Hey BITOG community,
I'm looking for some advice on whether I should perform a transmission drain and fill on my 2019 Kia Sportage EX AWD (2.4L Theta II GDI n/a) with 112k miles. To my knowledge, the transmission fluid has never been serviced before.
The car isn't having any major issues, but recently I've noticed some minor symptoms like:
Difficulty finding the right gear at low speeds (around 20 mph).
A bit of hesitation or delay when shifting into gear.
I called my local Kia dealership, and they quoted me $250 for a power flush but mentioned they don’t do drain and fills and typically don’t recommend flushes for transmissions with over 100k miles. I found that confusing, especially because flushing can sometimes dislodge debris in high-mileage transmissions and cause problems. I’m planning to call another dealership and a transmission shop for second opinions and price quotes, but I’ve also been researching the possibility of doing a drain and fill myself.
My questions for you all are:
1. Should I be concerned about doing a drain and fill with the transmission at 112k miles? Could it make things worse?
2. Has anyone else done a DIY drain and fill on a high-mileage Kia/Hyundai transmission with similar symptoms? How did it go?
3. Would it be better to go with the dealership’s power flush, or should I stick with a drain and fill given the mileage?
4. Are there any special tips for a Sportage AWD in particular when doing this service? I want to make sure I do it right.
Any advice, tips, or experiences would be really appreciated. I want to extend the life of the transmission without making things worse!
Thanks in advance!
For additional context:
- car was bought used in June with 98k miles.
- car had two previous owners, both racked up a lot of miles, I estimate over 18k miles a year. Not sure what kind of driving it was but given we live in Upstate NY, I'm sure at least half, if not more, was highway.
- I myself commute 80 miles a day (roundtrip to and from work) five days a week. My wife and I also use it for Uber eats delivery, and she just started a local pizza delivery gig. By my estimation, I put on 400 miles a week just going from my drive way to the parking lot at work. The Uber eats and pizza delivery add another few hundred miles, we seem to be averaging around 1000 miles a week. I change the motor oil every 5k (I've done two already and about to do my third since we got it)
Any additional details and information I can provide to help you help me, just let me know. Thank you for your time!
I'm looking for some advice on whether I should perform a transmission drain and fill on my 2019 Kia Sportage EX AWD (2.4L Theta II GDI n/a) with 112k miles. To my knowledge, the transmission fluid has never been serviced before.
The car isn't having any major issues, but recently I've noticed some minor symptoms like:
Difficulty finding the right gear at low speeds (around 20 mph).
A bit of hesitation or delay when shifting into gear.
I called my local Kia dealership, and they quoted me $250 for a power flush but mentioned they don’t do drain and fills and typically don’t recommend flushes for transmissions with over 100k miles. I found that confusing, especially because flushing can sometimes dislodge debris in high-mileage transmissions and cause problems. I’m planning to call another dealership and a transmission shop for second opinions and price quotes, but I’ve also been researching the possibility of doing a drain and fill myself.
My questions for you all are:
1. Should I be concerned about doing a drain and fill with the transmission at 112k miles? Could it make things worse?
2. Has anyone else done a DIY drain and fill on a high-mileage Kia/Hyundai transmission with similar symptoms? How did it go?
3. Would it be better to go with the dealership’s power flush, or should I stick with a drain and fill given the mileage?
4. Are there any special tips for a Sportage AWD in particular when doing this service? I want to make sure I do it right.
Any advice, tips, or experiences would be really appreciated. I want to extend the life of the transmission without making things worse!
Thanks in advance!
For additional context:
- car was bought used in June with 98k miles.
- car had two previous owners, both racked up a lot of miles, I estimate over 18k miles a year. Not sure what kind of driving it was but given we live in Upstate NY, I'm sure at least half, if not more, was highway.
- I myself commute 80 miles a day (roundtrip to and from work) five days a week. My wife and I also use it for Uber eats delivery, and she just started a local pizza delivery gig. By my estimation, I put on 400 miles a week just going from my drive way to the parking lot at work. The Uber eats and pizza delivery add another few hundred miles, we seem to be averaging around 1000 miles a week. I change the motor oil every 5k (I've done two already and about to do my third since we got it)
Any additional details and information I can provide to help you help me, just let me know. Thank you for your time!
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