CVT fluid change 2020 KIA Forte EX

[Walter1982]

There are a set of values stored on a module on the valve body in the CVT. These values can be cleared and then will be read / programmed when the system is re-started. I did that a few times when I was swapping TCUs but I never noticed a difference.

In our car (Nissan Cube) I've used three different TCUs with two different CVTs. It's all plug-&-play as far as code goes, wish it was so easy on the mechanical side. The most important thing is having the firmware up to date and keeping the fluid & magnets clean.

Interesting. There's so much to know, and if you are not well informed the dealerships treat you like an idiot and will not divulge crucial information. A year after buying the car I found a TSB for a firmware update for my IVT, the update apparently eliminates the "slip" or "drag" from the IVT upon accelerating from a red light. I vaguely remember it being an improvement for me.

For now as long as I have a way to monitor IVT fluid temperature I think it will be good enough for a drain/fill. Maybe sometime in the future I can figure out how to reset adaptive values. Someone in the Kia Seltos forum uses a THINKDIAG scanner that's under $200 that allows him to reset adaptive learning values. There's also a $550 scanner computer that may provide even more features.

In the Seltos forum I learned of a place for service manuals called "factorymanuals.net" and I emailed them and they said the manual for the 2020 Kia Forte has information on removing the transmission pan for my IVT, which should have torque specifications and tightening sequences. It's only $70 so I will likely buy it, which will allow me to open the pan and clean the magnets at the very least. Someday I may determine if I need to change out the filters as well. The IVT fluid is only $15 a quart, and each drain/fill will use about 4 quarts, so I will drain/fill this month, and later in the summer I will clean the magnets and obviously drain/fill again. I have a 3 year subscription to ALLData DIY service manuals, but for my Forte it does not have the procedure/torque specs for the IVT.

From what I've gathered reading about my generation of the Forte, it seems the IVT's start to fail in expensive ways before the engine does. Since I've always religiously changed the oil, I'm now extra focused on the IVT, and would like it to last just as long as the engine. It's taken me quite a bit of time to gather the necessary information to confidently work on the IVT.

 

[martinq]

Interesting. There's so much to know, and if you are not well informed the dealerships treat you like an idiot and will not divulge crucial information. A year after buying the car I found a TSB for a firmware update for my IVT, the update apparently eliminates the "slip" or "drag" from the IVT upon accelerating from a red light. I vaguely remember it being an improvement for me.

For now as long as I have a way to monitor IVT fluid temperature I think it will be good enough for a drain/fill. Maybe sometime in the future I can figure out how to reset adaptive values. Someone in the Kia Seltos forum uses a THINKDIAG scanner that's under $200 that allows him to reset adaptive learning values. There's also a $550 scanner computer that may provide even more features.

In the Seltos forum I learned of a place for service manuals called "factorymanuals.net" and I emailed them and they said the manual for the 2020 Kia Forte has information on removing the transmission pan for my IVT, which should have torque specifications and tightening sequences. It's only $70 so I will likely buy it, which will allow me to open the pan and clean the magnets at the very least. Someday I may determine if I need to change out the filters as well. The IVT fluid is only $15 a quart, and each drain/fill will use about 4 quarts, so I will drain/fill this month, and later in the summer I will clean the magnets and obviously drain/fill again. I have a 3 year subscription to ALLData DIY service manuals, but for my Forte it does not have the procedure/torque specs for the IVT.

From what I've gathered reading about my generation of the Forte, it seems the IVT's start to fail in expensive ways before the engine does. Since I've always religiously changed the oil, I'm now extra focused on the IVT, and would like it to last just as long as the engine. It's taken me quite a bit of time to gather the necessary information to confidently work on the IVT.

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck and keep us posted on developments and questions you may have.

 

[nobb]

So what's the TLR on the necessity of resetting when doing a fluid change on a modern CVT? Is it absolutely necessary, or is this somewhat of an optional thing? I'd just be worried that there's some magic wizardry going on that may cause MORE wear on a CVT if it's not properly reset or calibrated somehow to account for the wear. It is a huge PITA because each manufacturer has their own specific protocol, of which you need a $$$ bi-directional scan tool to access.

 

[martinq]

So what's the TLR on the necessity of resetting when doing a fluid change on a modern CVT? Is it absolutely necessary, or is this somewhat of an optional thing? I'd just be worried that there's some magic wizardry going on that may cause MORE wear on a CVT if it's not properly reset or calibrated somehow to account for the wear. It is a huge PITA because each manufacturer has their own specific protocol, of which you need a $$$ bi-directional scan tool to access.

TLDR : Don't worry about it. Worry about the fluid temperature and firmware updates instead.

But absolutely change your fluid, clean the magnets, repeat, until they stay clean. OEM OCI of CVT and AT should only be followed after break-in with a clean system. A clean, broken-in transmission will stay clean if the magnets and fluid are serviced appropriately.

 

[Walter1982]

Reading your transmission temperature can be very inexpensive. I use a $5 app (CVTz50) to monitor my CVT functions and codes. The Veepeak VP11 bluetooth adapter was $20.

According to this post you can use the Car Scanner app to check it.
https://www.seltosforum.com/threads...n-fluid-change.1811/?post_id=14869#post-14869

I'm having trouble getting CVTz50 to work.

I put in the password 1234, and it says paired, but I'm not sure if it's connected. When I press on ODBII, it doesn't move forward with connecting, like you would see with any other bluetooth device.

 

[martinq]

I'm having trouble getting CVTz50 to work.

I put in the password 1234, and it says paired, but I'm not sure if it's connected. When I press on ODBII, it doesn't move forward with connecting, like you would see with any other bluetooth device.
View attachment 337936




View attachment 337937



View attachment 337938

It's been years since I setup CVTz50 but I'll get back with some things to check in the settings.

 

[Walter1982]

Someone said Car Scanner also will tell you IVT fluid temp.

 

[martinq]

Please note what is stated on the CVTz50 site. This is not for Kia/Hundai, it's primarily for Nissan / JATCO applications. It is not a universal CVT app.

 

[Walter1982]

Please note what is stated on the CVTz50 site. This is not for Kia/Hundai, it's primarily for Nissan / JATCO applications. It is not a universal CVT app.

Oh wow, I was worried about that. I'll try the Car Scanner app.

 

[TimeFlies]

Is the Hyundai cvt oil, exactly the same as Kia cvt oil?
If so, which Hyundai oil, for a 2021 kia seltos transmission?
Thanks, hope it was okay to jump in on this thread.

 

[martinq]

Use Valvoline MaxLife ATF / CVT for excellent performance and save money at the same time. Lots of options to choose from for CVT fluid from all the common suppliers. Kia/Hyundai is no exception.

 

[TimeFlies]

Use Valvoline MaxLife ATF / CVT for excellent performance and save money at the same time. Lots of options to choose from for CVT fluid from all the common suppliers. Kia/Hyundai is no exception.

Is it as good, or better than the oem oil?

 

[Walter1982]

Is it as good, or better than the oem oil?

It looks like Kia and Hyundai use the same IVT fluid.

Hyundai/Kia SP-CVT1 fluid (Part Number 00232-19081 or UM018-CH130).

My 2020 Kia Forte EX has the same engine and IVT as a 2020 Kia Seltos EX. But you should find a parts website just to confirm is the same for a 2020 Kia Seltos. It most likely is.

I have found that sometimes the same part for a Hyundai shares the same part # as Kia.

For example, when I was replacing all 3 engine mounts, I found the mount bolts on Ebay cheaper than at KiaPartsNow.com.

But the bolts were in a bag labeled as Hyundai. But it was the same exact part # as the Kia bolts, so I went with the Hyundai bolts, and upon inspection, they appeared identical to the bolts I took off my kia.

So yes, it would seem it's the same IVT fluid.

As far as using non-oem IVT fluid, I probably would not risk it.

AI says : Using generic "multi-vehicle" CVT fluids is generally not recommended, as IVTs use a steel chain rather than a traditional push-belt. Using OEM fluid is highly encouraged by mechanics to prevent slippage and long-term damage.

Other than price, I cannot find any reason to use non-oem IVT fluid.

Even if you found CVT fluid that's $5 a quart, when you drain your IVT you will not pour in more than 4 quarts. The cheapest quarts of IVT fluid I found were $15 a quart, so it's $60 in IVT fluid to do a drain and fill.

A $60 cost is negligible, and it's not so much that I would risk buying non-oem fluid. Even if you change your IVT fluid every 40,000 miles, $60 is still negligible.

I am not a wealthy man so I am not taking any chances with IVT fluids. Kia and Hyundai are the only cars with IVT's, while Nissan and Subaru and other manufacturers use CVT's. IVT's work a little different than CVT's.

For example, a Nissan Sentra CVT, when you hit the gas, it is not programmed to "shift". In other words, if you hit the gas from a stop, and bring the RPM's to 3,000, you can keep the needle at 3,000 RPMs until you hit 80 mph.

IVT's don't work that way. They are designed to imitate "shifting". So with my Kia, if I hit the gas from a stop, by watching the RPM's you'll see that it attempts to imitate a traditional transmission, by "shifting gears".

I believe this is one of the reasons IVT's are built differently than other CVT's, and that could be part of the reason IVT's need a special fluid.

 

[martinq]

Is it as good, or better than the oem oil?

Definitely better just because it can support virtually all CVTs on the market and that's something that no OEM fluid can do or claim.

CVT and AT fluids are not a special mystery, just use something good, keep your magnets clean and don't let it overheat.

 

[Walter1982]

I Meant to say 2021 Kia Seltos.

 

[martinq]

Is it as good, or better than the oem oil?

Yes, that's how Valvoline is able to recommend it in so many applications. It is at least as "good" as the "best" fluid in their recommendation list.

 

[TimeFlies]

Thanks everyone!

I ordered valvoline.

 

[martinq]

...
I believe this is one of the reasons IVT's are built differently than other CVT's, and that could be part of the reason IVT's need a special fluid.

"IVT" is something that was created for marketing purposes. There doesn't appear to be anything unique or interesting with this Hyundai/Kia CVT or it's fluid. Use any superior aftermarket CVT fluid with confidence, worrying about things you don't understand is only helpful if you act constructively.

 

[Walter1982]

"IVT" is something that was created for marketing purposes. There doesn't appear to be anything unique or interesting with this Hyundai/Kia CVT or it's fluid. Use any superior aftermarket CVT fluid with confidence, worrying about things you don't understand is only helpful if you act constructively.

When he goes to drain his IVT, not all the IVT fluid will pour out. Roughly half the fluid remains in the IVT. When he goes to pour in the Valvoline CVT fluid, it will mix with the Kia IVT fluid in his transmission. That would make me very anxious, even if the Valvoline bottle says it meets SP-CVT1 specifications.

Your transmission generates high heat; OEM fluid is tested to maintain its viscosity and protect against thermal breakdown under Kia-specific operating conditions.

Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmissions (IVT/CVT) rely on a precisely calibrated metal-push-belt and pulley system. SP-CVT1 is engineered with specific metal-to-metal frictional properties to prevent the belt from slipping under load.

 

[martinq]

When he goes to drain his IVT, not all the IVT fluid will pour out. Roughly half the fluid remains in the IVT. When he goes to pour in the Valvoline CVT fluid, it will mix with the Kia IVT fluid in his transmission. That would make me very anxious...

No need to be anxious unless you depend on fear to survive. The CVT fluid you add to the transmission is completely compatible with the old / OEM fluid. The new fluid is cleaner and less worn and contaminated, this is a good thing.

Did you know that when someone does an engine oil change on a Kia / Hyundai that not all the old fluid is drained and you may have a mixture of 5-25% of old fluid with new? This should make you very anxious, right?

Kia / Hyundai engine oil is only available from authorized dealers and is "special" for your "special" engine. I'm quite sure the same is true for Kia / Hyundai brake fluid, engine coolant and quite possibly the windshield washer fluid.