The Kia Stinger Oil Thread

[Chapindad]

That is great info. I would love to see the rest of the information. I am going to have to see what the dealership put in the car when I did the change a few weeks ago.

 

[eflyguy]

You're not going to see any difference between the Total and Mobil 1, and you're not going to find many deals on Total because they are not an "established" brand here in the US.

You can get Mobil 1 at Costco on sale regularly. $26 for 6qts. and I always have a case on-hand for my next oil change.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

As for more information in the post that I couldn't get through, you can search for HKS G310 to pull up the information from Total in terms of Kia/Hyundai factory fill. If it was available here, I'd just use that. In terms of choosing the right range of oil, as stated, for most climates 5w-30 is best for the V6, and 0w-30 for the 2.0L. For those in very very hot climates, where it doesn't get cold, such as certain parts of the Middle East, 20w-50 makes sense. If I lived in Arizona, I'd use 5w-40 on the V6. For those in extremely cold climates, I'd make it easier on the turbos and go with a 0w rating. I live in Seattle, so 5w-30 is fine. If I was doing a summer road trip through Nevada, I'd put 5w-40 in. The shorter the temperature range, the better the mileage, so 5w-30 should yield better mileage than 5w-40. If you're going to be driving on a track for a couple hours, then 10w-60 makes sense--just be sure to change it after you're done.

I've actually not been able to find Total Quartz 9000 Energy 5w-30, in the US, nor the exact stuff, the HKS G310. They do have the Energy 5w-40 on Amazon, which also meets Kia spec, but the 5w-30 should provide better gas mileage (on the V6, or 0W-30 on the 2.0L). The INEO Long Life, which is Total's latest tech, and has some elements designed for the strictest diesel standards, is perhaps the best Total option that's readily available here for US V6'ers. Amazon has three 5qt jugs for $127, so $15 more per 5qts than Mobil 1 at Walmart. Assuming you get a 3% benefit in fuel efficiency (vs Mobil 1), that should pay dividends over 6,000 miles. I'm probably going to use INEO Long Life for my first oil change, as I can't find 9000 Energy 5w-30. I'm currently getting 26.5mpg. My driving settings are "custom" with all set to "comfort" except steering, which is set to "sport" and I've of course disabled the fake engine noise. Gas is Costco 92 (Washington).

Mobil 1 is previous generation tech, and was factory standard for most high performance cars from the 2000's. Total Quartz 9000 and INEO are the latest tech, and are now the factory standard for BMW, Mercedes and Kia/Hyundai (among others). Mobil makes new tech oil now too (3000 XE), but it's not readily available in the US. Ravenol VMO is also a new tech oil, but only available in 5w-40, and more expensive than Quartz Energy 5w-40. Like I said in my original post, using current Mobil 1 is okay, it's just not as efficient as the latest Quartz line. For my previous car (Saab) I used Mobil 1 0w-40, which was the recommended oil for Saab's and all the German cars back then. Tech has improved in the past 20 years, and so have manufacturers recommendations. Kia is not randomly recommending Total, nor are all the other manufacturers. Their MPG claims are based on the oil used. The math is simple, you'll come out way ahead spending a little extra on the oil if you spend 3% less on fuel over 6,000 miles. Better engine protection is a bonus. My only issue is availability. I like that Mobil 1 is available everywhere, not to mention cheaper. When Mobil's new tech becomes commonplace, then we'll have the best of both worlds in the US (great quality oil available everywhere). For now, Quartz via an online retailer seems to be a straightforward choice for US shoppers.

 

[mldavis2]

While Kia may put Total in at the factory, they specify GF-4 or better in the owner's manual. Mobil 1 is GF-5. My Kia dealer does not have Total, nor do most Kia dealers in the U.S.

I would also take issue with changing oil viscosities. The oil does that for you. Multi-viscosity oils are designed to work within their viscosity range dependent upon operating temperature and ambient temperature ranges. Any oil that is shown to be approved for the ambient temperature range in which the engine will be operated will "adjust" itself depending on the temperature from cold start to operating temperature which is more or less a constant once warmed up. The main advantage of the lower end rating is cold cranking ability. Changing from a 5W-30 to a 5W-40 is essentially using a heavier oil at operating temperature. You should use the viscosity range oil used during break-in and it is probably safe to assume it is a 5W-30 oil for the 3.3T, and stick with it unless you are outside of the ambient range which is quite large (-20°F to +120°F). Finally, you should always use the lightest oil that will do the job and unless you are pushing an older, worn engine or a racing engine with excessive clearances, your best fuel economy is from the lighter oil.

Finally, on fuel, Kia specifies "top tier" rated gasolines that have met the standards from that definition. Cheap fuel is not recommended due to inadequate additives. The list of top tier approved fuel can be found here:
Licensed Brands | Top Tier Gas

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Every major gas station (Chevron, Shell, Arco, Costco, et cetera) uses "TopTier" gasoline in the US. TopTier just refers to them adding detergents, and these are only necessary because they are adding ethanol to the gas. We have lousy gas in the US, but it's very cheap. If you have clean fuel, like in pretty much every other country, you don't need any detergents, because you're not trying to clean the buildup from ethanol. Where you get your gas makes a difference as well. You want to go to the busiest gas station, for the freshest fuel. The reason Arco is cheaper than Chevron/Shell is they buy gas nearing the end of its life. Gas degrades with time, and Arco buys the "good but nearing bad" gas. Cotsco is probably the best place to fill up. They have constant lines. So, if you want to move the thread from oil to gas, try to get your gas at the busiest stations.

Getting back to oil, like I said, Mobil 1 is fine. Higher grade oils, like Total Quartz should give better mileage and provide superior protection. It's only a few percent difference in fuel economy, but that adds up over 6,000 miles. The "new generation" of oil meets LL04 spec, Mobil 1 does not, currently, in the US. They have more advanced oils in Europe, but they aren't in the US market yet. What Kia dealers use is irrelevant, because they don't care about your mileage or peak performance. The car will drive through your warranty period with anything. Try calling a few dealerships and asking what oil they use. I called in my local area, and one used Mobil Super and the other used a blend. This is why you should change your own oil, otherwise (in most cases) you're going to get oil worse than Mobil 1, which itself is worse than the new tech oils. Online sites are the source for next gen oils, or you could stop by your local BMW dealer and get TwinTurbo, but that's if you just want to throw money away. Ravenol VMO, Total Quartz, and some others meet the latest standards, LL04 in BMW terms. As for range, as I mentioned previously, 5w-30 is the best bet for the Stinger V6 (0w-30 for 2.0L) in most markets. It will provide the best fuel efficiency. If you live in a hot climate, 5w-40 is better, and a really hot climate (all the time) 20w-50. This is all in the manual (chapter 8, page 9). On the track, you'll want something for extreme heat, like 10w-60. In extreme cold, a 0w rating is a good idea, but 5w synthetic oil can actually handle much lower temperatures than its 5 degrees celsius rating implies. They keep the number for labeling, but that's why a 5w is fine for usage well below that (and why the manual lists it as working at temperatures well below). That being said, if you're in extreme cold, a 0w rated fuel will make it easier on those high RPM turbos at startup. The manual also points this out, in the winter section (chapter 5, page 143), suggesting you switch to a winter oriented oil in extreme cold.

 

[mldavis2]

I'm not going to argue here, @Sensibly Sprited Driver. The Kia manual says top tier fuels and 87 octane or better. I don't disagree that the 3.3T will likely run better on 91 octane than 87 octane, but I challenge your claim that "using anything under 91 will shorten the life of the coils and adversely impact the engine due to incomplete combustion." Lower octane fuel actually burns faster than higher octane which is why it is prone to pre-ignition, and it contains smaller chain hydrocarbons which leave less residue, not more. (I'm a retired chemist, so if you challenge that, I will demand supporting literature from recognized sources.)



And it says GF-4 above



Mobil 1 is accepted by virtually every engine manufacturer on the planet as exceeding the GF-5 standard. I'll agree with the 5W-30 for the 3.3T. I would never change oil viscosity unless I was starting a car at below -20°F which will never happen where I live. I typically change at 3,000 miles which is where I set my interval reminder and once at 3,000 I begin looking for a convenient time to change short of 4,000 miles. I have had engines for over 200,000 miles (normally aspirated LS96) which still used virtually no oil with 5W-30.

Use what you like and like what you use.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

I'm not going to argue here, @Sensibly Sprited Driver. The Kia manual says top tier fuels and 87 octane or better. I don't disagree that the 3.3T will likely run better on 91 octane than 87 octane, but I challenge your claim that "using anything under 91 will shorten the life of the coils and adversely impact the engine due to incomplete combustion." Lower octane fuel actually burns faster than higher octane which is why it is prone to pre-ignition, and it contains smaller chain hydrocarbons which leave less residue, not more. (I'm a retired chemist, so if you challenge that, I will demand supporting literature from recognized sources.)

I checked the manual, and indeed it says 87! Holy cow! Section deleted. My previous cars were turbos, which required 91. I didn't know they made turbos that were designed to run on 87. I guess that makes sense, because Honda is selling turbos now, and also why the oil requirements are so moderate (5w-30). European turbos of yore all required 0w-40, so that explains that too. All my oil research started because of the 5w-30 rating. That 87 fuel rating is disappointing from a performance aspect, as if the engine was tuned for 91 you'd get more power, but great news from a $ saving aspect! I've never bought 87 fuel before, as I'd never owned a car designed for it. I'll do more research, but if I can save at the pump, awesome! Thanks for that.

One of the big car magazine reviews I saw for the Stinger said the V6 was designed for 91, and the 2.0L was designed to run acceptably on 87. Apparently that was wrong. If it's designed for 87, there should not be any benefit to higher octane, because (as you said) it burns faster. By "incomplete combustion" I was referring to "pre-ignition", where you're just sending a bunch of explosions through the engine rather than it properly using the fuel. That leads to engine damage, and also wears out the coils. I'm currently getting 26.5mpg combined (50/50 highway/city), but will try 87. If the mileage is the same, which it should be if it's designed for 87, then your post is going to save me A LOT of money. If the mileage is significantly worse, than it will suggest to me the engine is capable of adapting to both, but does better with 91. We'll see. I'm curious about Korean/Europe specced Stingers now, and if their minimum octane rating is higher. Presumably they'd be better performing than ours, but so far as I know, they are performing the same (which would imply they are all designed for 87). I guess that would simplify the production line.

Back to oil, as I wrote in each of my posts, Mobil 1 is fine. The new tech oil is supposed to deliver about a 3% fuel efficiency improvement--that's the whole point of the new tech (along with reduced emissions). If we can use 87 fuel, that's an even bigger savings! Another 3% is icing on the cake.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Okay, I just went to Kia's site. I thought I'd seen the 92 ("premium") recommendation outside of the big car mag review. Indeed, Kia's spec sheet recommends higher octane for the Stinger (all variants). 2018 Kia Stinger Specifications

If you look at their other cars, they recommend 87. So, I'll stick with 92. That's nice the engine can allegedly handle 87 well, but I'm not going to stress it with that. I want to keep it running smooth and happy, and if she prefers 92, that's what she gets (or 91 when I cross over into "God's Country"). I also won't freak out, though, when the gas station attendant in Oregon accidentally puts 87 in it. Pro tip for Oregon: Tell the attendant "92" don't say "premium". I've had two issues with the latter and zero with the former.

I can't wait to do my 500 mile oil change, and get this car on the road. She's just sitting in my garage waiting for my Total oil to arrive. It comes tomorrow. Then I'll do another two days of 50/50 city highway, another 500 miles, another oil change, another two days, another oil change, and then take this baby to Montana and Idaho. Yeehaw! This 1,500 mile breakin is tedious to the extreme, but my MPG suggests it's worth it. Better safe than sorry. You only get one chance to break it in.

 

[Ucinn]

You should get better performance from 93 with this engine as it does have knock sensors in it. It will increase the timing until it recognizes pre ignition, so it can advance the timing more with higher octane.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

You should get better performance from 93 with this engine as it does have knock sensors in it. It will increase the timing until it recognizes pre ignition, so it can advance the timing more with higher octane.

Interesting. I don't have 93 to test it with. I know with the Saab, at least based on forums, the performance increased up to 94 octane (after that, it made no difference). I saw the Tork tuning vids, where they said they had issues at 93, but that could have just been due to all the other stuff they were doing to the car. The only upgrades I'm looking at are the Eibach springs, a ceramic coat, and some protective film. We should probably start a "Stinger Fuel Thread" since the mod nudged it in this direction. I'll do that now...

Okay, done. Fuel discussion has a new home, and we can keep the oil thread clean: The Stinger Fuel Thread

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Although perhaps not surprising, the long life/extended range oils work better (cleaner and less wear). That is, of course, if you change them at the same intervals (6,000 miles in the Kia manual for standard driving, 3,000 for intense driving). You shouldn't buy a long-life oil to skip oil changes. I also like how the internet always has people who are crazy focused on one tiny thing, like the guy who's reviewed over 6,000 types of ramen. Anyway, Piotr Tester is like the ramen guy, except for oil. He's spent a lot of time grinding away on these. Piotr Tester

The results for Total Quartz INEO Long Life 5w-30 were extremely impressive, both in the light and heavy test. That's some awesome major brand next gen oil. I'm jealous of all the options Europeans have. There are so many different sub-brands of each category tailored to incredibly specific tolerances/applications. In the US, we have mostly "general" stuff. Europe also has a lot of great brands we don't, like Fuchs. If we lived in Europe, we could just put the exact factory fill from Kia in our cars. Oh well. People are a lot more crazy about oil in Europe than the US. It almost seems like the car makers and oil makers there have teemed up to create unnecessarily specific fuels.

I just want to put something at least as good as the factory fill in my Stinger. INEO Long Life 5w-30 will do. Maybe Mobil will release some next gen stuff soon, so I don't have to order this stuff online. It's killing me waiting for my dang oil to arrive...with my Stinger just sitting there...ugh.

 

[mldavis2]

I think some of the oil literature is based on older turbo installations and may be both European-centered and dated. Turbochargers have all had major problems with shaft bearing lubrication and cooling in the past, but more modern versions like the Garrett turbos in the Kias are much better, presumably with better bearing materials and of course with better oils and cooling. (There is a good video on YouTube by the EngineeringExplained guy who takes you through a tour of the Mobil labs and shows their testing standards and procedures. Worth a view.)

Bottom line for me is that Kia says their powertrain warranty specifically includes the turbochargers using GF-4 oils and 6,000 mile change intervals. I'm using a GF-5 and 3-4,000 intervals so I think I'll be just fine.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Some of the newer engines require next gen oil to meet their fuel efficiency targets, especially diesel, but a last gen oil will work fine from a usability standpoint. That's why the vast majority of people buying the next gen oils on Amazon have the new engines asking for it. The new gen oils should supposedly give about a 3% improvement to fuel efficiency and do a slightly better job protecting the engine. Kia uses a next gen Total oil at the factory (Quartz 9000 Energy) and recommends Total, but a previous gen oil (like Mobil 1) won't cause any issue with the engine, it will just be a bit less energy efficient. Most people could make up a 3% difference just by adjusting their driving behavior. I'd rather spend the extra $15 for the supposed improvement in fuel efficiency and engine protection, if for no other reason than peace of mind. That's a small amount of money over 6,000 miles. However, if I could go back in time, I'd probably just have gotten some Mobil 1, because waiting for my Total Quartz INEO Long Life 5w-30 to arrive has been brutal...I want it now...

I looked at the Euro import sites, and found Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech 5w-30 for $38 at both FCP Euro and ECStuning. That's 5L, which is a bit under 5qts. Those sites have some of the other high end German oils, like Motul, but that's more expensive. So long as the oil meets LL04 spec, it is a new tech oil. Also, extended life oils are generally better than non extended life ones, for obvious reasons, but you need to change your oil at the standard intervals to reap the benefit. The BMW Twin Power Turbo 5w-30 is great oil, but not available in 5L, so is not economical. I'm not sure who their OEM is, maybe Liqui Moly?

If anyone finds Total Quartz 9000 Energy 5w-30 in the US, please let us know. I'll be using Total Quartz INEO Long Life 5w-30 (Amazon), for the time being. For those in the hotter parts of Arizona and Nevada, Amazon has a good price on Quartz 9000 Energy 5w-40 ($108 for 15qts). I live in Seattle, so want the better fuel efficiency of 5w-30. Also, remember that if you have a 2.0L 0w-30 is recommended for best efficiency, whereas 5w-30 is for the V6. Most Kia delearships will just stick 5w-30 in both engines. Also, the dealers are going to buy the cheapest 5w-30 they can that meets the warranty minimums (that is, any 5w-30 sold). If you're doing a dealer oil change, ask what they use. In most cases, you'll be much better off buying some Mobil 1 5w-30 (or 0w-30 for 2.0L). My local dealer charges $18 for an oil change with BYOO. I'll be doing it myself, though.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Yay! For V6'ers I just found Pennzoil Euro L 5w-30! It's LL04 spec (next gen) and sold at walmart for $28! Don't confuse it with the non "L" version. Walmart product number is: 556622059

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pennzoil-Platinum-Euro-5W-30-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5-qt/179202222

Now I can get next gen oil, for the same price I was paying for previous gen oil with my last car. This is by far the cheapest 5w-30 next gen oil I've found.

For those running 2.0L engines, Walmart has Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 for $23. That's a Dexos2 oil, with better engine protection and improved fuel efficiency. It's not LL04 spec, but LL04 just means it meets the strictest standards for new diesel engines (irrelevant for us). Any LL04 spec meets Dexos2 spec, and by US standards, Dexos2=next gen. Walmart product number is: 551650777

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-...conomy-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5-qt/17034369

It's also probably worth pointing out that the 2.0L requires a higher minimum spec oil than the V6. The manual states ACEA C2 or above for the 2.0L. Dexos2 meets ACEA C3 spec, so is well above what's required, and Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 meets ACEA C3. Mobil last gen oils, like the 0w-40 I used in my previous car, are only ACEA B1. The good news for 2.0L owners, in the US, is their oil is cheaper than next gen oil for the V6. The V6 doesn't need next gen oil, so that's the owner's choice (if they want better mileage and protection). The V6's minimum spec is the ancient GF-4 or above.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

I emailed Total some days ago, and got a response today. I've posted the full email below, but the gist is Total says Total Quartz Ineo MC3 is the best product in their line for the Stinger GT, and is what is recommended by Kia globally for all aftersales service (outside of Korea). I'm curious what is recommended in Korea (factory fill is Total Quartz 9000 Energy HKS G-310). Anyway, Ineo MC3 is what both Kia and Total recommend for the Stinger GT. Of course, the GT can run on anything sold in stores, including 1980's conventional without even detergents, with its ancient ILSAC GF-4 minimum. The 2.0L, though, requires next gen oil, and needs ACEA C2 at a minimum (manual says "ACEA C2 or above"). Since ACEA C3 is the highest grade oil available, and is best for all modern cars, Ineo MC3 is ideal for all Stingers. You can run lower grade oil in the GT, if you want. Supposedly C3 will provide better protection for the engine and better fuel efficiency. As I wrote in the above post, Pennzoil Platinum Euro L meets ACEA C3 spec, and is suitable for all Stingers, and costs $28 at Walmart. That's the least expensive C3 option in the US, and seems an obvious choice. If you want to put what Kia and Total recommend as the best product, than it's Amazon for us US Stinger owners.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Update: Wally World has Pennzoil Euro L in-store, $28. I grabbed two jugs. It costs the same as last gen oil, so is a great buy at $28. Yes, Kia recommends Total, and Total says INEO MC3 is the recommended product by Kia for all Kia vehicles in the US. However, it's only available on Amazon here, and costs more. If you want to go to a store, pay less, and grab something off the shelf (that meets the same specs), we now have an option with Pennzoil Euro L at Wally World. I've included a picture:

 

[Jayson]

I used Amsoil 5w30 Synthetic

 

[scott r johnson]

Kia Stinger Standard Oils
3.3 V6 - 5W-30, 5W-40 or above
3.3 V6- ACEA A5 or above
2.0 - 0W-30, 5W-30, 5W-40 or above
2.0 - ACEA C2 or above

3.3 Twin Turbo Oil Volume
7.92 US quarts

2.0 Sing Turbo Oil Volume
6.02 US qtuarts

thats 7.29 quarts for the 3.3

 

[Revvdmedia]

thats 7.29 quarts for the 3.3

Back "when I was a boy," cars usually took 5 quarts of oil...

 

[washguy]

Here ya go ! KIA RECOMMENDS TOTAL Im thinkin ill put some total in the Stinger.....or maybe some re-refined oil ? Wash

KIA RECOMMENDS TOTAL