change the filter. Note if you have a "rock catcher" or a huge real filter like our ZF 8speed in the RAM does. After that initial service a passive exchange machine is an excellent way to go.
No "flushing" required, just a slow passive exchange done by your own trans pump...
New Kias and Hyundais don't have a serviceable filter.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
New Kias and Hyundais don't have a serviceable filter.
Yep, I know the F4A51 in my 2008 Santa Fe AWD had a vertically split case with no pan (like a Honda AT). No serviceable filter, even though there's one or more buried internally. That trans had a real dipstick and a drain plug though making it super simple to D/F.
New Kias and Hyundais don't have a serviceable filter.
Yep, I know the F4A51 in my 2008 Santa Fe AWD had a vertically split case with no pan (like a Honda AT). No serviceable filter, even though there's one or more buried internally. That trans had a real dipstick and a drain plug though making it super simple to D/F.
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Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
New Kias and Hyundais don't have a serviceable filter.
I guess they are appliances to be discarded when they fail...
New Kias and Hyundais don't have a serviceable filter.
I guess they are appliances to be discarded when they fail...
That's how I did it on my '14 Kia - drain and fill same volume, then evac ATF thru cooler line 1qt at a time with equal volume replaced until ATF was coming out clean.
ATF cooler lines were marked on my car with red and yellow paint from factory, red is for 'hot' - going into cooler, that's where I connected clear plastic hose for evac.
ATF cooler lines were marked on my car with red and yellow paint from factory, red is for 'hot' - going into cooler, that's where I connected clear plastic hose for evac.
How do you fill them if there is no place on top to check it? Also how do you know it's full?
I haven't had a sealed unit yet.
I haven't had a sealed unit yet.
Originally Posted By: ChrisD46
Te above reflects what is shown in my maintenance manual: New Hyundai has no ATF dipstick , basically a sealed unit which Hyundai states does not require service . **I am very skeptical about such a statement or a supposed sealed AT which is "maintenance free". The Hyundai Sonata AT has a drain plug and a bubble level port for ATF below . I still believe a drain & fill schedule for ATF is in the best interest of the AT longest life ... Your thoughts ?
I have the same transmission in my Optima. There is NO such thing as a "maintenance free" transmission unless you count getting just to the 100K mile power-train warranty and then you are on your own! They DO recommend service at 60K but only under the "severe service" schedule (in your manual). I did the factory service manual method of drain and fill at 42K using OEM fluids. Will do the same again when I turn 70K miles if not sooner. I also added a Magnefine in-line transmission filter at the ~8K mile mark and replaced it when I did the 42K mile drain and fill. Opened it up and it was pretty clean on the filter media (no debris) and only a bit of the fine metal mush on the filter magnet. I would highly recommend getting the fluid replaced using the OEM fluids. Hyundai/Kia now has an SP4-M full synthetic ATF, I'd recommend that (~$9/qt).
What I did at 42K mile mark:
Kia Optima ATF change...
Te above reflects what is shown in my maintenance manual: New Hyundai has no ATF dipstick , basically a sealed unit which Hyundai states does not require service . **I am very skeptical about such a statement or a supposed sealed AT which is "maintenance free". The Hyundai Sonata AT has a drain plug and a bubble level port for ATF below . I still believe a drain & fill schedule for ATF is in the best interest of the AT longest life ... Your thoughts ?
I have the same transmission in my Optima. There is NO such thing as a "maintenance free" transmission unless you count getting just to the 100K mile power-train warranty and then you are on your own! They DO recommend service at 60K but only under the "severe service" schedule (in your manual). I did the factory service manual method of drain and fill at 42K using OEM fluids. Will do the same again when I turn 70K miles if not sooner. I also added a Magnefine in-line transmission filter at the ~8K mile mark and replaced it when I did the 42K mile drain and fill. Opened it up and it was pretty clean on the filter media (no debris) and only a bit of the fine metal mush on the filter magnet. I would highly recommend getting the fluid replaced using the OEM fluids. Hyundai/Kia now has an SP4-M full synthetic ATF, I'd recommend that (~$9/qt).
What I did at 42K mile mark:
Kia Optima ATF change...
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JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: spk2000
How do you fill them if there is no place on top to check it? Also how do you know it's full?
I haven't had a sealed unit yet.
They will have a level check plug mounted somewhere higher than the drain plug. You generally fill until ATF dribbles from the fill and/or level check plug.
How do you fill them if there is no place on top to check it? Also how do you know it's full?
I haven't had a sealed unit yet.
They will have a level check plug mounted somewhere higher than the drain plug. You generally fill until ATF dribbles from the fill and/or level check plug.
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