I Am A Hyundai Master Tech, So If You Own A Hyundai, Kia Or Genesis, Follow These Maintenance Intervals And You'll Never Have a Warranty Clain Denied

Alright, folks, listen up because this one's important։ if you own a Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis, you better know what you signed up for. The internet is flooded with stories of denied warranty claims, blown engines, and people screaming at the dealership, wondering why their car isn’t covered. Well, according to David, a Hyundai Master Tech who chimed in on a recent Torque News article about a denied Hyundai Palisade engine-replacement warranty because the vehicle was 2,000 miles over for an oil change, there’s a way to avoid all of this headache.

Here’s what David had to say, and trust me, you’ll want to read every word:

“I'm a Hyundai master tech and the manual says 7500-mile oil change for the Palisade, but severe service maintenance intervals are not the same. Most people's vehicles fall into the severe service category because of either where they live, type of driving they do, if they tow or haul anything, if they do a lot of driving, etc. 2000 miles over an oil change is no Bueno. Hyundai will normally work with customers, but if you are a second owner you should have known you don't get the 100k 10-year new car warranty. Certified and used is usually 60k and most people opt for the extended.

The moral of the story is that the oil changes are cheap insurance to keeping your vehicle running properly as well as doing the factory-recommended services that most people think are not good, and we’re upselling services you don’t need, especially the 3-part fuel system cleaning and fuel induction service on the GDI engine which are direct fuel injected. Carbon deposits build up on the intake valves due to no longer having fuel wash over the intake valves, which is what kept the deposit build-up down on non-GDI engines. Adding fuel system cleaners to the gas helped to clean the valves and you only really needed the fuel induction service done every 30k miles.

Well, everything is direct fuel injected now, and every 15k the service is recommended, it’s not just anything. Ask BMW and Audi owners if you think a fuel induction service every 15k on Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles is absurd. They need the top end of the engine taken off and the valves need to be walnut blasted to remove the deposits because of how bad they build up.

So yes, if you own a Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis, follow the severe service maintenance intervals and you will never have a warranty claim denied, I can assure you.”

Boom. Straight from a Hyundai Master Tech’s mouth. Now, let’s break this down into what it means for you as a Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis owner and how you can keep your ride running like a champ.

The Truth About Severe Service Intervals

A lot of people assume that just because their car's manual says 7,500 miles between oil changes, they can stretch it that far, or even longer. Nope. David makes it clear that most drivers actually fall under severe service conditions. That means if you:

• Live in extreme hot or cold climates
• Drive in stop-and-go traffic constantly
• Tow or haul heavy loads
• Do a lot of short trips or idling

… then guess what? You need to change your oil sooner—closer to every 5,000 miles or less. If you don't? Expect carbon buildup, sludge, and the kind of mechanical failure that will have you crying in front of your dealership’s service department.

Why GDI Engines Need Extra Care

Gone are the days of old-school fuel injection where gasoline washed over the intake valves, keeping them clean. In today's Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines, fuel goes straight into the combustion chamber, meaning there’s nothing keeping those intake valves from getting clogged with carbon deposits. That’s why David and other pros recommend a fuel induction service every 15,000 miles. If you ignore this? You might be looking at misfires, rough idling, and, eventually, the nightmare of having your engine torn apart for walnut blasting: a procedure BMW and Audi owners know all too well.

Hyundai’s Warranty – Know What You’re Actually Getting

Another key point David makes: "if you're a second owner, don’t assume you have Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty." That perk only applies to the original owner. If you bought your car used or certified pre-owned? You likely have just a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty unless you purchased an extended plan. A lot of people find this out the hard way when their engine seizes up and they’re handed a repair bill instead of a warranty claim approval.

By the way, 4 out of 5 Hyundai EVs are now leases. Torque News senior automotive reporter John Goreham explains in this interesting article how a warranty works if You buy at the lease end.

Preventative Maintenance Is Key

So how do you make sure you never have a warranty claim denied? Follow David’s advice:

• Oil changes every 5,000 miles (or less if you drive under severe conditions).
• Fuel induction service every 15,000 miles on a GDI engine.
• Use high-quality oil and filters.
• Keep all service records in case you ever need to prove maintenance history.

Follow these steps, and your Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis will thank you with years of reliable service—and no dealership fights over warranty coverage.

What’s Your Experience?

Have you ever had a warranty claim denied because of a missed maintenance service? What’s your routine when it comes to oil changes and fuel system cleaning? Drop a comment below and let’s keep the discussion going—because the more we know, the better we can protect our vehicles and our wallets.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.