Regularly changing your Kia’s oil is the easiest way to keep your engine healthy and working properly—without it, your engine may overheat, resulting in irreversible damage. Before it can be changed, however, you’ll need to know what kind of oil and how much you’ll need.

Usually, you can find all of this information in your owner’s manual—but we've outlined everything here, too. The

car insurance

comparison app and broker

Jerry

has compiled this guide to your 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L’s oil capacity, the type of oil it needs, and how to save hundreds on

Kia Forte insurance costs

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

2010 Kia Forte 2.0L engine oil capacity

Nothing’s worse than going to change your oil and realizing that you didn’t buy enough. That’s why it’s always a good idea to know your vehicle’s engine oil capacity.

A 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L has a total oil capacity of 4.1 quarts, or approximately 3.9 liters. Take care not to confuse this number with your engine’s displacement, or the 2.0-liter volume its cylinders occupy. Engine displacement only refers to the cylinder volume, which means the number is not interchangeable with your vehicle’s oil capacity.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

What kind of oil does a 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L need?

Now that you know how much oil you need, let’s get into what kind of oil you need. Not all motor oil has the same qualities, and using the wrong type can be catastrophic.

Per factory recommendations, a 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L engine needs synthetic 5W-20 motor oil to run at peak performance.

These numbers refer to the oil’s winter rating and standard operating viscosity (thickness), respectively—“5W” means your Kia’s oil will flow well in cold temperatures, whereas the “20” indicates that your oil will be fairly thin even when heated to 212°F or higher.

Overall, this signifies that your motor oil will perform well in cold-weather conditions—and a low viscosity means less wear and tear on your engine.

MORE: How much should an oil change cost?

How often to change oil on a 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L

So, you’ve figured out what kind of motor oil your 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L needs, but how do you know when it actually needs to be changed?

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to keep your engine running smoothly—but that range only applies to conventional motor oil. Most synthetic oils (such as those used in Kias) can go 7,500 to 10,000miles before needing to be changed.

Of course, you should also check your oil every so often before reaching this interval—in fact, it’s recommended that you check your oil at least once a month to avoid accidentally damaging your engine. It’s also a good idea to watch for the following symptoms indicating you may need to change your oil sooner than expected:

An oily, smoky, or burning smell coming from the engine

Abnormal noises from the engine

Gritty feel to the oil

Color changes: normal oil is amber, bad oil is dark brown or black

Worsening vehicle performance

MORE:

How to test an oil pump

How to change your oil and oil filter

When you've decided it's time to change your oil, you'll need a few

essential car tools and supplies

A socket wrench

A drain pan

A filter wrench

You'll also require 4.1 quarts of synthetic 5W-20 motor oil and a replacement filter.

Now that you have everything you need, run your car until it reaches normal operating temperature. This shouldn't take more than five minutes when outside temperatures are fairly mild.

Once the engine has reached operating temperature, turn it off, pop the hood, and perform the following steps:

Remove the oil cap.

Find the oil drain hole and place the drain pan underneath. Use the socket wrench to remove the drain hole bolt and washer. Allow the oil to drain into the pan below.

As you wait for the oil to drain, take out the old filter using the filter wrench.

Install the new oil filter.

Replace the drain bolt and install a new washer. Tighten to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Pour in the new engine oil. When you're done, put the oil fill cap back on.

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

After replacing the oil, check with a dipstick to make sure the oil level is high enough. If so, run the engine for a few minutes and check for leaks. If everything was done correctly, your dashboard's oil pressure light should turn off.

Now it’s time to get rid of the old oil. Never dump the drain pan onto the ground or into a trash can. You can instead take it to your local recycling center or a participating auto parts shop.

MORE:

Car Loan for Kia 2022

How to find affordable car insurance

Changing your oil at home is an easy way to cut down on your annual vehicle-related expenses—another easy way is to find car insurance savings with

Jerry

. As the nation’s #1 rated car insurance comparison app and broker, Jerry makes finding affordable rates easier than ever.

All you have to do is download the

trustworthy super app

, answer a few questions, and in as little as 45 seconds, Jerry will compare dozens of competitive quotes from trusted insurance providers to find you the best deals possible.

After you select the policy you want, Jerry can help you navigate the sign-up process—no long phone calls or paperwork necessary.

“
Jerry
found me a Progressive insurance policy that saves me $55/month compared to my previous plan. I would recommend Jerry to anyone to double-check that you’re getting the best rate.” —Sonya J.