Hyundai Elantra Oil Type

Changing your Hyundai Elantra oil is an important part of vehicle maintenance. If you don’t change your car oil on it’s recommended intervals, then your engine could suffer from damaged or seized parts that can lead to costly repairs. Most vehicles need an oil change every 7,500 – 10,000 miles in Cincinnati, but you can find out the exact intervals in your owner’s manual. 

If it’s time for your Hyundai Elantra to have an oil change, you may be wondering what kind of oil does a Hyundai Elantra take? We’ve listed the Hyundai Elantra recommended oil types for you below, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to change your oil. In a hurry? Stop by our Columbia Hyundai service center and we’ll change your Elantra model’s oil for you while you wait! 

Hyundai Elantra Recommended Oil

The Hyundai Elantra oil type has two options for Cincinnati drivers: Conventional and Synthetic. Conventional oil is unrefined crude oil that’s used on most Mason cars, it will need to be changed every 3,000 – 5,000 miles, but it has a cheaper upfront cost than synthetic oil. 

Synthetic oil costs more upfront, but it is the preferred Hyundai Elantra oil type. Synthetic oil has been refined and has had additives added to help the oil last longer and work better in high-performance engines than conventional oil. Synthetic oil can also last up to 10,000 miles before it needs to be changed. 

As for the Hyundai Elantra recommended oil type, you can choose either of these grades in conventional or synthetic oil:

• 5W-20
• 5W-30

Why these oils? The short answer is that the 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil is the density your Hyundai Elantra needs in the winter and the summer for the oil to sit comfortably between the engine parts. Getting a 0W-15 or a 10W-40 oil would result in the oil being too thin to properly protect the engine parts or too thick to fit between them. 

How To Change Hyundai Elantra Oil

If you’re in a hurry, or if you just don’t want to get dirty, you can always schedule service at our Cincinnati service center and have your oil changed. You can even save some extra cash by taking advantage of our service specials. However, if you’re a DIY mechanic follow the steps below to learn how to properly change the oil in your Hyundai Elantra. 

1. Buy either the 5W-20 or the 5W-30 in synthetic or conventional oil. 
2. Buy an oil filter. There are many types of oil filters that work with the Hyundai Elantra. We recommend asking an associate for help finding an OEM Hyundai Elantra oil filter. You can get the oil and the filter at any auto parts store in Fairfield or from the Columbia Hyundai parts department.
3. Jack your Elantra up with a car jack or steel ramps.
4. Secure your Elantra with jack stands or wheel blocks.
5. Crawl under the front of your car using a dolly or on your own.
6. Find the oil drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan underneath your engine. You can use your vehicle owner’s manual to find its exact location under your car. 
7. Place an oil basin or a large tub directly underneath the plug, unscrew the plug and allow the old oil to drain out completely – this may take up to 15 minutes. When all the oil has drained, replace the plug. 
8. Locate your oil filter underneath your engine and move the oil basil or tub underneath it.
9. Remove the oil filter with an oil filter wrench. Expect a bit of extra oil to drain out when you remove the filter.
10. Get your new filter and rub a bit of the new car oil around the rubber seal – this is an essential step to ensure your filter is watertight and is easy to remove in the future. 
11. Set the new filter in place, then tighten it first by hand and then with the oil filter wrench. 
12. With your old oil drained and a new filter in place, you can come out from under your Elantra.
13. Go to your engine and remove the cap to your oil well. Pour in the specified amount of new oil. This should be about 4.2 quarts for the Hyundai Elantra, but you can find the exact amount in your owner’s manual.
14. Replace the cap to your oil well.
15. Check the oil level by using the dipstick. If you’re still low, add another ounce and check the level again. Once you get a proper oil level reading, you’re good to go!

Have Your Elantra Inspected at Columbia Hyundai! 

Now that you know the answer to “what kind of oil does a Hyundai Elantra take?” and you know how to change the oil in your Hyundai Elantra, browse our other service tips for step-by-step guides on how to do other DIY Elantra maintenance like how to rotate your tires or how to change your engine air filter. Have questions? Contact us and our certified service technicians will help you with all your Hyundai Elantra service needs. We look forward to helping you!