We have a 13 Sonata since new and it’s been ok , now at 58,000 miles. I have done all the oil changes. One thing they have harped about is using OEM Hyundai oil filters. We use synthetic 5/30 but when I took it in for the noise check Hyundai put conventional 5/30 in, no biggy.
Ive watched my Oil like a hawk since the time I discovered their first solution, milling debris still in engines from manufacturing. That wasn’t it as they have continued failing since changing the process. I do full synthetic every 5k and never stretch it much past that. Mine never got overly dark ever but I never stretched OCI either. From following the discussions extending the OCI is not considered a great idea with these cars. It’s pretty well accepted that they are failing mostly on the middle 2 cylinders by debris scoring the bearings on those cylinders connecting rod.
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/forum.php.
Here’s a link to the Hyundai forums. You’ll find lots of info in there concerning the problems with their Theta DI engines. It’s not just the Sonatas either. The 1.8. DI Elantras are dying in droves too. Coatings coming off the pistons , they claimed changed coating in 14 models but that didn’t work as our 15 started to go. No recall on those yet either which sucks as your limited yo the warranty limits only. My daughters started ticking in the timing chain area at 46,000 and got its new engine. The new one was anything but quiet compared to the original before the ticking and got traded pronto.
At least your girlfriends has the 10 yr 120,000 extended warranty . Just keep an eye on it for sudden extreme oil usage and increasing knocking or tapping. Look under the oil cap occasionally for signs of sludge and blow your. Keep the Oil up at the full mark and and use Hyundai filters. I get mine off Ebay for $6. These things never fail instantly so if you are alert it would give you plentry of notice. Good luck..
Ive watched my Oil like a hawk since the time I discovered their first solution, milling debris still in engines from manufacturing. That wasn’t it as they have continued failing since changing the process. I do full synthetic every 5k and never stretch it much past that. Mine never got overly dark ever but I never stretched OCI either. From following the discussions extending the OCI is not considered a great idea with these cars. It’s pretty well accepted that they are failing mostly on the middle 2 cylinders by debris scoring the bearings on those cylinders connecting rod.
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/forum.php.
Here’s a link to the Hyundai forums. You’ll find lots of info in there concerning the problems with their Theta DI engines. It’s not just the Sonatas either. The 1.8. DI Elantras are dying in droves too. Coatings coming off the pistons , they claimed changed coating in 14 models but that didn’t work as our 15 started to go. No recall on those yet either which sucks as your limited yo the warranty limits only. My daughters started ticking in the timing chain area at 46,000 and got its new engine. The new one was anything but quiet compared to the original before the ticking and got traded pronto.
At least your girlfriends has the 10 yr 120,000 extended warranty . Just keep an eye on it for sudden extreme oil usage and increasing knocking or tapping. Look under the oil cap occasionally for signs of sludge and blow your. Keep the Oil up at the full mark and and use Hyundai filters. I get mine off Ebay for $6. These things never fail instantly so if you are alert it would give you plentry of notice. Good luck..
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