The 2016 Kia Optima’s engine has a lot of problems. The sedan’s four-cylinder GDI engines, most specifically the turbocharged Theta II, are the subject of 87 of the 239 complaints. The NHTSA reports that complaints concerning excessive oil use and engine knocking are frequent. Owners report using a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or so. Its defective piston rings, which fail too soon, are the actual cause. From 30,000 km on, drivers have experienced oil burning problems.
There have also been reports of the engine unexpectedly seizing and failing. The automobile either fully stalls or enters limp mode, according to the complainants. This draws attention to another another problem with GDI engines. These engines have a malfunctioning fuel injector system, according to technicians. They claim that when the cylinder is overfilled with fuel, the check engine light comes on and the car goes into limp mode.
Overheating and excessive vibrations are two more issues with engines. The potential fire risk, though, would be more worrisome. A few unlucky owners witnessed their Optimas catch fire. Fortunately, the involved vehicles were parked, and no one was hurt. Although Kia has issued a recall due to what they believe to be the cause, the cause is unknown. It’s possible that the high-pressure fuel pipe connecting to the fuel pump outlet on the Optima was harmed. If this happens close to an ignition source, there may be a fuel leak, which raises the possibility of a fire. According to the NHTSA, the recall affects about 75,600 vehicles.
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Can you repair an oil-burning car?
Oil leakage into the combustion chamber is typically the result of one or more deteriorated components. Even minor wear on more recent engines running low-viscosity oil, like 5W-20, might result in oil entering this chamber. Several of the typical reasons for excessive oil usage are listed below:
Worn Out PCV Valve
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) is a crucial part of an engine that removes dangerous gases produced during combustion. This is accomplished by returning any extra gases to the combustion chamber where they are burned again before being expelled along with the exhaust.
However, a clogged PCV system might result in considerable oil blowback. Oil ends up being drawn into the engine through the air intake rather than being removed along with combustion gases. Most of the time, changing the PCV valve is all that is needed to fix this problem.
Worn Out Piston Rings or Cylinder Walls
Repairs can become expensive at this point. In order to maintain engine compression and stop combustion gases from escaping, each set of piston rings creates a seal against the cylinder walls. The seal, however, might no longer work correctly if your piston rings have worn out or the cylinder wall has started to disintegrate. A bad seal might allow oil to burn in the combustion chamber, leaving you with less oil than you had before.
Worn Out Valve Seal
Low oil levels can also result from defective valve stem seals. While valve stem seals are intended to control the amount of oil used and the lubrication of the valves, a cracked one has the exact opposite effect. A worn-out or cracked valve seal could allow oil to flow into the engine’s cylinders and eventually into the combustion chamber.
Why does my car leak but is losing oil?
No oil will be pouring on the ground. If your car is burning oil but not leaking it, it’s not as simple as replacing a seal. The issues are far worse. You need to take action as soon as your engine starts to burn oil. Your engine may have costly internal damage that needs to be repaired. There are a number of potential causes for this, which we will go over below.
Internal Oil Leak
No, there isn’t a ground-level oil leak that can be seen. However, there can be a little amount of internal oil leaking from your car that you are unable to see. Your car may occasionally have oil leaks due to minuscule fractures or broken pipes. However, it won’t cause a huge oil spill beneath your car or strange smoke.
Oil leaks are typically noticeable, and even if you can’t, your automobile may turn on a warning light. You must take your car to a qualified mechanic to ensure that the oil loss is not the result of an oil leak.
PCV Valve Problems
As the PCV valve restricts the oil’s regular flow, it frequently causes your car to lose oil without a leak or smoke. Cylinders lose oil when there is an increase in pressure. Additionally, a fire accident could happen as a result. You’ll consequently need to give your car or truck extra oil than usual.
Worn Piston Rings
No PVC or internal oil leak is present. Review any internal engine efficiency issues after that. There are several hidden factors that could contribute to excessive oil loss, regardless of the engine type.
Piston rings typically keep the engine stable and stop oil leaks. But after time, they decay and lose their ability to protect your cylinder. One leak gradually attracts another. As a result, there is a considerable loss of oil.
Blown Head Gasket
Your car’s oil leak could be due to a head gasket issue. They typically shield every engine cylinder. Sadly, if they are damaged, the oil might easily leak out. This might be a very challenging position if an issue arises. First of all, repairs are pricey. It could be a major hassle because of the expensive labor and the time-consuming nature.
Bad Cylinder Walls
Damage from faulty cylinder walls might be significant. Your engine is vulnerable to wear and tear, and there may be low pressure. In some cases, the piston may sustain damage from the cylinder wall. Heat is created by the friction action, which increases pressure enough to push oil past your piston rings and into your combustion chamber. This denotes no leaks or smoke but a considerable loss of engine oil.
Circuit Related Problems
If the circuit is broken, oil loss without leaks or smoke is possible. This will happen if the numerous electrical systems in the car fail to transport engine oil to all of its various destinations. If this is the case, pressure would be lost in your oil pump, some engine parts, and different parts of your car.
Dirty Oil
The circulation and lubrication of dirty engine oil is inferior to that of clean engine oil. Your engine might lose oil due to dirty oil without leaking or smoking. This is brought on by the oil coating’s obstruction of oil flow by grit and other foreign particles. It’s possible for the dirt to get inside your engine and coat its bottom walls or other parts. This wear and strain may cause oil leaks, which are challenging to spot if there isn’t any obvious engine smoke.
Internal Engine Damage
Internal engine problems might cause oil leaks that are not immediately apparent from the outside. Internal engine damage in your car could cause a leak that doesn’t appear to be producing smoke or leaks. This might also happen once the piston rings are worn out and sloppy, which would lead to a loss of power that could only be made up for by adding more oil.
Tiny Holes
Without any smoke or obvious leaks, an engine can lose oil. This occurs when a little fracture in an oil seal prevents enough pressure from leaving, preventing your car from exhibiting obvious leaks. Older vehicles are more likely to have these small holes, especially if they have external damage that is difficult to detect.
Worn Valve Seals
For controlling the amount of oil used for valve lubrication, valve seals are crucial. For different engine types, valves are created to regulate oil consumption and valve lubrication. The oil level will decrease as soon as the valve stem seals are compromised. Remember that valve stem seals are there to lubricate the valve and reduce excessive oil use.
Decreased Engine Compression
Additionally, a decrease in engine compression may be a factor in an oil leak. A problem with the high-pressure fuel stream might cause your oil to burn as it reaches the engine, or an issue with the intake or exhaust system could cause fuel to contaminate your oil, reducing engine performance.
The Kia Optima’s oil consumption rate.
I follow my father’s advice and check the oil in my car once a week. The Soul’s engine consumes oil, I’ve seen. I have to add three quarts of oil around every six months or 5,000 miles.
After checking it, the dealer confirms everything is in order. They seem to be saying, “Little Lady,” everything is fine and they want me to leave.
A: Oil is burnt during regular combustion, however different engines use oil differently.
According to Kia’s extremely detailed oil consumption studies, one quart of oil used per 1,000 miles or more is considered to be normal. The engine is working up to specification based on Kia’s standards for oil usage.
Which additive can stop oil from burning the best?
Eight Engine Oil Additives to Prevent Oil Burning
- Oil Additive AR9100 by Archoil Please join VEHQ!
- Engine flush Liqui Moly 2037 Pro-Line.
- Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer, Lucas 10001.
- SF-16 Motor Treatment with Sea Foam.
- Engine Repair at Bar’s Leaks.
- Engine Oil Supplement, BG MOA Part No. 110.
- Tex Tribo.
- Diesel oil additive and fuel kit REV X.
How much does fixing burning oil cost?
Depending on what exactly is wrong with the car that is burning oil, different repairs will cost different amounts. You can anticipate spending anything from $35 to $1500, but you can’t predict costs until you know what the problem is.
The magnitude of the leak and the location plays a huge effect in the pricing of repair. A car burning oil can have a number of different causes. Your leak may be fixed by changing an oil filter, which is a simple remedy, or it may require more work, such as replacing the entire blown head gasket. An oil-burning vehicle will require roughly $600 in repairs.
Due to the high cost of some oil repairs, this average is high. A cracked filler cap will only cost you $100, however a blown head gasket will top off at the high end of that range. The length of time it took you to complete the repairs and the extent of the damage to your car will both have an impact on the cost of the repairs.
If your leak is significant and you drove your cars for countless miles without maintaining the right oil levels, you may need to have your engine block seriously repaired in addition to whatever is causing your leak.
It should go without saying that the less damage there is, the less significant the repair will be, and the less money you will spend on the car’s repairs. Because the causes of an oil leak can vary so greatly, getting the car diagnosed is necessary if you want an exact estimate.
What causes my Kia to use so much oil?
Oil burning on your Kia Soul is a red flag that something is amiss. You run the risk of doing permanent damage to your engine if you disregard the warning indicators. If this occurs, it will be quite expensive to fix, and you would be better off purchasing a new vehicle.
Burning oil might signify several things depending on the car, so we are unable to define it for you. To figure out why their Kia Soul is burning oil, consumers commonly check a few typical places. In order to find out what burning oil on your Kia Soul signifies, you need open the hood and look under the vehicle.
You need to search for a leak to identify the source of the burning oil. You should check a few different places, though. Here are some of them for your review:
Oil level
Check your oil level first before beginning your search for the leak’s origin. Your Kia is probably running low on oil if it is burning oil. If the level is low and there are no leaks, you must add oil.
To start looking for the leak, you should add oil. Finding the leak will be challenging if the Kia Soul runs out of oil.
Combustion chamber
You should examine the combustion chamber if your Kia is burning oil. The valves, pistons, spark plugs, and cylinders are all part of this section. If you notice any of these objects covered in oil, it may be a sign that one of these components has caused an oil leak into the combustion chamber of your engine.
Oil on spark plugs
Replace your Kia’s spark plugs right away if you notice any oil on them. This is due to the possibility that the oil will cause your engine to operate poorly.
Oil on spark plugs typically denotes a problem with one of the following parts: PCV valve, piston rings, or valve seals.
Valve seals
Your oil will leak into the combustion chamber if your valve seals are compromised. Because of this, if there is oil on the spark plugs or in the combustion chamber, it is crucial to check for this problem. To stop future harm, you should also repair any cracked, damaged, or deteriorating valve seals.
Piston rings
The piston rings aid in sealing your engine and maintaining oil pressure. But if one of these parts is worn out, fractured, or broken, it might let oil out and into the combustion chamber.
PCV valve
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) systems are intended to remove impurities from the crankcase before they may enter the engine through the intake. Unfortunately, if the PCV valve is damaged, oil will flow into the combustion chamber and it won’t be able to drain these impurities. Your engine could malfunction as a result of this, burning oil, and damaging your Kia.
Oil filter
If the oil filter has any damage or has loose clamps, you should change it. If there is no damage or slack in the clamps, you must inspect the sealing surfaces. If oil is dripping from this area, it may be a sign that an engine component is damaged.
Oil pan gasket
There is a good likelihood that the oil under the engine could be coming from the oil pan gasket if you discover any. If it’s leaking, you should replace it and let your Kia’s oil level drop.
Filler cap
An engine oil leak from a damaged filler cap is a possibility. There is a significant risk that your filler cap is coming loose if you notice oil on the surfaces of your Kia Soul near where it is positioned.
Leaking hoses
You must immediately replace any hoses or gaskets that are leaking on your Kia. You must ensure that these hoses are well clamped and are not leaking because they are intended to transport oil to various parts of your car.
Oil filter housing gasket
There can be a tiny leak where the oil filter connects to the engine block if your Kia is burning oil. As a result, oil will be burnt during the combustion process of your engine. In addition, if this gasket has any damage or is degrading, it might need to be replaced.
Oil dipstick tube seal
Oil may be leaking into this region as a result of a cracked or loose oil dipstick tube seal. If the seal has any damage or is degrading, you should replace it.
Cooler line
Check the cooler lines if your Kia is burning off oil. It is possible that oil is entering the combustion chamber because one of these lines has become loose or is leaking.
Oil separator
Used engine oil is removed from the crankcase by the oil separator and returned to the engine via a return line. Your Kia may burn oil if the oil separator is leaking and is the cause of low oil pressure.
Drain plug
Your Kia could have an oil leak and run out of oil if the drain plug is damaged or loose. If it starts to come out and your engine starts burning oil, you need to replace this component.