A worrisome trend has recently emerged among Hyundai and Kia automobile owners across America. Excessive oil consumption has been a common complaint among drivers, resulting in early engine failure and expensive replacements.
This issue has become rampant over the years, and car owners and experts wonder why these vehicles consume so much oil. These problems may originate at the engines’ core, but the drivers see the effects.
Why Hyundai and Kia’s owners are facing engine failures and oil consumption issues
It is possible to illustrate the given issue by the case of Zhenya Rozinskiy, a Hyundai Santa Fe owner. Rozinskiy realized this when he bought a 2017 model for his son’s 16th birthday and found that the engine had used all its oil within 2,000 miles of operation.
This was not the first time something like this was to occur. Hyundai and Kia engines are not the only ones having these problems: many car owners report the same. Some drivers have said their cars consume oil every 800 to 1000 miles. This is in new cars. For most, the answer has been an even more costly engine replacement, with some going for as high as $8,000.
This high oil consumption problem is a concern that has affected several Hyundai and Kia model owners. Worse still, Hyundai has not announced any recall of the cars, which means that many owners have to pay the costs themselves.
However, Hyundai has fashioned a warranty that is only extended to the first consumer of the automobile, thereby leaving the owners, who buy the car from other people, vulnerable to incurring the costs.
What causes the high oil consumption and engine problems in these cars?
When specialists focus on the problem, one of the possible reasons for the high fuel consumption can be seen in the Gas Direct Injection (GDI) system widely implemented in Hyundai and Kia motors.
GDI uses a direct fuel injection into the combustion chamber at tremendous pressure, allowing better fuel consumption and fewer emissions. However, this advanced technology has a significant downside: This can cause a situation called “blow-by.”
Blow-by is the term used to describe a situation where fuel is carried past the piston rings into the crankcase, where it mixes with the engine oil. This contamination accelerates the process of oil degradation and, as a result, raises the rate of oil consumption and, therefore, the intervals of oil change.
Sometimes, the contamination can reach a level that harms the engine and requires expensive repair or even an engine swap. Speaking of car owners, this theory is true for Lab Coat Paul, who owns a Hyundai Tucson.
As far as the next lesson is concerned, Paul may have had abnormal oil consumption, and after he had analyzed the oil he used, he realized it was highly contaminated. To solve the problem, the engine was cleaned, and the problem recurred, even after strictly adhering to the servicing schedule recommended by Hyundai, tagging the GDI technology as having been responsible for the oil consumption problem.
The financial burden of the oil consumption issue on Hyundai and Kia drivers
It is worth stressing that such problems cost a lot of money. Apart from the high costs of repairs and costly engine replacements, the owners struggle with the increased likelihood of having a problematic car.
The following image shows the frustration many are left with when Hyundai and Kia do not deal well with the problem: Even though some have tried to provide solutions to some owners, many have not been provided with a recall or fix.
In this case, Hyundai did agree to replace the engine as a goodwill gesture in Rozinskiy’s case, but it should have been done better. The decision to cover the repair came only after much pressure from Rozinskiy’s group, which shows that there is a need for the automaker to improve its relations and customer service.
Drivers are left wondering if they can trust the brand to stand by the quality of their products, especially when this is a common vice.
Preventive measures to avoid engine damage and ensure better car maintenance
For car owners of Hyundai and Kia cars affected by this problem, it is imperative to be regular in taking the car for servicing. Frequent oil changes are the best preventive measures to avoid long-term effects and prevent engine failure.
The Society of Automotive Engineers has called for oil changes to be done more often than the automaker recommended, 5,000 miles, but every 2,000 to 3,000 miles due to the contamination the GDI system introduces to the engine.
Also, car owners need to keep detailed records of their car’s maintenance because, in most cases, they take their vehicles to independent shops for servicing. Drivers should save receipts and document problems when they occur because they might need them to confront the dealer.
Though a solution from Hyundai or Kia is still unknown, the best way for the owners of such cars is to remain cautious about maintenance to get more time before the problem is solved.
In conclusion, it can be said that while many say Hyundai and Kia’s engine oil consumption issues have become quite infuriating with many car owners due to understanding the cause and taking key steps ahead of the abuses, the world’s no. 3 automobile giant Hyundai can be saved.
In whatever way, whether through constant repairs or constant advocating for better solutions, drivers are not letting this be an insurmountable problem. However, car manufacturers must assume more responsibility to solve these issues and regain customer confidence.
