With two different engine types, five different trim levels, and nine color options, there are ample ways to make the 2019 Kia Sorento your own. One thing that’s not so customizable? How much and what kind of oil you use when you get your oil changed.

Car and Driver calls the 2019 Kia Sorento a “capable, convenient, comfortable” crossover SUV. And we’d totally agree with their assessment! But in order to keep it in capable condition, you’ll need to stay on top of its

maintenance schedule

and know a thing or two about how much—and what kind—of oil it needs during an oil change.

Whether you're a true grease monkey looking for their next DIY project or just a casual Kia owner looking to learn a little more about their engine, you’ve come to the right place!

Jerry

, the

trusted policy shopping app

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policies has put together this guide to walk you through what you need to know about your Kia’s engine oil capacity.

Plus, as a little bonus, we’ll even give you our tried-and-true tips on how to lower the

cost to insure your Kia Sorento

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2019 Kia Sorento engine oil capacity

First things first: how much oil does your 2019 Kia Sorento need? Unlike many other makes and models, it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer here. Your 2019 Kia Sorento’s engine oil capacity will depend on what kind of engine it’s got under its hood.

This particular year of Sorento is available with two different engines: a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and a 3.3L V6 engine. The 2.4L engine comes standard on the

and

trims, while the 3.3L engine is only available on the LX V6, EX V6,

, and SX Limited ones. Their engine oil capacities are as follows:

2.4L 4-cylinder engine: 5.07 quarts or 4.8L

3.3L V6 engine: 6.87 quarts or 6.5L

Not sure exactly which trim you’ve got? We’d suggest you flip through your owner’s manual or search by

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

to get the number you need.

What kind of oil does a 2019 Kia Sorento need?

So, once you’ve determined what kind of engine you’ve got and how much oil you need, you’re on the right track to changing your own oil! But, we need to answer another question: what kind of oil does a 2019 Kia Sorento need?

Not all oil types are the same, so don’t just put the first 5.07-quart or 6.87-quart bottle you see into your Amazon cart. For a 2019 Kia Sorento, the manufacturer recommends that you use synthetic SAE 5W-20 oil in your 2.4L engine and synthetic 5W-30 oil in your 3.3L engine.

If that oil type looks like a whole bunch of nonsense to you, allow us to translate. These numbers and letters refer to the oil’s viscosity, aka thickness, under various temperature conditions. The “W” stands for winter, and the 5 right before it tells us that this oil will still flow well at 0°F.

On the flip side, the 20 indicates that oil is also relatively thin at your engine’s sweltering operating temperature of 212°F. SAE simply stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that codes oil viscosity.

In sum, look for bottles that have SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 on it. That way, you can rest assured that you’re buying the right kind for your vehicle.

How often to change oil on a 2019 Kia Sorento

We’ve covered what kind and how much motor oil to buy, so let’s move on to a different question. When is it time to change your 2019 Kia Sorento’s oil?

Your owner’s manual recommends that you change your Sorento’s oil every 3,750 miles or every six months—whichever occurs first. However, if you notice any of the following signs, you may have to get your oil changed a little ahead of schedule:

Motor oil that needs changing is dark brown or black (Clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea. Dirty oil is like a cup of soda.)

Motor oil has a coarse or gritty feel to it, like someone mixed sand into it

Strange or

loud engine noises

Oil,

smoke

, or burning smells coming from the engine

Decreased vehicle performance

We’d also recommend that, to be on the safe side, you check your oil level at a regular interval like once a month or after every other refuel.

MORE:

Kia tune-up cost

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now onto what we’ve all been waiting for: how to change your 2019 Kia Sorento’s oil! You’ll need the following tools and equipment before you begin:

Socket wrench

Drain pan

Filter wrench

New oil filter

5.07 quarts of 5W-20 or 6.87 quarts of 5W-30 motor oil

To begin, turn on your engine and let it run until it reaches its normal operating temperature (about 5 minutes). Next, turn your engine off and complete the following tasks:

Remove the yellow plastic dipstick and the oil fill cap

Underneath the vehicle, remove the skid plate by removing the bolts

Position the drain pan beneath the oil drain bolt

Remove the old drain bolt and let the oil drain out

Remove the old filter and continue to let the oil drain out

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 25.3 to 32.5 lb-ft

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap

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.

Lastly, make sure to clean up! Don’t dump the dirty oil; put it in a sealed container and bring it to your local recycling center for proper disposal.

Don’t forget regular policy maintenance

Now you know how to change the oil on your 2019 Kia Sorento! By changing the oil yourself, you’ve saved yourself about $250 and a trip to your local mechanic. If you want to

save even more on routine car expenses

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