Kia Rio 3 is a compact car located in the same class as Lada Vesta and Volkswagen Polo. Another closest competitor is the Hyundai Solaris, on the basis of which the 3rd generation Rio was built. The machine went into production in 2011 at a plant in St. Petersburg. The sedan and hatchback of the same name had a common design with the Solaris, but were noticeably different in exterior and interior design.
The engine range included 1.4 and 1.6 liter petrol engines, operating with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. A six-speed automatic transmission was also available for the 1.6 engine, which began to be offered after the 2015 restyling. In addition, the restyled model received updated head optics, improved bumpers and radiator grille, and LEDs were built into the taillights. In the cabin, the steering wheel and air conditioning system have been updated. The third generation Kia Rio was released until 2022.
What manual transmission is on the Kia Rio 3
The third generation Kia Rio was equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox Hyundai M6CF1, which appeared in 2010 and replaced the five-speed M5CF1 gearbox. This gearbox model is installed on a large number of Kia and Hyundai models with front-wheel drive and a transverse internal combustion engine. Before us is a classic two-shaft transmission unit with cable drive. The design of the Hyundai M6CF1 also provides double-cone synchronizers in the first three gears, and single-cone synchronizers are used in the remaining gears.
Disadvantages and cost of the M6CF1 box
- leakage along the input shaft oil seal, as a result of which the leak spreads to the driven clutch disc, which can cause slipping. To replace this seal, you will have to completely disassemble the box.
- low clutch reliability in harsh conditions, although the resource of this unit can reach up to 100 thousand kilometers, and the release bearing has a much shorter service life
- bearing humming may be associated with active use in city traffic jams or off-road. The component can hum at 150 thousand km, but in a gentle mode of use their resource can reach 250 thousand
- lubricant leaks through the wires, and this is especially true for gearboxes in the first years of production of the Kia Rio 3. A recall campaign was still carried out regarding this issue. It affected cars with manual transmission, and the defect was corrosion of the input shaft
- The gearbox drive requires periodic adjustment
- The service life of the M6CF1 box is 180 thousand km, and its cost on the secondary market ranges from 25 to 60 thousand rubles. For a contract version abroad they ask for 500 euros, and the cost of a new product is 75 thousand rubles.
Recommended oil
As with the engine, three types of oils can be recommended for the Kia Rio's gearbox.
| 1. Synthetic is the best oil today due to its high fluidity. The fluid is quite rare and quickly lubricates transmission parts, and is also practically not prone to freezing at low temperatures. Based on this, synthetics can be recommended not only for summer, but also for harsh winter use. |
| 2. Mineral is one of the cheapest gear oils, since it is the complete opposite of synthetics. This composition has too thick a consistency and is prone to hardening even at not the lowest temperatures. In this regard, problems with the clarity of gear shifting cannot be ruled out, and interruptions in starting the engine may also occur. Therefore, mineral liquid is strictly not recommended for winter operating conditions. This oil is used mainly by owners of old cars, and in the case of the Kia Rio 3, only the most economical owners of such cars from the first years of production may prefer it. |
| 3. Semi-synthetic - the golden mean between synthetics and mineral water, since such oil is produced with the addition of two types of liquid - synthetics and mineral water. And yet, there is much more mineral oil in semi-synthetics. Based on this, it is not surprising that semi-synthetics should also not be used at extremely low temperatures. However, the quality of such oil is significantly superior to ordinary mineral water, but semi-synthetic is also recommended for owners of Rio in the first years of production |
Based on the above, we can conclude that the optimal oil for Kia Rio with a manual transmission is synthetic oil. It can be used for cars after 2013, while owners of older models may well save on purchasing semi-synthetics.
In addition to the type of oil, when choosing a suitable fluid for a Kia Rio manual transmission, you also need to take into account other equally important parameters.
- Among them, API-GL4 approval is important, which is suitable for most manual transmissions. It will be enough for Kia Rio.
- Another important parameter is oil viscosity. So, for winter operation, a viscosity of SAE 70W, 75W-, 80W or 85W is suitable, while in summer it is better to use SAE 90, 140 or 250. For year-round use, you can opt for oil SAE 75W-80, 80W-85, 85W-90, 75W-90 or 80W-90.
The recommended oil for the manual transmission of the Kia Rio 3 is Hyundai-Kia MTF 75W-90 GL-4 , created specifically for manual transmissions. In addition, an alternative oil for the Hyundai M6CF1 6-speed gearbox is SAE 75W-85 API-GL-4 fluid with specification TGO-7 (MS517-14).
About Hyundai MTF 75W-90 oil
Hyundai MTF 75W-90 is an original transmission fluid for manual transmissions of cars produced by Hyundai and Kia. This oil can also be used to lubricate transfer transmissions and steering gearboxes. The oil is developed by Mobis, part of the Hyundai Corporation, and Hyundai MTF 75W-90 is produced by Michang, SK Lubricants and S-Oil Total Lubricants. This lubricant contains antioxidant, anti-corrosion and anti-wear additives that ensure smooth operation of the gearbox and smooth gear shifting without any jerking or jerking. At the same time, the original characteristics of the gearbox and the oil itself do not deteriorate and are maintained until its next scheduled replacement.
It is recommended to purchase original all-season Hyundai MTF 75W-90 oil only from official dealers or certified stores, including online stores. The lubricant is sold in blue plastic cans, the volume of which can vary from 1 to 6 liters. At the same time, each volume has its own article number:
- Liter canister – article number 043005L1A0
- Six-liter canister – article number 043005L6A0
The average cost of one liter of transmission fluid is 500 rubles, and a six-liter container will cost 2500-2800 rubles, depending on the region and store.
Characteristics of Hyundai MTF 75W-90 GL-4
- Type – synthetic
- Viscosity – 75W-90
- Color – amber
- Pour point – minus 42 degrees
- Density at 15 degrees – 899 kg/cubic. m
Selection of class and viscosity
All manual transmissions used the same oil.
Manual
Note! Class GL-4! Not GL-5! The latter is considered unsafe for synchronizers and is recommended for axles, gearboxes and loaded gearboxes.
In practice, clients are different. Many people use five. I’ll note right away that I didn’t see any disconnected synchronizers. Perhaps they wear out a little faster, because... When shifting quickly, the clarity of gear engagement deteriorates. GL-5 is worse when forced out of synchronizers.
There is a marking: GL-4/5. This is a five with an additional package of additives for manual transmission. This can be used.
Fits
Let's move on to viscosity: the first two digits are responsible for the negative temperature, the ones after W - for the positive one. In the manual, only 75W85. For hot regions, the range can be expanded to W90.
Oil classification, API standard
On the highway at temperatures above +30 degrees, 75W90 has a more optimal viscosity characteristic, liquefying less than W85. In addition, our box does not have an oil cooling circuit.
Under what conditions should you change the oil in advance?
In Russia, most car manufacturers and official service stations recommend promptly changing the oil in a manual transmission, especially if the car is subjected to heavy loads for most of its operation. We are talking about sudden starts and braking, changes in throttle and active maneuvers in traffic light city traffic jams. Of course, too aggressive driving negatively affects the beneficial properties of the oil, which as a result becomes unusable much faster. Other severe operating modes of the vehicle include the following:
- transportation of heavy loads
- driving on broken roads
- Frequent towing of semi-trailers or vehicles
- variable climate and significant temperature changes
- wheel slipping on snowy or icy roads, as well as in mud
Under the above conditions, premature oil changes cannot be avoided in order to prevent major overhauls of the gearbox. After all, the cost of an oil change is much lower than such repairs. Thus, regularly updating the manual transmission oil will allow you to significantly save on maintenance.
When to replace
First you need to check the condition of the oil - at least this must be done every 10 thousand km. It doesn’t hurt to inspect the bottom for oil stains, and also, if necessary, check the tightness of the manual transmission seals and oil filler gaskets.
Below are the timings for changing the oil in difficult conditions, as well as depending on the type of oil.
| 35-40 thousand km – for mineral oil |
| 45-50 thousand km - for semi-synthetics |
| 65-70 thousand km - for synthetics |
Of course, in Russian conditions it is quite difficult to maintain careful driving. And yet, if you try to stick to a leisurely drive and shift gears smoothly, then the oil change schedule for a manual transmission can be 30 thousand more than in more difficult transmission operating modes. But it is important to keep in mind that even in a gentle mode of use, the oil change period should not exceed 100 thousand kilometers or six years, whichever comes first.
Specific names
Let's highlight well-known brands and the main parameters of oils that are best suited for Kia Rio manual transmission:
Mobil 1 SHC
- Oil type – all-season, synthetic
- SAE class parameters – 75W/90
- Parameters by API class – GL4
Lukoil TM-5
- Oil type – semi-synthetic
- SAE class - 75W/90
- API Class – GL-5
Castrol Suntrans Transacl
- Oil type - synthetic
- SAE class – 75W90
- API class – GL4
Toyota
- Type – synthetic
- SAE class – 75W/90
- API class – GL4/GL5
Mobil GX
- Oil type - synthetic
- SAE Class – 80W
- API Class – GL-5
Lukoil TM-5
- Oil type - synthetic
- SAE class – 85W/90
- API class – GL5
Why change the oil in a manual transmission?
The need to change transmission oil can be explained by its main functions:
| 1. Lubricating – ensures minimization of dry friction between gears that are constantly interlocked. The result is smooth engagement and uniform wear of parts, as well as effective heat removal from rubbing components. In addition, the oil protects gearbox mechanisms from metal shavings, which act on the metal as an abrasive. |
| 2.The protective function of the oil should be understood as a special protective film that protects transmission parts from corrosion and oxidation processes so that the gearbox lasts as long as possible and without failures |
| 3.The cooling function of the oil maintains optimal temperature conditions inside the gearbox. The fact is that in critical operating conditions, the temperature at the point of gear engagement can reach 250 degrees. The temperature of good (not old) oil does not exceed 150 degrees, which means the parts give off excess heat to it and are thus cooled |
How to change oil
Changing the oil in a Kia Rio manual transmission will require a lift or inspection pit. In extreme cases, an overpass will do. You will need the following equipment:
- drain pan
- syringe
- funnel
- a set of wrenches or sockets with the required diameter for the drain and oil filler holes
- O-ring for oil filler hole
- transmission oil in a volume of two liters
Oil change steps
- In preparation for the procedure, turn on the engine to heat the oil to a liquid state so that it drains faster
- Place the car on a lift, turn off the engine and apply the handbrake
- Remove the engine protection, place a tray under the hole to drain the used oil.
- Unscrew the oil filler plug and pull out the dipstick to facilitate the draining process
- If necessary, install a new gasket
- Unscrew the drain plug on the box crankcase and drain the used oil into a pre-prepared pan
- The drained fluid should be transparent, and if there are any impurities, the gearbox will need diagnostics at a service center (this may be due to increased wear, overheating, etc.)
- After draining the old oil, screw the drain plug back in.
- Using a funnel, pour liquid into the oil filler hole to the required level, which can be controlled with a dipstick
- Return the dipstick back to its place and tighten the oil filler hole.
- They install the protection, start the car and drive several kilometers to check the gearbox over the entire gear range. This will distribute the oil throughout the entire transmission.
- Check the oil level and top up if necessary.
What are the signs for an oil change?
- no movement after shifting into gear
- extraneous noise
- difficult gear shift
- used oil has a burning smell and is dark in color
Partial oil change
During a partial oil change, 40-60% of the total volume of old fluid is drained, after which this missing volume is replaced with new oil.
Advantages and disadvantages of partial replacement
- Less oil required per refill
- minimal costs for replacement services
- There is practically no risk of breaking the gearbox mechanisms, since no deep intervention in the design of the gearbox is required
Complete oil change
When changing the oil completely, it is possible not only to completely remove the old fluid, but also to flush the unit, as well as replace all consumables. And only after that new fluid is poured in.
Benefits of a full replacement
- after a complete replacement, there are no remnants of the old fluid in the box, as well as any dirt deposits
- The performance of the gearbox is noticeably improved, gears engage smoothly and there are no jerks
- possible slight reduction in fuel consumption
Based on the above, we can conclude that for high mileage it is better to perform a complete oil change. The fact is that with a partial replacement, only 50% of the oil can be replaced, and the rest remains in the box along with mud deposits. In general, the process of changing oil in a manual transmission is not difficult compared to an automatic transmission. The mechanics do not have filters and therefore do not need to be changed.
Hydro power steering (power steering)
Hydraulic power steering is an important element responsible for vehicle controllability. Every modern car is equipped with it. Like many other mechanical components, it requires high-quality and timely maintenance.
Replacement interval
The manufacturer does not regulate the replacement of power steering fluid. According to reviews on Internet forms, Kia Rio owners change the power steering fluid only when it begins to change its color to dark. This may happen after 20 and 30 thousand kilometers.
Check what color the liquid is in your tank. Remove the lid and take a couple of drops.
Which oil to choose
The transmission fluid in question for Rio must be rated PSF-3 or PSF-4. The cap on the power steering reservoir can also tell us this. For the first generation of Rio, you can safely take PSF-3. For later models it is better to take PSF-4.
The choice of a specific brand is not important; you can buy any.
For example, you can choose HYUNDAI PSF-3 80W.
What happens if you mix liquids with classes PSF-3 and PSF-4 in a tank - read the FAQ (frequently asked questions) at the end of the article.
Filling volume
To completely replace the Kia Rio power steering fluid, you will need 0.7-0.8 liters.
How to change
The power steering fluid is changed by pumping it out of the “return” (return hoses from the reservoir) and simultaneously adding new fluid. For this work, you will need an assistant who will rotate the steering wheel left and right.
Typically, the wheels are suspended in the air to facilitate the task of rotation. Some car enthusiasts come up with and simplify methods. For example, in the video below, the man put laminate under the wheels, thereby greatly reducing the grip of the tires on the road.
