So it appears that the knock sensor is doing its job… but why is this knock so intermittent? Seems like it would be an each-rotation knock.

 

Exactly a week later and the code came back and it drank another quart. Now the plan is to drive it very gently till the appointment and find some alt transport.

 

If you bring in a car throwing P1326 they'll probably replace the knock sensor and stuff first which you already did. The customer can keep at it and report any new symptoms, I'd take it easy but otherwise drive it. Keeping an eye on oil level will be important but if it's guzzling it it's likely on borrowed time.

If it blows up, is noticeably knocking, P1326 comes back then its Kia dealer + likely new engine time and I'd shop around to see which one has the best availability. These engines pretty much have a lifetime bottom-end warranty. The next issue then becomes how the lady will get around while her car is in the shop. She'll likely be on the hook for rentals upfront and a loaner may/may not be available from the dealer.

Edit: You said the dealer said she doesn't have a 2.4L? Does she have the 2.0-Turbo? Those two are covered, but if it's a 1.6T (not sure if that was in the Optima) then it changes my whole post. I wrote it thinking she has a 2.4/2.0T.

 

These engines pretty much have a lifetime bottom-end warranty.

Is that one of those universal extended warranty things that doesn't rely on buying new?

She'll likely be on the hook for rentals upfront.

Will that be reimbursed? I tried to find a letter. I'm sure Kia sent one out to owners explaining the situation.

Edit: It's a 2.4. I meant there were no outstanding recalls. I was very nervous about them saying it had the GDI fire problem... sounds like that's just the 1.6T?

 

How many miles on the car? As you stated, she bought it used, so NO powertrain warranty. If Kia is going to do anything (I dought it). It will have to go to a Kia dealership, to get a diag.

 

It's got a bit over 60k (added above) so no warranty. I'm probably reading about different problems, but I've seen everything from automatic 15 year extended warranty to nothing at all.

Edit- the first 3 posts were originally an introduction thread but they got moved here. Makes it read a little weird, so that's why.

 

This is a bit of an emergency as this car belongs to an acquaintance who is single, has kids, an hour commute, and absolutely no immediately accessible alternate transportation. I'd like to figure out what her options are with her car and what she should plan for.

Symptoms: Yesterday it was doing fine, then went into limp mode. Nothing felt wrong. It seems to have drunk a qt of oil since the oil change a month ago. 60k miles.
Action: Last night I changed the knock sensor (let's not litigate that decision please, I had 2 hr to make the car work), cleared the code, drove it, and it seemed fine. It has what sounds like detonation at high load, but other than that It's fine. My initial diagnosis was typical GDI buildup (see pic).

I've done as much reading as I could get in last night and this morning, but haven't found a definitive answer. It seems that the engine is marked for death. Is this the case? Is she too late for a remedy from Kia... law suit and all? The most recent advice I gave was to plan for a new car, diligently keep it under 2000 rpm, and take it in ASAP (2 month wait). There are no recalls aside from a security recall. She bought it used.

I know this is going to be an annoying post for everyone here, but time is an exceedingly limited factor on her part.