Help! Is My K5 Leaking Oil, or Am I Overthinking This?

Kia Models Forum K5
1

:unamused:Hallo…

I’m dealing with something weird and could use some advice. Quick backstory: I bought my 2024 K5 LXS in October 2023, but since I’m a college student, I barely drove it for the first 7-8 months—it was mostly just sitting in my garage. This summer I’ve been driving it more, but I’ve only put about 2,000 miles on it so far.

About a month ago (10 months after buying it), I got a “low engine oil” alert, so I topped it off with oil and thought everything was fine. Then, a few days ago, I got a “change engine oil soon” alert on the dash, so I took it to a local VIP Tire shop for its first oil change.
Here’s the weird part: the tech told me to take it to a Kia dealership because, according to him, the car was “leaking oil like a sieve.” Now, I don’t know if he meant that literally or if he was just talking about how I needed an oil change with only 2,000 miles on it.So, my question is: does it make sense that the car would need an oil top-up and an oil change after just 2,000 miles, even though it’s a year old and hasn’t been driven much? Or should I be concerned this could be a real oil leak issue? :wink:
I’ve already contacted my local Kia dealer, but they’re closed today (Sunday), so I thought I’d ask here in the meantime. Any advice or similar experiences would be super helpful! Best regards… :unamused:

2

Check the driveway or garage floor underneath your car for any dark, greasy streaks. :saluting_face:Keep an eye on the space beneath the differential, engine, and transmission.

3

Look for any obvious oil leaks in the engine by opening the hood.
Examine the area surrounding the engine base, the valve covers, and the oil filter.

4

Regularly check the oil level with the dipstick. A leak could be the cause if it’s low and you’re not adding oil in between changes. :unamused:Observe the consistency and color of the oil. Darkness and a burning smell could be signs of trouble.

5

It is preferable to have a mechanic look into any oil leaks you may be aware of. They are able to do a comprehensive inspection on your K5 and identify the leak’s origin. :saluting_face:

6

:flushed: One of the most common causes.
Oil leakage onto the engine may be caused by the valve cover gasket.