Yeah, 200k in Km is not a lot at all unless you ignore changing the engine oil and maybe transmission. Many oem's say lifetime on tranny fluid but likely get there if you don't tow. I bought both my Sorento's from Kia Dealers and expect them not to be in shit shape. Both were in oem warranty at the time as well. Hence what fails is limited as low mileage and an alternator is not one of them that should or hose rubber leak in an AC line.

I err on better than spec on my OCI which is many times earlier and using full synthetic oil even though not mandated on them both. No reason for wear and tear issues with either engine. The only caveat is whether the GDI design is going to haunt me and you-all. That I have little control over and I am not an additive user nor want to be. I got sucked in when I was you and made me poorer as well did nothing. Actually needed to rebuild that engine in the end.

 

A followup to my earlier post in which I was wondering about keeping our 2016 Sorento. We ultimately went with a new 2023 Sorento with the 2.5l turbo. Seems the word is getting out somewhat about the 3.3l engine issues and the best trade deal we could achieve was with KIA for the 2023 Sorento.

With the 2016 having been our principal source of both local and long distance travel, and our reaching the end of the warranty period (not to mention the reported issues with acquiring a replacement engine), we just bit the bullet. Thus far the 2.5 turbo has performed quite well, but don't they most all when they are new. We'll see how this works out as the miles add up.

 

My 2015 was a Cream Puff when I bought it for my wife and I got myself a 2019 better except for powertrain. the 2015 would leave me still sitting there even with the same engine. LOL I have a few more assisting driver toys so to speak.

Good luck with the Turbo. I hope that new engine has flushing valve injection, since we don't have in my GDI builds. I am wary if its going to bite me big time or not down the road.

 

My 2015 was a Cream Puff when I bought it for my wife and I got myself a 2019 better except for powertrain. the 2015 would leave me still sitting there even with the same engine. LOL I have a few more assisting driver toys so to speak.

Good luck with the Turbo. I hope that new engine has flushing valve injection, since we don't have in my GDI builds. I am wary if its going to bite me big time or not down the road.

The best way to mitigate the GDI problem of not flushing the valves is to install two catch cans and run both crankcase vents through them before going to the air inlet. Then use CRC GDI intake valve and turbo cleaner and follow the instructions on the can to a tee.

 

I hope that new engine has flushing valve injection,

Disregard what I said below, I do not believe it's correct....
I have been trying to weed this out and the info is sparse.. The "Smartstream G2.5Turbo (G4KP) is still GDI , the "Smartstream G2.5Turbo (G4KR) has 4 MPI (port injectors) and 4 GDI (direct injecton) injectors . I have not been able to verify what engine is being installed in the newer 2.5 turbo Sorentos. Possibly a call to dealer sales could answer this. Since 2023's came out about 1 1/2 years ago it's hard to tell.

 

I have been trying to weed this out and the info is sparse.. The "Smartstream G2.5Turbo (G4KP) is still GDI , the "Smartstream G2.5Turbo (G4KR) has 4 MPI (port injectors) and 4 GDI (direct injecton) injectors . I have not been able to verify what engine is being installed in the newer 2.5 turbo Sorentos. Possibly a call to dealer sales could answer this. Since 2023's came out about 1 1/2 years ago it's hard to tell.

I believe the G4KR is designed for rear wheel drive cars like in Genesis.

According to the Kia website, the 2.5L turbo is MPI+GDI and I would guess it is the G4KP. But to be sure you can pop off the engine beauty cover and see if there’s a sticker on the valve cover with the engine code. There’s a sticker on my engines.

 

Yea your post made me dig deeper, it does look like the R is for rear wheel drive and the P for front wheel drive.

 

Cololab, congrats on the new car. I hope you purchased as much extended warranty as possible with the 2023. Good luck. I just don't trust any turbo engine from any manufacturer.

 

We definitely extended the warranty. I'm not as trusting as maybe I once was.

 

Ouch, a 2015 enters the group. What was the build date on the sticker inside your door. Goto wonder now!!

 

 

Interesting that you both have a car manufactured on the same day. Tripplec, how close is your VIN # to the one posted ? I am also surprised that a car built in March of 2014 would be titled as a 2015. I believe Honda of Canada did their build change date on July 1 of a calendar year. When I hauled parts into the Alliston, Ontario plants, they had a two week shutdown every summer beginning July 1 to make changes to the assembly lines and do maintenance in preparation for the new model year.

 

Damm close, any closer would be identical, maybe. SX for me and SXL above.

FYI last digits of Vin are ... 76FG574289

Now what... not many reported here but something screwy going on at that plant if thats the case with the engine.

2015 come out in 2014 so no surprise there.

 

My 2015 SX mfg date is May 2014 . I truly believe it's was built with all 2014 parts. Hopefully closer to a 2014 before Kia screwed up the head bolt to block stuff threads. They still do not admit a problem but it magically went away on the Lambda engines after 2016.

 

Damm close, any closer would be identical, maybe. SX for me and SXL above.

FYI last digits of Vin are ... 76FG574289

Now what... not many reported here but something screwy going on at that plant if thats the case with the engine.

2015 come out in 2014 so no surprise there.

So your car is 5 after of the person with the issue ? Jeez, I wish you all the best of luck . I do sleep better after my mechanic told me he firmly believes my car has had engine work already done prior to my buying it. As posted last month, I did have to replace the water pump at 113km [ 70,214 miles ] .

 

Yeah, couldn't get closer and mine is a Canadian build. Oh my my, I could loose sleep over this.
I was wondering if the issue was created by over torquing heads, metal or bolt spec's used were wrong, or some other factor. It seems to go near or after the warranty ends. Inconveniently for most I heard, mine ticked over by time running out (5 years here).

Currently not many 2015's reported here, Two I believe now which is a very small percentage. But one has to wonder about this. As I understand it this block has been in existence for a very long time. My 2008 SF had a 3.3L engine and knowone with any of that generation of Hyundai had that issue appear. What happened, the oem is quiet on this for sure but its a really big deal. Their 4 cylinder engines all have a very black mark against them without and proven record. If the 3.3L are starting to fail that cleans up their power plants of viable engines people would trust spending money on. A good powertrain is a major factor when I select something to buy as I am running it way past any warranty.

 

I did a little searching. Came across this.

Above on https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/kia-sorrento-3-3l-gdi-v6-owners.325403/

Also this, 2015 was one of the good years. LOL

Here Are The Kia Sorento Years To Avoid

We’ll make it easy for you to pick a used Sorento that won’t have you spending most of your days at the workshop for unnecessary repairs.

www.copilotsearch.com

 

I did a little searching. Came across this.

View attachment 130656
Above on https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/kia-sorrento-3-3l-gdi-v6-owners.325403/

Also this, 2015 was one of the good years. LOL

Here Are The Kia Sorento Years To Avoid

We’ll make it easy for you to pick a used Sorento that won’t have you spending most of your days at the workshop for unnecessary repairs.

www.copilotsearch.com

This is the most egregious and unknowledgeable post I have ever seen. As for what I have seen in this forum are a bunch of (I am assuming guys) making amateur suggestions to technical problems even though there is a plethora of info about these vehicles everywhere. Not many manufacturers are making 294hp from a 3.3 ltr V6, but the manufacturers have to address the the all aluminium problems.

 

So it’s important to let it warm up thoroughly? My current Sorento is our main vehicle. Short errands, weekend trips and summer time camper towing… besides towing, the short errands may be hurting the engine more?

looks like 2017 is a good year. Nearly 7 yr old now. Really wish I can afford a replacement, but doesn’t look like it. Also based on current rate, I will likely reach 100k miles before it’s 10th year!!!

So I think Im gonna lease that base Model 3 for $329/mon and just use that to run errands. I spend about that much for fuel every month! This should give our Sorento a bit of break. Hopefully 3yrs later, the car market can return to normal?

 

Cheap EV can work for local traffic etc as long as you have charging option. Otherwise hybrid which are better overall. Everything has changed a ton with what out and coming. EV's are changing a lot an dropping like a stone. Tesla dropping prices again I heard is putting a lot of hurt onto the new big gas oem's to get into the market. They want high prices and margins but many early adopters have displayed the short comings of the EV tech as it was available. Hence better tech coming each year or faster. Solid state batteries will kill the Billioin $$$ plants planed to build.

 

This message was posted on another forum I am a member of... ." We started on a trip from south of Bancroft to visit our niece in Mattawa . Only made it to past Barrys Bay when the engine in our 2016 hyundai SantaFe making a noise the sound of a bad connecting rod . called CAA and tow truck driver told us Hyundai had bad engines around 2014 - 2017 . Sent it out to Belleville Hyundai .. Service manager called and told my wife this morning that hyundai is replacing the engine under warranty which I am surprised at as it has 192000 km and we had bought second hand from a used dealer in Madoc " This is in eastern Ontario for those not familiar with the area. Does Hyundai have a better customer service relationship than Kia ? I assume the engines are similar. I am going to ask the poster which engine his SF has.

 

I received a letter while back from Hyundai saying my 2014 Santa Fe sport 2.0 Turbo engine now has a lifetime warranty!

since Kia and Hyundai share the same engines, I always assumed they also share same warranties. Then again I also assumed you Canadians have the same warranties as Americans…