The Complete Guide to Hyundai Kona Maintenance

The zippy Hyundai Kona subcompact SUV was first launched in 2017 and has quickly become a popular crossover model worldwide. Like any vehicle, routine maintenance is essential to keeping your Hyundai Kona running smoothly for years. Neglect key services and you’ll soon suffer decreased performance and whopping repair bills.

This guide comprehensively lists all the recommended maintenance tasks and schedules for your Kona. It covers everything you need to keep your spunky crossover running smoothly, including oil changes, brake pads, tire rotation, fluid flushes, and more. You’ll also find expert tips on spotting issues early and suggested mileage intervals to follow. With this knowledge, you can keep your beloved Kona looking and feeling like new!

Oil Changes

Frequent oil and filter changes are perhaps the most critical maintenance items for the long-term health of your Kona engine. Over time, oil breaks down from heat and combustion blow-by, losing its lubricating properties. Dirty oil accelerates wear dramatically. Hyundai recommends changing your Kona’s motor oil and filter every 7,500 miles or six months under normal driving conditions.

For more details, check out this Hyundai Kona maintenance guide.

If you make frequent short-distance trips, drive in extremely hot or cold weather, idle excessively, or tow trailers, then every 5,000 miles/6 months is preferable.

Hyundai specifies using 5W-20 or 5W-30 grade conventional motor oil, meeting certain American Petroleum Institute (API) classifications. Oils labeled SN PLUS, SN, SM, or SL all meet auto manufacturer standards. Using synthetic oils may allow longer drain intervals, though evidence suggests sticking with the 7,500-mile schedule.

While convenient, quick oil change shops often use generic filters and bulk oil that may not offer optimum engine protection. DIY oil changes only require simple hand tools but yield factory-grade lubricants at significant cost savings, a win-win! Be sure to recycle the old oil at designated drop-off centers as well.

Tire Rotation

Rotating your Kona’s tires every 7,500 miles ensures they wear evenly for maximum road contact and handling. Front tires wear faster than rear ones due to steering forces. Tire rotation essentially swaps their positions for more uniform tread depth. Insufficient wear can rapidly degrade traction, even in dry conditions.

Tire rotation involves a crisscross pattern swapping front tires to rear and vice versa on opposite sides. Some shops prefer an X pattern instead of directional tires. This complete position change equals out tread wear substantially better than just side-to-side movement.

Tools like a jack, jack stands, torque wrench, lug wrench, and wood blocks for safety are required. Always use caution when jacking up a vehicle and secure it properly on stands. Set lug nuts to spec with a torque wrench once finished rather than an impact gun to prevent wheels from loosening later.

Spark Plugs

You guessed it – spark plugs fire off thousands of times per minute to ignite fuel in the engine. However, after 60,000 miles, electrode erosion and combustion deposit buildup can decrease performance substantially. Replacing worn spark plugs every five years/60k miles restores peak power, fuel economy, and smooth idle in the Kona. Iridium-electrode plugs installed at the factory feature exceptional longevity and performance.

See recommendations for the Hyundai Kona spark plug gap.

A specialized spark plug socket makes removal easier by gripping the ceramic insulator. Carefully twist each plug side to side when pulling up to break it free from the cylinder head. If replacing used plugs, inspect them carefully as conditions indicate engine issues like oil burning or carbon deposits.

Air Filter Replacement

A clean air filter ensures optimal airflow and power while protecting the Kona’s engine. Hyundai recommends inspecting the air filter every 15,000 miles and replacing it approximately every 30,000 miles, depending on driving conditions. Costing around $15-20, this cheap maintenance step reaps huge dividends for engine operation.

The Kona uses a dry paper filter element housed in a rectangular plastic case along the fender wall behind the radiator fans. Fortunately, no tools are required to access it once you unclip the locking tabs around the housing perimeter. Slide out the dirty filter and replace it with a new one, taking care not to bang or damage the media pleats that filter the air.

Avoid touching the filter surface as dirt and hand oils impact airflow. Once secured in place, inspect all housing seals for tight fitment and re-clip the locking tabs disturbed earlier. That’s all there is to it!

Coolant Flush

Like oil, engine coolant degrades over time and should be replaced every 30,000 miles or 3 years. Coolant/anti-freeze protects against winter freezing while limiting summer corrosion and controlling operating temperatures year-round. Flushing old contaminated coolant improves heat transfer and anti-corrosion properties dramatically.

Flushing is a messy, hands-on process compared to a simple coolant drain/fill. But it far better clears out rust, scale deposits, and old fluid. Locate the radiator drain plug near the bottom driver side, letting coolant gravity flow into a large clean pan.

Next, manually fill the radiator with clean water until it overflows from the reservoir to rinse any grime. Finally, repeat this fill/drain cycle 2-3 more times until you see clear water emerging versus cloudy brown.

Now mix your fresh anti-freeze concentrate with purified water at a 50/50 ratio before pouring it into the radiator fill hole near the tip-top passenger side. Leave the cap off as you crank the engine briefly to bleed air bubbles out until fluid is visible. Top off any remaining space before securing the radiator cap tightly. After wrapping up, reset your Kona’s coolant change reminder light or maintenance sticker.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Keeping clean automatic transmission fluid (ATF) prevents premature wear, slipping gears, and eventual failure in your Kona’s self-shifting gearbox. Hyundai specifies a drain/refill service every 60,000 miles without a flush to maintain lubricating properties and friction characteristics as fluid ages.

If experiencing rough shifts or socialism issues, try a complete flush instead, replacing nearly 100% of all ATF versus 40-50% for a standard change.

The Kona utilizes Hyundai’s own SP-IV automatic transmission fluid or comparable brands meeting strict specifications. According to the factory, incorrect use of Dexron/Mercon or other non-approved fluids risks transmission damage and voided warranties.

Hyundai dealerships typically charge around $150-250 for this straightforward service, making DIY a smart option for handy owners.

An automatic fluid exchange machine simplifies this process immensely for shade tree mechanics versus traditional pan drops. These nifty devices connect to the cooler lines, utilizing the transmission’s pump to swap old fluid for fresh efficiently.

Models with an exchange percentage gauge take the guesswork out of timing. Slow, patient exchanges protect sensitive valve body seals and gaskets better than forced extraction methods.

Brake Fluid Flush

While dwarfed by their rotors and calipers, those tiny cylinders buried in your brake pads play a crucial role. Caldwell hydraulic brake fluid transfers pressure from your brake pedal to the wheels for stopping power.

But brake fluid is highly hygroscopic, readily absorbing moisture over time from minuscule cracks and air exposure. Too much water content lowers boiling temp while promoting corrosion and sludge inside those sensitive ABS brake system components.

Flushing old, contaminated brake fluid restores performance and braking capacities in your Kona. The goal is to remove moisture-rich fluid through multiple fills/bleeds until emerging liquid runs clear. DIYers can purchase commercial brake bleed machines, but a helper makes the manual process easier.

Just keep the master cylinder full of fresh fluid, so air is not sucked back in as old liquid leaves each caliper bleeder screw.

Take care to avoid brake fluid contacting paint, as it quickly causes damage. Monitoring brake fluid color is wise, as dark fluid indicates excessive moisture.

The Takeaway

Consistently caring for your Hyundai Kona pays dividends through enhanced driving feel, peak fuel mileage, and lower lifetime operating costs. Show your zippy little crossover some TLC by following all scheduled maintenance recommendations right from the driver’s seat.

With a handy routine and quality parts, your Kona will reciprocate for years beyond the odometer’s final digits.