The 2020 Kia Sorento is the quintessential family crossover sport utility vehicle. It’s comfortable and roomy—perfect for family road trips or carpooling to soccer practice. But, if you want to keep your Sorento in top condition, you’ll want to make sure it’s getting the right amount of oil, which is between 5.1 and 6.9 quarts.

With gas prices on the rise, driving is getting more and more expensive. And let’s not even get into your

Kia Sorento insurance costs

. But one of the best ways to save money on your Kia crossover is to keep it in good working order. Keeping up with regular maintenance, such as oil changes, can eliminate inefficiencies, help you avoid costly future repairs, and even offset the cost of your

car insurance

You can find just about everything you need to know about your 2020 Kia Sorento’s oil capacity in your owner’s manual. But, if you’ve misplaced your manual, you’re in luck—we’ve pieced together this quick reference guide to help you keep your Sorento properly oiled.

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2020 Kia Sorento engine oil capacity

The 2020 Kia Sorento was manufactured with two engine options—a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine and a 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V-6. How much engine oil your 2020 Kia Sorento needs depends on which engine your model has.

The smaller 2.4-liter engine requires 5.1 quarts or 4.83 liters of motor oil, while the bigger 3.3-liter V-6 needs 6.9 quarts or 6.53 liters.

It is a common mistake to confuse your engine’s displacement with its oil capacity. Engine displacement refers to the combined volume of your engine's cylinders—it’s the “2.4” in “2.4-liter engine”. This is not the same as your engine’s oil capacity.

What kind of oil does a 2020 Kia Sorento need?

You’ll also need to know what kind of oil your 2020 Sorento needs, and this will depend on the temperature range of the area you live in.

If the temperature in your part of the country routinely dips below 0°, Kia recommends using 5W-20 or 5W-30 motor oil for models with a four-cylinder engine, and 5W-30 for V-6 Sorentos. If your area stays consistently above 0°, Kia recommends using 10W-30 oil.

If you’re not sure what all of these numbers and letters mean, you’re not alone. These codes simply refer to the oil’s viscosity, or its ability to flow freely.

The first number and letter combination in the code tells you the oil’s low-temperature viscosity—in fact, the “W” stands for “winter.” The lower the number to the left of the “W” is, the more viscous it is in lower temperatures.

The number on the right side of the dash is the oil’s high-temperature viscosity, i.e. how well it flows at normal operating temperatures. A higher number means the oil flows rapidly at high temperatures.

So, if you live in an area with a colder climate, like

Wisconsin

, you’ll want to use motor oil with a lower cold-temperature viscosity, and if you live in a warmer state, like

Texas

, you’ll want to use motor oil with a higher low-temperature viscosity.

If you’re not sure which oil to use on your particular Sorento, you can get clarification from your Kia owner’s manual. Section 8, “Specifications, Consumer information, Reporting safety defects,” details the engine oil specs for each engine type.

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How often to change oil on a 2020 Kia Sorento

The 2020 Kia Sorento is equipped with an oil change reminder system that alerts you when it is time to change your oil. This system reminds you to change your oil every 7,500 miles, which is the manufacturer’s recommended interval for normal use.

Kia recommends an oil change schedule of 3,750 miles, or every six months, for Sorentos that experience consistent use.

These are just basic guidelines, however, and you should always be on the lookout for signs that an oil change is needed. Here are some common indicators:

If your motor oil is dirty, it’s time for an oil change. Dirty motor oil is dark like cola, while good motor oil looks more like tea.

Gritty motor oil is a sign that it’s time for an oil change. Good motor oil should be smooth to the touch.

If you hear weird noises coming from your engine, it might be oil change time.

Burning smells can be a telltale sign that your oil is nearing the end of its life.

Decreased fuel efficiency is an indicator that you need to have your oil serviced.

MORE:

Are Kias expensive to maintain?

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once you’re sure it’s time to replace your engine’s oil, you can either take your Sorento to a Kia dealership to have the procedure done, or you can save a little money and do it yourself. All you need is a socket wrench, an oil drain pan, an oil filter wrench, a new oil filter, six to seven quarts of motor oil, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.

Once you’ve got everything you need, follow these steps.

Start your engine and let it run for five minutes to bring the engine to normal running temperature.

Turn off the engine, pop the hood, and loosen the oil fill cap.

Remove the undercarriage cover from underneath your Kia Sorento’s engine.

Place the oil drain pan under the engine and remove the oil drain bolt.

While the oil is draining, remove the old oil filter, and replace it with a fresh one.

Once the oil has finished draining, replace the drain bolt along with a new drain bolt washer and tighten the drain bolt to 25.3–32.5 lb-ft of torque.

Fill your engine with the correct amount of oil—5.1 quarts for four-cylinder Sorentos, and 6.9 quarts for V-6 models.

Replace the undercarriage cover.

Replace the oil fill cap and let the engine run for 30 seconds to one minute, inspecting for leaks.

Turn the car off, and measure the vehicle’s oil with the dipstick.

Add oil as necessary until filled to the proper amount.

Replace the oil fill cap and close the hood.

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When you’re done, you’ll need to reset your Sorento’s oil change reminder alert. To do this, simply start your Kia, then press the Menu button on your steering wheel. Scroll over to User Settings, then scroll down to Service Interval and press OK. After that, scroll down to Reset, press OK again, and confirm that you wish to reset the time and distance.

Your Kia Sorento will begin counting your miles traveled and will alert you when 7,500 miles have passed that it’s time to change your oil. You cannot change the length of the interval that the oil change reminder uses.

Lastly, be sure to put the old oil in a sealed container and take it down to your local recycling center to be disposed of. Do not dump the old oil down a drain, toilet, sewer, or onto the ground.