I’m trying to figure out what to do. About a week ago, my car started burning oil and running poorly. I took it to the dealership, and they just told me that there’s a lot of carbon build-up in the engine, and it needs to be cleaned. (My car’s engine is a GDI, and I hear this happens often.) They said there’s a 50/50 chance that it will fix the problem.
I’ve been reading online, and I’m getting mixed information on whether this service is worth it or not.
How much oil is it burning, and how many miles are on it? Did you buy it new or used? These oil consumption issues are a real headache. Mine is burning 1.5 quarts every 1,000 miles, and they won’t cover anything. They want $1,200 to clean it. It’s frustrating because if it fails out of warranty, you’re on your own with no coverage.
I’ve been reading online and have seen really mixed information about whether the service is worth it or not.
It’s because this service isn’t guaranteed to fix the issue but might help. What are your other options? If other options are way more expensive, I’d probably spend the $330 for a 50% chance. Just know it might not fully solve the problem.
There are lots of videos online about engine or valve decarbonization, and opinions are all over the place. Check out channels like Car Wizard or Car Care Nut—they usually give good advice.
You said the car suddenly started burning oil and running rough. The rough running could be fixed by the suggestions below, but burning oil could be caused by several things. Have you searched for ‘Soul burning oil’? A visual inspection (like using a camera) could show how much carbon is built up. Also, check the PCV valve or system—start with the easy, cheap fixes.
If this were my car, I’d check the spark plugs and maybe use a borescope to look inside the cylinders. (Maybe the dealer has already done this?) I’d also consider adding a bottle of fuel cleaner like Techron, especially if you haven’t used it or don’t use high-quality gas.
Good luck!
This is why catch cans are a must for these engines, along with regular cleanings every 20-30k miles. Let your turbos cool down before shutting off the car—I usually wait 2 minutes. Don’t push the engine hard until it’s fully warmed up. Use premium gas and consider getting bigger air intakes. Doing all these together can make a huge difference.
How are they going to clean it?
TomHenry said:
How are they going to clean it?
They said they’re going to hook up a machine to the engine and run foam through it to clean the carbon build-up.
I’m trying to find more info on this process but haven’t had much luck yet.
Thomasenia said:
I’m trying to figure out what to do. About a week ago, my car started burning oil and running poorly. I took it to the dealership, and they just told me that there’s a lot of carbon build-up in the engine, and it needs to be cleaned. (My car’s engine is a GDI, and I hear this happens often.) They said there’s a 50/50 chance that it will fix the problem.
I’ve been reading online, and I’m getting mixed information on whether this service is worth it or not.
I’m not sure how to tell how much oil it’s burning.
Thomasenia said:
I’m trying to figure out what to do. About a week ago, my car started burning oil and running poorly. I took it to the dealership, and they just told me that there’s a lot of carbon build-up in the engine, and it needs to be cleaned. (My car’s engine is a GDI, and I hear this happens often.) They said there’s a 50/50 chance that it will fix the problem.
I’ve been reading online, and I’m getting mixed information on whether this service is worth it or not.
I’m not sure how to tell how much oil it’s burning.
When you top off the oil, how much do you add to bring it back to the right level?
Add that up over time and track the mileage. That’s your oil consumption rate, as long as there aren’t any leaks.
Thomasenia said:
I’m trying to figure out what to do. About a week ago, my car started burning oil and running poorly. I took it to the dealership, and they just told me that there’s a lot of carbon build-up in the engine, and it needs to be cleaned. (My car’s engine is a GDI, and I hear this happens often.) They said there’s a 50/50 chance that it will fix the problem.
I’ve been reading online, and I’m getting mixed information on whether this service is worth it or not.
I’ve seen it help in some cases, and in others, it didn’t make a difference. But $300 seems like a reasonable price.
Thomasenia said:
I’m trying to figure out what to do. About a week ago, my car started burning oil and running poorly. I took it to the dealership, and they just told me that there’s a lot of carbon build-up in the engine, and it needs to be cleaned. (My car’s engine is a GDI, and I hear this happens often.) They said there’s a 50/50 chance that it will fix the problem.
I’ve been reading online, and I’m getting mixed information on whether this service is worth it or not.
Kia has had a few engine recalls. You can check for any recalls on your vehicle by using your VIN on the Kia Owner Portal or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. I had my engine replaced under a recall because oil loss caused early engine failure.
Thomasenia said:
I’m trying to figure out what to do. About a week ago, my car started burning oil and running poorly. I took it to the dealership, and they just told me that there’s a lot of carbon build-up in the engine, and it needs to be cleaned. (My car’s engine is a GDI, and I hear this happens often.) They said there’s a 50/50 chance that it will fix the problem.
I’ve been reading online, and I’m getting mixed information on whether this service is worth it or not.
A 2018? It’s probably due for a cleaning if it hasn’t had one in a while (or ever). My 2017 Sportage SX was running poorly, and after asking the dealer to do an engine clean during an oil change, it drove much better. Unfortunately, these engines do burn oil, so make sure to check the oil regularly and keep a quart in the car just in case. Now I use Techron High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner as regular maintenance after each oil change, and it’s made a noticeable difference.