Maintenance

2022 Kia Sportage 2.5L Oil Change — DIY Guide

OwnerDrop Team··3 min read

2022 Kia Sportage 2.5L Oil Change — DIY Guide

Kia dealers bill $95–$130 for this service; you can do it yourself for around $35. The 2022 Sportage's 2.5L MPI Smartstream naturally-aspirated engine has a clean oil change setup — top-mount cartridge filter accessed from above, straightforward drain plug below.


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Parts & Tools

ItemOEM / SpecDetail
Oil filterHyundai/Kia 26300-35504Cartridge element, accessed from top
Filter housing O-ringIncluded with 26300-35504Replace with each service
Drain plug gasketHyundai/Kia 21513-23001Crush-type — replace each service
Motor oil5W-30 full syntheticAPI SP certified; GF-6A recommended
Capacity4.9 qt (4.6 L) with filter
Drain plug torque25 lb-ft (34 Nm)14mm hex
Filter housing torque25 lb-ft (34 Nm)27mm hex cap

Oil note: The 2022 Sportage 2.5L MPI (naturally-aspirated) uses 5W-30 — not 0W-30 like the turbocharged 1.6T variant. Verify the oil filler cap reads "5W-30."


DIY vs. Shop Cost

ItemDIY CostShop Cost
5W-30 synthetic (5 qt)$22–$30
Kia 26300-35504 filter$8–$14
Drain plug gasket$1–$2
Total parts~$31–$46
Labor$0$60–$85
Total~$31–$46$95–$130

Step-by-Step Oil Change

1. Warm and Position

Run the engine 5–7 minutes. Park on level ground.

2. Oil Filter from the Top

The 26300-35504 cartridge filter is accessed from above — passenger side, toward the front of the engine. Use a 27mm socket to turn the cap counterclockwise. Lift straight up. Pull the old filter element off the cap post and discard. Remove the old O-ring from the cap groove and discard.

3. Drain the Oil

Go below and remove the 14mm drain plug counterclockwise. Allow 6–8 minutes for a complete drain. Discard the old 21513-23001 gasket.

4. Install the New Filter

Seat the new O-ring into the cap groove. Press the new filter element onto the cap post until it clicks. Lower the assembly into the housing and thread the cap clockwise. Torque to 25 lb-ft (34 Nm).

5. Reinstall the Drain Plug

Install the new 21513-23001 gasket. Torque to 25 lb-ft (34 Nm).

6. Add Oil

Pour 4.4 quarts of 5W-30 through the filler cap. Start the engine — oil pressure clears in 3–5 seconds. Idle 90 seconds, shut off, wait 5 minutes. Top up to full. Full capacity is 4.9 quarts with filter.

7. Reset the Service Reminder

Navigate the instrument cluster menu: Vehicle → Service Interval Reset.


Engine Notes

Kia recommends 7,500-mile intervals under normal conditions — many owners in stop-and-go environments opt for 5,000 miles, especially before warranty expiration where documentation matters. For the turbocharged variant, see the 2022 Kia Sorento 2.5T oil change guide — same filter housing design, different spec.

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Written by OwnerDrop Team

DIY automotive guides and systems for independent mechanics. We test every procedure, document every torque spec, and build every tool list from scratch.

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