I just went thru all this on a 2016 at 131k miles, see this thread;
I have a 3.3 2016 fwd sorento that ran like a speed boat. Now it just sits. After me owning it a year, not doing some more research on this specific vehicle or the owners of the vehicle, the head gasket went. After more research it's going to cost me a whole new motor which is up to 7,000. I...
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I am a "do what I can mechanic" - knowing what we know now, these 3.3L's up thru 2016 are going to go, it's just a matter when... so get out while you can I guess.
My mechanic's wife's 2016 Kia went recently, and he said it went quick. No help from Kia, and that's coming from discussions with a mechanic.
My impression is that a bolt strips, and the rest are now doing the work. Eventually the next highly loaded one will strip out, and loss of more of the head gasket seal. On from there?
I drove gently while shopping new cars, kept tach under 2k, and watched the needle...
Seems like the only real fix is to strip both heads and helicoil / insert them. So weigh that repair cost ( $3k?) against what the cars worth. Or 10k for new engine?
I think if you try to torque bolts, they will strip more.
I traded in while I could for a Highlander Hybrid... it is really nice. Slightly bigger than Sorento, 35mpg, Toyota dependability.