Servicing your Hyundai shouldn’t be a hassle. That’s why Huffines Hyundai Plano created our service portal to give you all the information necessary to get top-quality service at a fair price. So whether you need routine maintenance or more complicated repairs, please think of us for all your automotive needs.
Unfortunately, many car owners don’t know how often to take their vehicle for service. To help, we asked our service specialist to discuss the routine maintenance tasks and frequency necessary to keep your car running at its peak.
Stick to the Factory Schedule
Hyundai creates a service maintenance schedule for every vehicle they manufacture. So we recommend you check your owner’s manual for your particular model’s service schedule. If you misplaced your manual, please get in touch with our service department, and one of our associates will provide you with your schedule.
Sticking to the service plan doesn’t mean you have to book a service appointment at the exact mileage or age your manual specifies. However, it’s much better to be ahead of schedule than behind. For example, it won’t harm your Hyundai Santa Fe to have its oil changed early. But it could cause damage if you wait too long.
Oil Change
Twenty years ago, the general rule was to change your engine oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. Advancements in engine and oil technology over the last ten years have resulted in better performance and longer-lasting cars. Most Hyundai models built in the last few years can go up to 10,000 miles before needing an oil change. However, older cars have shorter intervals. Other brands may also have different schedules.
Changing your oil more often than the factory schedule suggests won’t harm your engine. But, to save money, stick with the timetable unless you have a car with higher-than-normal miles. In that case, more frequent oil changes can help prolong your engine’s life. In addition, you might switch to a synthetic oil or a synthetic blend explicitly designed for high-mileage vehicles to get better protection and performance.
Tire Rotation
Tires experience uneven wear due to different loads and operating conditions between the front and rear axles. As a result, you need to have your tires rotated to help spread that wear out more evenly over time. We recommend you have your tires rotated every 12,000-15,000 miles or every other oil change. Our service department technicians can rotate your tires while they change your oil without adding time to your service visit.
Wheel Alignment
Aligning your wheels helps improve safety and prolongs the life of your tires. Hyundai designed your car to have its wheels sit precisely within the steering and suspension system for optimal performance. However, wheels can get out of alignment; usually, this happens gradually over months, but sometimes hitting a curb can cause this to occur immediately.
You probably need a wheel alignment if you experience a drift to either side while driving straight. Other symptoms include soft steering or unusual sounds and vibrations. A wheel alignment costs as little as $100. On the other hand, if you drive on misaligned wheels for too long, they’ll wear to the point that you’ll need a new set of tires — costing you much more than the price of an alignment. To prevent this, we suggest a wheel alignment every year or whenever you put new tires on your wheels.
Tire Replacement
You won’t find a hard rule on when to replace your tires. Tires were designed to wear out due to the friction created by road contact. Driving styles, weather, and the type of tire also impact wear rates. Most tires last two years or more under normal conditions. However, if you purchased bargain tires, you might find they don’t last as long.
You don’t want to wait until you have little or no tread remaining. And if you see the metal radials, you’ve waited too long. In these cases, replace your tires immediately to avoid a flat tire or an accident. A good home test to tell you if you need new tires is to insert a quarter between the treads with George Washington’s head down. If you can see his hair, you need new tires.
Brake Service
Your brakes utilize a complex system of hydraulic and mechanical parts to stop your car safely. We strongly recommend an annual brake inspection to ensure vehicle safety. However, you might not need service every year. Brake service includes replacing your pads, topping off or changing the brake fluid, and replacing or turning down your discs and rotors. You might also need brake lines replaced or a repair of mechanical parts, such as calipers.
Typically, replacing your brake pads every 15,000-20,000 miles would be best. However, driving habits and weather can change that interval, so an inspection is essential. Don’t wait until you hear squealing brakes or grinding. These signs indicate you’ve waited too long and will need more expensive repairs.
Battery Service
Your Hyundai battery should last several years or longer. However, living in an extremely cold region could cause your battery to fail sooner. Also, if you leave your lights on overnight, you could have a dead battery. Dead batteries can be recharged, but they end up failing sooner as a result.
We recommend you have your battery tested at every oil change. This test will help you spot a failing battery before getting stranded and needing a jump start. And let’s face it. Batteries fail at the most inopportune times. For example, if your car strains to start, you might have a failing battery. You could also have a problem with your alternator not recharging your battery as you drive.
Our service technicians can quickly test your battery and determine the problem. And if you need a new battery, our parts department has an expansive inventory of batteries and will find an exact replacement.
Schedule Your Next Service Today at Huffines Hyundai Plano
You purchased a Hyundai because you know it’s reliable. However, you must still perform regular maintenance to keep it running at its peak. If you’re in Plano or the surrounding areas and need one of the routine services described above, or your Hyundai has arrived at a milestone requiring more advanced procedures, we can help. We recommend you schedule service online to choose a day and time convenient for your schedule and leave the rest to us.