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Engine oil question for 2.0L

26K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  04SorentoLX 
#1 ·
Recently bought a Soul. I'm planning on switching to Mobil1 after the break in period. The engine calls for 5w-20. I live in Pennsylvania. Not very hot in the Summer and nothing really below Zero in the Winter. But isn't 5w-20 kind of thin? I always thought in the back of my mind that they want you to run the thinner oils so the engine goes quicker. So should I use 5w-20 or 5w-30? Thanks!
 
#2 · (Edited)
Welcome to the KIA forums. I think if you check in your owners manual the viscosity oil that you intend to use will be listed on a chart of oil viscosity and temperature ranges. My Cerato manual lists a fairly wide viscosity range that is suitable, your Soul will do the same, just stick with a oil that is in the right range to suit your conditions. Heavier oils will cause a slight drop in fuel economy. Modern engines are made to run on the lower viscosity oils.
 
#3 · (Edited)
What did you ever do? KIA World Wide has and still maintains that all it vechs (Diesels are vague) should use 5w20 for best MPG and clean eng operations. The chart in the books tells you like pulsar86 said multi ranges based on climate. But KIA has come out and made the 5w20 statement. It is not a issue if some one in PA or IN or VT or ON CDN can not get 5w20 but can 5w30. It is not that big a deal. Slightly lower if any MPG and no real bad results will ever be a issue with that. HOWEVER 10w30-10w40-15w40-20w50 are not really a good idea. You will not be happy with MPG and sludge might be an issue as miles roll up on the vech. If you have miles on this vech or others never switch back to 5w20 form those. AS the eng will go thru child birth on that thin of an oil out of the blue. The more the miles the less you should do it. And the heavier the diet of oil in there was, the less you should do it. But if you have only 15,000-20,000MAX on it and it was running on 10w30 best-10w40 the very worst then a step down over a few changes over the 3500/3mths sched will be ok. 10w40>10w30>5w30>5w20. By 30,000 you need to be in 5w20 or 5w30 for good thru the step down.

For the purposes of this SOUL forum that means
1.6L GAS 5w20 should be on OEM oil cap too
1.6L D or TD see what they told you or on OEM oil cap.
2.0L GAS 5w20 should be on OEM oil cap and was on the loaner SOUL+ auto I had.

My 2004 Sorento LX 3.5 68,000 runs 5w20 or 5w30 when in short supply here in SC. Nothing on cap.
My 2003 Spectra LS 1.8 86,000 runs the same. Nothing on cap.


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