I haven't been in the market for a used vehicle since 2010, until now. It seems that everything has a GDI engine now. I'm very hesitant about buying something with this engine because of all the horror stories I've come across doing my research. Even Scotty says they are ticking time bombs (I'm paraphrasing). But what is one to do when there are no other options? How bad are they really and at what mileage do the problems begin? How expensive is a valve cleaning job? I've read that Ford, Toyota and some Hyundai's are the only manufacturers that offer GDI with Multi-Port Fuel Injection engines, which eliminate the carbon build up but that's only for the late model vehicles. Unfortunately, a new or nearly new vehicle is out of my price range. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
I've read that Ford, Toyota and some Hyundai's are the only manufacturers that offer GDI with Multi-Port Fuel Injection engines, which eliminate the carbon build up but that's only for the late model vehicles.
With the exception of one engine or so (in the last 20 years), all of Toyota’s engines have port and direct injection so no need to worry about carbon buildup if you stick with a Toyota vehicle. Pick any one and they have port injection so no worries there.
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As for the other companies you mention, stay away from Ford and Hyundai Motor Group products if you value your money!
Thanks DayWalker
If the engine doesn't have any port injection at all to wash the valves, then the carbon that builds up will have to be scrubbed off periodically. For example with walnut shell blasting.
Thanks, MountainManJoe.
Search Scotty’s YouTube for “oil catch can”. This is one of the things you can do to minimize the carbon build up of GDI engines.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will check out the video.
My girlfriend's Mustang is a 2017 and it has direct injection. She's gone over 100,000 miles already. She hasn't had issues with carbon buildup, not yet at least. She drives 28 miles one way to go to work, around half of it is on the highway. I think that has delayed carbon from building up, because her driving style is 80 on the highway. Carbon never really gets a chance to build up, because there's a range of RPMs all the time.
Thanks, Justin.
How bad are they really
Not too bad.
I have a car with a famously troublesome GDI corporate car and at 112k miles the engine is still running like brand new with no noticeable oil consumption or any other symptoms.
Some GDI engines like Mazda's naturally aspirated 4 cylinders are considered very solid.
what mileage do the problems begin
Depends on the engine.
I've read that Ford (...) GDI with Multi-Port Fuel Injection (...) which eliminate the carbon build up
Ford system, at least on the cars I saw, creates buildup on the exhaust valves.
Unfortunately, a new or nearly new vehicle is out of my price range
Then just get a Toyota Corolla with a 4 speed and a 1.8 MPi, or a 3rd gen Mazda3 SkyActive.
Thanks for the info and suggestions, Dan.