What should I do to get another 200k miles out of my 2016 Kia Soul?

Hey everyone,

I’m about to hit 200,000 miles on my 2016 Kia Soul 2.0 GDI. It’s burning a lot of oil, about a quart every 1,000 miles, and I know I need to replace the rings. I just got an air/oil separator to help reduce the gunk from getting into the intake valves.

I’m thinking of doing a walnut blasting for the valves and intakes and getting the rings replaced. This seems cheaper than getting a rebuilt engine.

The timing chain is due for replacement between 150-200k miles, and if I need to replace it, it might make sense to just go for a refurbed engine. I also plan to change the water pump at the same time.

The bushings need replacing too, but considering I drive on a lot of unmaintained dirt roads, I think it’s reasonable. The suspension’s already been replaced front and rear.

Any suggestions on what else I should look at to make sure this car can last another 200k miles? Any thoughts or tips would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Let me ask a reverse question. What major repairs have you done to get it to 200k? I’ve got 48k on my 2020, and from what I’ve read here, you’ve already beat the odds.

RioRider said:
Let me ask a reverse question. What major repairs have you done to get it to 200k? I’ve got 48k on my 2020, and from what I’ve read here, you’ve already beat the odds.

I really have. Honestly, it’s mostly just luck with the quality control. Aside from the oil consumption problem, I’ve only had repairs due to collisions and regular maintenance. I’ve kept up with oil changes and check my oil every time I fill up to top it off. I’ve found synthetic oil works better for this car than regular oil. I’ve replaced tires, brake pads, and occasionally rotors—that’s about it.

I’ve noticed a lot of people here talking about engine seizures, and I think those could’ve been avoided with proper maintenance, especially monitoring oil consumption.

EDIT: I wish I had added an air-oil separator sooner for the GDI. The less gunk that gets into the valves, the better, especially since GDI engines don’t have gas sprayed on the valves to clean them like traditional engines.

@Lily
Very impressive. I think newer models have a different engine?

RioRider said:
@Lily
Very impressive. I think newer models have a different engine?

Yeah, the early GDI engines, including those from Toyota, had consumption issues. The rings are a big problem, but there’s also the fact that modern engines recirculate exhaust gases. That means whatever’s in the exhaust—unburnt fuel, and if you have ring issues, used oil—gets sent back through the intake valves. Traditional engines don’t have this issue because gasoline is being injected at the same time, helping clean the valves. In GDI engines, the injectors are in the cylinder, so the exhaust just builds up gunk on the valves.

I believe there have been some redesigns to address this, but I don’t know much about them. A quick search didn’t give me much info.

If you’re willing, disconnecting the exhaust return and venting it to a can might help with the GDI issue too.

Getting your Soul engine to 400k would be a miracle. These engines weren’t built to last that long unless you got very lucky. 200k is already above average lifespan.

Lauren said:
Getting your Soul engine to 400k would be a miracle. These engines weren’t built to last that long unless you got very lucky. 200k is already above average lifespan.

I get that it’s well beyond what most people get, but since I got lucky with it, I’m hoping to keep my luck going with good maintenance and preventative work.

@Lily
Given how well you’re maintaining it (and your willingness to spend money to keep it running), I think you can do it. When we read about cars going for hundreds of thousands of miles, we don’t realize that most of those cars have had major repairs along the way. The owners were just really dedicated to getting as much as possible out of their car and were willing to spend on repairs.

I’m amazed you’ve made it this far nearly problem-free. My 2016 started going downhill after 70k miles. Now, at over 110k miles, it’s leaking oil.

Jean said:
I’m amazed you’ve made it this far nearly problem-free. My 2016 started going downhill after 70k miles. Now, at over 110k miles, it’s leaking oil.

Leaking or burning oil? Leaking is usually an easier fix, like gaskets, but burning oil is a bigger issue, like the rings I’m dealing with.

@Lily
It’s leaking, and I think it’s probably the head gasket. For the past few years, it’s been burning oil like crazy. Kia couldn’t figure out the cause, and one of the mechanics joked that I should trade it in before anything big happens. I regret not trading it in during the pandemic.

@Jean
I stopped going to the factory mechanics a while ago. What they charge and what they miss, especially at my dealership, is crazy.

I just hit 185,000 miles in my 2015 model and am hoping to get to 200,000. Love that you’re planning ahead. Other than regular brake stuff, I’ve replaced the brake lines once, the clutch at 165,000, and the alternator and starter in the last 5,000 miles.

My 2012 has 241,000 miles on it.

You can reduce oil consumption by switching to a heavier weight oil. I’m assuming you’re using 5w20 as recommended. Try moving to 10w30, and you should see less oil burn. With the current level of consumption, though, you might eventually need a new catalytic converter. Otherwise, keep doing what you’re doing. The odds are against hitting 400k, but the odds were against you getting to 200k too. Good luck!

Edit: Make sure to change your transmission fluid. At 200k, it should’ve been changed 3 times already. It’s recommended to change it every 50k miles, especially as your mileage increases. Don’t do a flush, just a drain and fill. If you haven’t done it as part of regular maintenance, you should do it three times, with 50 miles in between each.