[Sparklander]

There have been reports of PHEV owners getting their oil changed on time, and their oil still looks to be extremely contaminated with gasoline.

I know GDI engines have routinely had this problem, but it seems to be pronounced with PHEV's. The problem stems from the ICE not getting warmed up sufficiently while the car is in EV mode.

Every car with an internal combustion engine needs to be driven a sufficient distance at a sufficient speed to burn off the contaminants in the oil from the fuel.

The solution would be to drive the vehicle in ICE only mode (by not charging the EV battery) every few weeks. Here is a sample of the oil drained from a PHEV at the normal service time (taken from FB post). To allow the extreme dilution of the oil would greatly reduce the longevity of the engine.

 

[SoCal949]

There have been reports of PHEV owners getting their oil changed on time, and their oil still looks to be extremely contaminated with gasoline.

I know GDI engines have routinely had this problem, but it seems to be pronounced with PHEV's. The problem stems from the ICE not getting warmed up sufficiently while the car is in EV mode.

Every car with an internal combustion engine needs to be driven a sufficient distance at a sufficient speed to burn off the contaminants in the oil from the fuel.

The solution would be to drive the vehicle in ICE only mode (by not charging the EV battery) every few weeks. Here is a sample of the oil drained from a PHEV at the normal service time (taken from FB post). To allow the extreme dilution of the oil would greatly reduce the longevity of the engine.

View attachment 128128 View attachment 128129

I had a Chevy Volt and I would run it in all electric so often that I would go months without using a drop of gas. Every few months the car would automatically run the engine for 5-10 minutes if you hadn’t run it (Engine Maintenance Mode). That’s all it needed. Car and oil was always perfect.

 

[dubber09]

What is "changed on time" intervals? 10k miles? Do it every 5k miles, oil changes are cheap insurance against engine replacements.

 

[SoCal949]

What is "changed on time" intervals? 10k miles? Do it every 5k miles, oil changes are cheap insurance against engine replacements.

Every 5,000 miles? You do understand how a PHEV works right? My Volt called for oil changes every 2 years if you used the engine rarely, which I did.
Sportage PHEV calls for oil changes every 8,000 miles or 12 months.

 

[spacebud]

Every 5,000 miles? You do understand how a PHEV works right?

You do know how to read, right? It’s right there in your Owners Manual. Pages 8-9 & 8-13. If you opened your eyes, you would see that dubber09 is from Canada, eh? He/she is SPOT ON changing their oil every 5K mi, as well as probably half the Sportage PHEV owners in the US. Not hard to qualify for the Severe Usage Schedule!…

I mean, if you can’t afford oil changes, why in the heck did you waste your money on the PHEV? You’re never going to get that extra $7K+ back in gas vs electricity savings.

 

[SoCal949]

You do know how to read, right? It’s right there in your Owners Manual. Pages 8-9 & 8-13. If you opened your eyes, you would see that dubber09 is from Canada, eh? He/she is SPOT ON changing their oil every 5K mi, as well as probably half the Sportage PHEV owners in the US. Not hard to qualify for the Severe Usage Schedule!…

I mean, if you can’t afford oil changes, why in the heck did you waste your money on the PHEV? You’re never going to get that extra $7K+ back in gas vs electricity savings.

Okay, severe schedule. Got it.

Manual says 8,000 miles or 12 months for PHEV (normal wear). Just telling you what the manual calls for and that PHEV oil does not need to be changed every 5,000 miles.

 

[spacebud]

Manual says 8,000 miles or 12 months for PHEV (normal wear).

And you still don’t get it. Read what qualifies for “Severe Usage” (every 5,000 mi)…

 

[SoCal949]

And you still don’t get it. Read what qualifies for “Severe Usage” (every 5,000 mi)…

The first sentence I wrote "Okay, severe schedule. Got it."

I've said this before on here, but unfortunately this car doesn't track actual engine miles, so it calls for oil changes potentially WAY sooner than you actually need them, severe or not.

 

[dubber09]

Well, the first question a person should ask themselves - what is going on and am I doing something wrong if oil is THAT MUCH diluted with fuel? Second question would be - what can I do about it?
If normal sched doesn't work, go with severe, if severe doesn't work, do it more often.
I guess, the most severe cases would be with cars that do short trips where engine doesn't warm up. High compression engines make it worse too.

I just took another look at the OP's pix, they should check coolant in the car too.

 

[89sandman]

OMG the sky is falling. This platform has been out for a couple of years now and this is not a problem. Seems the original poster has some sort of thing against Kia and phev's in general. Watch your oil if you feel it is getting diluted simply run it with the heater on or in sport mode so the engine runs more or change the oil. It is not the end of the world. Plug in vehicles hybrids have been in service for over a decade, don't get pulled into such scare tactics.

 

[Sparklander]

I don't have any axe to grind against Kia. I own the Sportage Hybrid. Just relaying information that a few other PHEV owners have noticed after changing their oil at 5K miles. I am sure any PHEV owner would notice the oil dilution problem by merely checking the oil level on the dipstick, but will they even look?

The message is simple, if you own a PHEV keep an eye on the oil. But you should do that with any car other than a pure EV.

 

[Koreanadian]

I don't think it's a PHEV issue, but rather an issue with the 1.6L Smartstream engine. I've seen a lot of news articles in Korean news with that issue

 

[stargate125645]

I don't think it's a PHEV issue, but rather an issue with the 1.6L Smartstream engine. I've seen a lot of news articles in Korean news with that issue

The engine oil dilution? If so, it's almost the opposite of their Theta II engines where the oil would disappear.

 

[davesupra]

There have been reports of PHEV owners getting their oil changed on time, and their oil still looks to be extremely contaminated with gasoline. I know GDI engines have routinely had this problem, but it seems to be pronounced with PHEV's. The problem stems from the ICE not getting warmed up sufficiently while the car is in EV mode. Every car with an internal combustion engine needs to be driven a sufficient distance at a sufficient speed to burn off the contaminants in the oil from the fuel. The solution would be to drive the vehicle in ICE only mode (by not charging the EV battery) every few weeks. Here is a sample of the oil drained from a PHEV at the normal service time (taken from FB post). To allow the extreme dilution of the oil would greatly reduce the longevity of the engine.

View attachment 128128 View attachment 128129

Without being able to smell that oil sample, it's hard to tell if it's actually fuel or simply moisture in the oil. In colder climates (where I live) many short trips can result in your oil looking like that due to moisture (condensation due to temperature). But a short road trip to get the engine up to temperature will burn the moisture off fairly quickly. You can see in the link below what oil can look like when this happens.

https://www.techenomics.net/2014/01/water-in-oil/

 

[Sparklander]

I don't think it's a PHEV issue, but rather an issue with the 1.6L Smartstream engine. I've seen a lot of news articles in Korean news with that issue

I agree, but the problem is more pronounced in the PHEV because of how much less the ICE works.

 

[Sparklander]

Without being able to smell that oil sample, it's hard to tell if it's actually fuel or simply moisture in the oil. In colder climates (where I live) many short trips can result in your oil looking like that due to moisture (condensation due to temperature). But a short road trip to get the engine up to temperature will burn the moisture off fairly quickly. You can see in the link below what oil can look like when this happens.

https://www.techenomics.net/2014/01/water-in-oil/

Thank you for the response. Does the PHEV engine really ever get hot enough to burn off the contaminants if the owner only uses it in EV mode around town? I would not want either gasoline or water in the oil for a prolonged period of time.

Time will tell whether the 1.6T in the PHEV or the HEV will last longer. It's too early to tell.

 

[SoCal949]

Thank you for the response. Does the PHEV engine really ever get hot enough to burn off the contaminants if the owner only uses it in EV mode around town? I would not want either gasoline or water in the oil for a prolonged period of time.

Time will tell whether the 1.6T in the PHEV or the HEV will last longer. It's too early to tell.

Doesn't the Tucson PHEV have the exact same engine? It's been out for a while.

 

[Sparklander]

Doesn't the Tucson PHEV have the exact same engine? It's been out for a while.

It does. The first Tucson PHEV came out as a 2022 Model, so it has been on the streets for less than two years.

Hyundai is discontinuing its Santa Fe PHEV for 2024. Not sure of the reason. No word on the Kia Sorento PHEV.

 

[RedGeminiPA]

Doesn't the Tucson PHEV have the exact same engine? It's been out for a while.

So does the Sorento and Santa Fe HEV and PHEV, which came out for '21. '23 is the third model year for this drivetrain, and there are still severe issues with some of them. Mine's back at the dealer AGAIN for the transmission, engine sounds like the valves are tapping (bad) under any load, and right rear suspension clunking. I've had other first model year vehicles over the years, but this is, by far, the worst. This has been back to the dealer more than my new '06 Jetta, which I thought was excessive. Meanwhile, the only thing my '21 Rio has been to the dealer for has been oil changes and a free replacement set of wiper blades in the first year. I never had to take my '21 Niro to the dealer, either.

So far, mine has been in for the transmission 4 times with one replacement so far, engine noise, coolant smells, dealer pulled a misfire code for #2 cylinder, LR window motor replacement, and rear suspension rattles.

My dealer has me in a '17 Sorento loaner with 71k miles, and it's leaking oil onto the exhaust. The smell is making me nauseous. I might take it back this morning and tell them I want something else.

 

[stargate125645]

It does. The first Tucson PHEV came out as a 2022 Model, so it has been on the streets for less than two years.

Hyundai is discontinuing its Santa Fe PHEV for 2024. Not sure of the reason. No word on the Kia Sorento PHEV.

I thought you said "discounting" at first and got excited.