Kia Sportage
Engine Air Filter Replacement Guide
How to clean or change the engine air
filter element in a 3rd generation 2011-2016 Kia Sportage SUV with photos.
 2014 Sportage Air Box |
 Two Metal Latches - Right |
 Flip Down First Metal Latch |
| This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the third generation (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) Kia
Sportage SUV in cleaning or changing the engine air filter element
for the Hyundai Theta II 2.4 liter inline four cylinder motor. Owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Forte, Cadenza, K900, Rio, Sorento, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A few compatible replacement engine air filters with their part numbers are as follows: Purolator A26118, Ecogard XA6118, Beck Arnley 042-1813, K&N 33-2451, Fram CA10889, Premium Guard PA6118, Mahle Original LX 3026, Hastings AF1450, Wix 49210, Pentius PAB10889 & Kia P8790-1F200A. No tools are needed to replace the filter. A wet/dry shop vacuum would be useful for cleaning the OEM filter or the engine air box. |
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 1st Metal Latch Released |
 Release 2nd Metal Latch |
 Rear Left - 3rd Latch |
| The engine air box
is located on the right side of the engine bay just in front of the 12V
automotive battery. The top half of the air box is held in place by four metal latches with one located at each corner. Flip the metal latches away from the top half of the air box and allow them to swing down. |
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 Front Left - 4th Latch |
 Pull Off Top Half Air Box |
 Remove Old Air Filter |
| Lift the top half
of the air box to access the filter. Pull the old air filter straight out of the lower half of the box. |
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 Clean Out Bottom Half Box |
 |
 Inspect Both Sides |
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| If your vacuum
cleaner has a crevice attachment, clean out the sand or other debris in the
bottom half of the air box. Inspect both sides of the old filter. If the old filter is relatively clean, just tap out the large debris and remove any fine dust with a vacuum. If the old filter is dark grey or black and clogged with dirt, dust, insects, leaves, twigs, pollen and hair, it should be replaced with a new element. I recommend buying the Purolator A26118 since it has excellent reviews on Amazon. |
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 Clean With Vacuum |
 Install New Air Filter |
 Push Down Top Half Air Box |
| Due to the
irregular shape of the filter, it can only be inserted in one way.
The pleats should be facing down and the rubber gasket should be facing up towards you. Insert the new filter in to the lower half of the air box. Lower the top half of the air box down over the lower half. |
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 Flip Up Metal Latches |
 4 Latches Secured |
 Engine Air Filter Replaced |
| Flip up the four
metal latches and snap them in place over the top half of the air box to
secure it in place. Make sure that the two halves of the air box are flush together at every edge with no parts of the filter visible. Check out
my other
2011-2015 Kia Sportage DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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