What Is The Best Oil For Kia Sorento?

If you've ever shopped for motor oil, you've probably noticed all of the different brands and weights to choose from. Should you be driving a Kia Sorento and are wondering what oil is best for this vehicle, we can help you. We researched the Sorento in depth so that you'll know for sure what kind is recommended by experts.

It's recommended that you use synthetic motor oil for your Kia Sorento. Depending on the type of engine you have under the hood, you should use SAE 0W-20 or SAE 0W-30.

Now that we know what type of oil is best for the Kia Sorento, we'll take a closer look at the type of oil that experts recommend for this vehicle. You might also be wondering how often you should change the oil in your Sorento or what happens if you drive with the oil after its due date. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what our research has uncovered.

Kia Sorento 2020 Test Drive Day, What Is The Best Oil For Kia Sorento?

What The Experts Say About The Oil Used In The Kia Sorento

Earlier in this post, we discussed that Kia recommends that you use synthetic motor oil in your Sorento. This type of oil is becoming more commonly used, as it holds many advantages over the traditional motor oils used in the past. 

Synthetic motor oil, though more expensive by the quart than its counterpart, is more cost effective over time. Synthetic motor oil does not need to be changed nearly as often as conventional motor oil.

It will last three times longer in your engine. Buying fewer quarts of oil racks up the savings, as does the need for buying additional oil filters.

Synthetic oil is also much cleaner. It is easier to dispose of and is safer for the environment. Synthetic motor oil will not evaporate and keeps its viscosity lower when compared to traditional oil. 

But it's not just the type of oil you choose that needs your attention. The weight of oil you place in your crankcase is equally relevant.

A black 2021 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid car.

Why The Weight Of The Oil You Choose Is Also Important

Earlier in this post, we mentioned that the Sorento will use either SAE 0W-20 or SAE 0W-30. Which one you should use will depend on which engine your Sorento has.

If your Sorento has a Smartstream G2.5 GDi engine, you will need to use SAE oW-20 oil. But if you drive one with a Smartstream G2.5 T-GDi, then you would need to use SAE 0W-30.

Different engines will require oil of different viscosities to properly lubricate and cool the moving parts. Be sure that you are selecting the correct weight whenever you get this critical piece of routine maintenance performed.

How Often Should You Change The Oil In A Kia Sorento?

Frequent oil changes are critical to the lifespan of your Sorento's engine. Failure to change the oil according to the manufacturer's recommendations will greatly damage the many working parts inside of it, leading to costly repairs or premature engine failure.

How often you change this vital fluid will depend on the age of your Sorento and what type of oil you are using. If you are using the recommended synthetic motor oil, it should be replaced every 7,500 miles. 

But if you are still using conventional motor oil, you'll find that you will need to change it much more often. This oil type should be changed out of your Sorento every 3,000 miles. 

Auto Repair Garage with Mechanic

What Happens If You Drive Too Long Without Changing Your Motor Oil?

We've covered how important it is to not only use the right motor oil for your vehicle but to have it regularly changed.

The oil is the lifeblood of any internal combustion engine. It lubricates moving parts to keep them from grinding and wearing. The oil's lubricating features also act as a coolant, keeping the heat of the engine to a manageable level.

If you do not change the oil regularly, you will greatly damage your engine. The viscosity level of the oil will increase over time and use. This makes the oil thicker and decreases its effectiveness.

The sludge that builds up in the oil will accumulate and begin to negatively impact the moving parts it was designed to protect.

Not only will you damage the engine but you will also notice a great decrease in your fuel economy. And since the engine isn't performing at its best, you'll also notice a decrease in power.

Never skip an oil change! And only used the brand and weight of oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Pouring motor oil for motor vehicles from a gray bottle into the engine

How Long Does A Kia Sorento Last?

The Kia has been a popular choice among consumers for an inexpensive mid-size SUV over the years. Its comfortable and up-to-date interior and great fuel economy are standouts among others in its class.

But as important as these features are to consumers, many will want a vehicle that has a proven track record of longevity.

Thankfully, Sorento owners can expect a good deal of mileage out of this SUV. With proper treatment, you can expect the Sorento to last upwards of 200,000 miles.

While not having the same longevity as Toyota Highlander or a Honda Passport, the Sorento's lifespan is still nothing to be dismissive of. Driving an average of 20,000 miles a year, you can count on the Sorento to keep you rolling for a decade or more.

Keep in mind that reaching any mileage milestone will take some effort on your part. Routine maintenance is the key difference between cars that last a long time and those that have significant issues before they hit 100,000 miles.

Get to know the factory-recommended maintenance in your owner's manual, and follow it to the letter.

Is The Kia Sorento Reliable?

Longevity is an important attribute for a vehicle to have for many consumers. But equally important to many is how reliable their prospective new or used vehicle is. The idea of their primary vehicle always in need of repairs can persuade folks to look elsewhere at other models.

J.D. Power and Associates rate the Kia Sorento as a 77 in overall reliability. This rating indicates that it is average for its class of mid-size SUVs. 

Repair Pal ranked the Sorento 12th out of 26 in its class, giving it an overall reliability of 4.0 out of 5.0.

Kia Sorento Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) on display at the 2014 Brussels motor show.

What Problems Does A Kia Sorento Have?

The Sorento has an average reliability rating from multiple consumer reporting agencies. While there have been a minimal amount of issues over the last five model years or so, there are some noteworthy problems that you should be aware of if you are considering a used model.

Car Complaints ranks the 2016 model as the one to be most wary of. Though it had fewer issues overall than the 2011 model year, the six recalls and the massive number of complaints about engine issues make it a potentially expensive vehicle to keep on the road. 

Other model years have had some issues surrounding the interior electronics, namely the 2019 Sorento. Leakage from the high-pressure oil pipe has also been noted in multiple model years, most notably in the 2017 model year.

Kia Sorento 2020 Test Drive Day

Final Thoughts

The Kia Sorento performs best whenever the properly weighted synthetic motor oil is used. Though more expensive, this type of oil will last much longer than the conventional motor oil that was more commonly used in the past.

Take proper care of the Sorento and this SUV can last you 200,000 miles or more on the road. Just don't skip on the oil changes. Drive safe!

We hope this post on the Kia Sorento answered all of your questions. For additional helpful information, we recommend reading the following posts:

What Should The Tire Pressure Be On A Kia Sorento? [And How To Check It]

How Big Is A Kia Sorento? [Will It Fit In Your Garage?]

Does The Kia Sorento Have A Sunroof? [By Year And Trim Level]

Share this article

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *