Hi everyone
I just hit 5k miles on my 2023 KIA K5 GT Line and got a service reminder for more miles. Since this is my first KIA, I’m unsure which service to pick. There’s a regular synthetic oil change for $40 at a shop close to me, and a full synthetic oil change for $100. Should I go for the full synthetic or is regular synthetic enough? I’m planning a long drive soon and want to make sure I keep up with my car’s maintenance
Thanks
Definitely go for full synthetic, 5k miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. It’s easy to remember. Remember, time matters too
Don’t stress over saving $20 or whatever. Keep all your receipts organized. You’re looking after a $6k engine
There’s no choice here, your car needs 0w-20 which is only available in full synthetic, making it pretty straightforward for you. Most new cars need full synthetic oil. Always use full synthetic with a turbo car
Use what the manual says. If you want to keep the warranty valid, follow the schedule and types as needed
Don’t stress too much, as long as the oil is GF-6 rated, you’ll be good. No need to spend a lot
Micah said:
Don’t stress too much, as long as the oil is GF-6 rated, you’ll be good. No need to spend a lot
I don’t know what that is. Can you check out the services here and suggest one that’s good for my car
@Haven
They all meet GF-6 standards. You can find more info on API’s website. API | Latest Oil Categories
@Haven
Just keep in mind that the synthetic label for oil is mostly a marketing thing in North America. Most oils in xw20 grade use synthetic base. If you look at the MSDS, you’ll find they all have group 3 hydrocracked base stock. No conventional oil qualifies for GF-6 and API SP
Go full synthetic
I suggest keeping good records of oil changes if you want KIA to stick to the warranty if there are any issues
A friend of mine changed his own oil in his KIA and ended up with engine problems. In the end, KIA wouldn’t cover the warranty because he didn’t document 18,000 miles of oil changes
@Zeke
Is this something common in the US? I often see it on this forum. People losing their new car warranty by doing their own maintenance
With an older car, I understand that, and I’ve done oil changes myself. (I come from a dairy farm in Australia, and that’s normal there.) But with a new car that’s packed with electronics that report errors at service time, it seems risky to not go to the dealer for at least the first three years
@Ariel
I’m unsure if it’s just an American thing
I agree with your second point
@Ariel
In the US, based on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, your warranty can’t be voided if you do your own maintenance, including oil changes. But you do need to keep records/receipts. The dealer or manufacturer might find a reason to blame you if something goes wrong, but the same could happen if you get your car serviced anywhere else
@Oli
Thanks for that info, it’s clearer now. In Australia, there are similar rules for non-dealer services, but I’m unsure about doing it yourself
However, not having a maintenance record on a car under five years would drop the resale value by a lot - you’d lose way more when selling or trading than you would save by doing your own services
Make sure to only go to the dealer for an oil change to protect yourself from future warranty issues. You need to use full synthetic oil. There’s no other option