Driving a Kia around Houston, you know that you can count on your vehicle to offer you a safe, quality ride. Plus, with an industry-leading warranty, if something does happen out on the open road, you know that it’ll be taken care of, which makes it even easier to choose to ride in a Kia. When it comes to maintaining your Kia, you may not fully realize just how much goes into ensuring that you’re traveling as efficiently and comfortably as possible, but your service team knows all about this. Here at Parkway Family Kia, whether you’re seeking out a Kia for sale near Houston or are looking for a reputable service center, we’ve got you covered. After you drive off the lot, you’ll be responsible for maintaining your vehicle, so here’s your guide to your Kia’s routine maintenance in order to feel completely confident in the integrity of your ride.
What Is Routine Maintenance? Why Is It Important?
There are several components that make your car coast along the streets with ease. From your engine to your transmission, tires, battery, spark plugs, hoses, and more, a wide array of parts work together to power you forward—and they all need to be maintained. This is what routine maintenance is for, allowing our service team to check the various components of your vehicle at regular intervals to ensure they’re in working order. If something needs to be addressed, we can alert you and fix the issue before it begins to affect you as you’re cruising down I-69.
Routine maintenance is one of the most important responsibilities you’ll have as a vehicle owner. Parts in your car don’t last forever, and regular wear and tear can take its toll on your vehicle. To enhance your car’s longevity and ensure that you’re traveling in a safe and reliable vehicle, regularly taking it in for service is a must. After all, you want to make the most of your time on the road, and the last thing you want is for your vehicle to break down. Keeping up with routine maintenance will help your vehicle perform at its best and improve the quality of your experience on the road.
Kia Maintenance Intervals
Having a Kia take on all of your Houston travel adventures means being able to fully enjoy your time behind the wheel. These vehicles were built to last and are loaded with all the desirable features drivers are seeking out these days. Like any vehicle, Kia models will need to be regularly maintained, but don’t worry—you won’t need to spend hours at our service center as every part of your vehicle is addressed. Instead, Kia publishes scheduled maintenance intervals for all of its vehicles, allowing you to focus on a handful of things at various points of your travel journey. Let’s take a look at some of the most common Kia maintenance intervals. However, remember that your vehicle may have slightly different intervals, and it’s always best to consult your owner’s manual or our certified technicians to learn the specifics of your Kia.
Oil & Filter Replacement
Although this may vary depending on your vehicle and the type of oil it takes, Kia generally recommends getting your oil changed every 8,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes sooner. This also includes replacing the oil filter so that debris is less likely to accumulate in your engine. If you’re curious to know when your particular model should have an oil change, looking at your owner’s manual or asking our friendly professionals can help you figure this out.
Tire Rotation & Replacement
It’s also a good idea to get your tires rotated every 8,000 miles—at the same time as you get your oil changed for maximum convenience. You want your tires to wear at an even rate to maximize their lifespan, but the front and rear tires naturally wear at different paces. This is why your tires need to be rotated to ensure that they all wear evenly, prolonging their lifespan and also providing you with a safe ride. Regular tire rotations also give our technicians a chance to inspect your tires and give you a heads-up when they are beginning to wear out so that you can plan to replace them.
Cabin Air Filter Replacement
Your cabin air filter does more than just keep the air in the cabin smelling fresh. It also filters out dust and debris from entering your vehicle and clogging up your HVAC system, overworking your engine. Kia typically recommends changing this filter every 16,000 miles or 24 months, whichever comes sooner, to ensure that it will continue to do its job properly.
Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement
Brake pads and rotors are another component that wears out over time. How long they last will depend on your vehicle and driving style—if you spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic in downtown Houston, they’ll wear out faster than if you mostly commute on the highway. Kia recommends having your brakes inspected every 8,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes sooner. However, if you notice your vehicle squealing when the brakes are engaged, or it’s more difficult to come to a full stop, you’ll want to have your brakes checked out as soon as possible.
Belts, Hoses, Suspension, and More
There are many moving parts inside your vehicle, and when it comes to maintaining a vast majority of them, regular inspections are vital. When you make a service appointment, you can expect your technician to take a look at your Kia’s belts, including the timing belt, as well as your battery, suspension, exhaust system, and steering system. If anything needs to be addressed, your technician will be sure to share their findings with you and move forward accordingly.
Factors to Keep in Mind About Maintenance Intervals
It’s important to note that maintenance intervals are just a starting point. How often you bring your vehicle in for service depends heavily on your driving habits, as well as the Kia model you’re traveling in. For example, those who travel on rougher terrain or who clock more miles on I-10 than other Houston travelers will want to bring their vehicles in for maintenance more frequently. Those with older models may also need to bring their vehicles in sooner than those with newer vehicles.
If you happen to notice your vehicle making any strange sounds or emitting any bad odors, it’s important to bring it in to get checked out as soon as possible. Just because you’re not due for service doesn’t mean that you should ignore an issue. By dealing with it right away, you reduce the chance of a small issue erupting into a major inconvenience when you are traveling. At each service appointment, you can count on our reputable team to check fluid levels, perform diagnostics, and ensure that all parts of your vehicle are in working condition. These little checks go a long way in preserving the integrity of your vehicle, which is why it’s important to partner with a service team you can trust.
Maintain Your Kia Properly at Parkway Family Kia
Make the most of your time sailing down the Houston streets in a vehicle that you can rely on to provide you with a safe and efficient ride. We can’t stress enough how important it is to have a dependable service team by your side that’s trained and experienced in working on Kia vehicles. That’s why Parkway Family Kia is here to help local drivers maintain their Kias and continue to travel with unmatched confidence. Not only can you expect a team of highly trained and knowledgeable professionals, but you can also take advantage of convenient service, top-quality parts, and a stress-free experience, no matter what brings you to see us. Routine maintenance is essential with any vehicle, but having a place like Parkway Family Kia to care for your vehicle makes it easier to keep it running at its peak for many miles.