How to Change Your 2024 Kia Sportage 2.5L Oil — DIY Guide

The 2024 Sportage 2.5L is exactly the kind of crossover I like seeing in a home garage. The job is clean, the filter is accessible from the top, and the engine doesn't ask for anything exotic. What it does ask for is basic discipline: correct oil, correct gasket, and no guessing on fill level.

Kia dealers usually charge around $95-$130 for this service. I can do it at home for about $35-$45 and be sure the engine didn't leave with the wrong viscosity because someone was in a hurry.

---

Parts & Tools

Item	OEM / Spec	Detail
Oil filter	Hyundai/Kia 26300-35504	Cartridge filter element
Filter housing O-ring	Included with filter	Replace each service
Drain plug gasket	Hyundai/Kia 21513-23001	Crush washer
Motor oil	5W-30 full synthetic	API SP / GF-6A
Capacity	4.9 qt (4.6 L) with filter	2.5L MPI
Drain plug torque	25 lb-ft (34 Nm)	14mm drain plug

Additional tools: 14mm socket, 27mm socket for the filter housing, drain pan, funnel, torque wrench, ramps or a jack with stands.

Oil note: The naturally aspirated 2.5L Sportage uses 5W-30. I always verify the filler cap, but this is not the engine to treat like the turbo trims by memory.

Filter note: Hyundai/Kia 26300-35504 is one of the easier OEM service parts to source. Buy two and your next oil change is already half done.

---

DIY vs. Shop Cost

Item	DIY Cost	Shop Cost
5W-30 full synthetic (5 qt)	$22-$30	—
Hyundai/Kia 26300-35504 filter	$8-$14	—
Drain plug gasket	$1-$2	—
Total parts	~$31-$46	—
Labor	$0	$60-$85
Total	~$31-$46	$95-$131

---

Step-by-Step Oil Change

1. Warm and Position the Vehicle

Run the engine for 5 minutes and park on level ground. I like to remove the oil filler cap before I go under the vehicle so I don't forget it later.

2. Remove the Filter from the Top

Use a 27mm socket to remove the filter housing cap from the top of the engine. Pull the old filter element off the cap, replace the housing O-ring, and set the new filter aside ready to install.

3. Drain the Oil

Place the pan under the drain plug and remove the 14mm plug. Let the oil drain for a full 6 to 8 minutes. Then discard the old 21513-23001 crush washer.

4. Install the New Filter

Press the new 26300-35504 filter element onto the cap, seat the new O-ring correctly, reinstall the cap, and tighten it to spec. Cross-threading a plastic housing cap is a stupid way to make your afternoon longer.

5. Reinstall the Drain Plug

Install a new 21513-23001 washer, thread the plug in by hand, and torque to 25 lb-ft (34 Nm).

6. Refill with Oil

I start with 4.4 quarts of 5W-30, run the engine for about a minute, shut it off, wait 5 minutes, and then top off to the full mark. Final capacity is 4.9 quarts with filter.

7. Check for Leaks

Inspect both the drain plug and the filter housing. Then verify the level with the vehicle sitting level.

8. Reset the Service Interval

Use the cluster menu to reset the service reminder before closing the hood.

---

Sportage Notes Worth Remembering

1. This engine rewards boring maintenance: That's a compliment.
2. The top-side filter setup makes it easy to stay clean: Use that advantage.
3. Replace the drain washer and the housing O-ring every time: That's where the avoidable leaks start.

If you want the prior-year reference, the 2022 Kia Sportage 2.5L oil change guide covers the same service pattern. If you want the no-mess basics first, read how to do an oil change at home.

---

If you want every Sportage service interval in one place instead of chasing one article at a time, check OwnerDrop's plans.