🔧 Kona - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This service drains old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills with fresh oil. Clean oil protects your turbo engine from wear and helps it run cooler and smoother.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support your Kona with jack stands before going underneath.
• ⚠️ Hot oil can burn you; let the engine cool 10–20 minutes if fully warmed up.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the drive belts and exhaust parts to reduce smoke/fire risk.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses; oil can irritate skin and eyes.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this service.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 7-quart)
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive)
• Oil filter wrench (cap or band style)
• Funnel
• Trim clip tool
• Phillips screwdriver
• Shop rags

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (5W-30 full synthetic, API SP / ILSAC GF-6) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Run the engine 2–3 minutes, then shut it off to help oil drain faster.
• 🧰 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🧰 Raise the front of your Kona with a floor jack and set it securely on jack stands at the factory jack points.
• 🧰 Open the hood and loosen the oil fill cap (this helps the crankcase vent while draining).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Place the drain pan (at least 7-quart) under the engine area.
• Remove any access panel or lower cover fasteners using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Pop plastic push-clips out using a trim clip tool (a trim clip tool is a forked pry tool that removes plastic clips without breaking them).
• Set the cover and clips aside where they won’t get oily.

Step 2: Drain the old engine oil

• Position the drain pan (at least 7-quart)
• Use a 17mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug, then finish removing it by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5–10 minutes).
• Clean the drain plug threads with shop rags and replace the oil drain plug crush washer.

Step 3: Reinstall and torque the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (3/8" drive) with a 17mm socket to tighten the drain plug.
• Torque to 39–49 Nm (29–36 ft-lbs)
• Hand-starting prevents expensive thread damage.

Step 4: Remove the oil filter

• Move the drain pan (at least 7-quart)
• Use an oil filter wrench (cap or band style) to loosen the oil filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket comes off with the old filter (if it sticks to the engine, remove it with shop rags).

Step 5: Install the new oil filter

• Lightly coat the new filter’s rubber gasket with fresh oil (pour a little new oil on a finger while wearing nitrile gloves).
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches the engine surface.
• Tighten by hand an additional 3/4 turn (use the oil filter wrench (cap or band style) only if needed).
• Overtightening can cause leaks later.

Step 6: Reinstall the splash shield

• Reinstall the cover using the trim clip tool and Phillips screwdriver.
• Wipe any oil drips off the cover and surrounding areas using shop rags.

Step 7: Refill engine oil

• Lower your Kona off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill opening.
• Pour in fresh engine oil (5W-30 full synthetic, API SP / ILSAC GF-6) gradually (start with about 4 quarts).
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 8: Check level and inspect for leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30–60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 2–3 minutes for oil to settle.
• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop rags, reinsert fully, then pull again to read the level.
• Add oil in small amounts until the level is at the full mark (don’t overfill).
• Look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Take a short 5–10 minute drive, then recheck for leaks and verify the oil level on the dipstick.
• 🧪 Reset the maintenance reminder if your Kona has one (if you tell me what your cluster screen shows, I’ll give the exact button sequence).
• 🧪 Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a local recycling/auto parts store that accepts waste oil.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$170 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$85 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$85 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.2 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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