My 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport is running through oil and i have to add more aboit every 2 weeks. I perform regular oil changes and GDI cleaner but, just took it in to the shop due to spark plug well having oil. They opened the valve cover and there was soo much gunky oil in there that the mechanic took a picture. He told me I need to do regular oil changes and I let him know I do and add oil every couple weeks and do the GDI cleaner.
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I just don't understand why there is this much sludge.
You didn't tell us anything about the car's history such as whether you are the original owner, if you bought it used how long you've owned it, or how many miles are on it.
What you are seeing is exactly what would be expected if engine oil is hardly ever changed, if at all. Very easy to understand. The only surprise would be that there isn't even more sludge. The problem is made worse when the car is used mainly for short trips since the engine doesn't get hot enough to burn off contaminants.
Now, on the other hand, if you're the original owner and have been changing oil regularly since new that would point to a defective PCV system contaminating the oil with blowby.
Hi Chuck,
No it was my grandpa's who passed away last year. He bought it from carmax. I think it had 80k miles on it and now it has 117k miles. I am a travel RN and so I put 132 miles /day on it. No short trips.
Could this sludge be from a previous owner not doing oil changes before my grandpa purchased the car. He kept a log of his oil changes. Since he passed as mentioned before we perform regular oil changes.
Thanks
Yes, undoubtedly the original owner (or some previous owner) didn't take care of it. That's probably why it wound up at Carmax in the first place - that's a popular dumping ground for people looking for an easy way to get rid of a bad car.
There are products that purport to clean sludge but it's hard to imagine any additive being able to clean that mess out.
Thanks Chuck.
Yea I can't imagine any product cleaning that amount of sludge either other than manually getting it out. Appreciate your help
The oil sludge looks pretty bad!
Especially considering that the 2.4 GDi is known for wearing out rod bearings due to poor oil flow.
(These can also have a 2.0T, I assume you have the larger 2.4 naturally aspirated variant)
How frequently was it serviced? It looks like it hasn't been serviced enough.
Hyundais need to be serviced more frequently than 7.5k miles - you need to go of the "Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions" section that requires 3,000/3,750 mile engine oil+filter internals and 60k mile internals on the transmission fluid.
The typical solution for this would be a flush - BUT I'm afraid that if of all that sludge goes into circulation that it may cause low engine oil pressure thus killing.
With that sludge, it's definitely a good idea to replace the PCV - it may reduce your consumption.
I'd say this engine has at most a few tens of thousands of miles left.
As soon as it will consume more than 1 quart each 1,000 miles - it's time to sell it.
EDIT: I'd also consider taking off the oil pan to inspect the sludge there and clean it, and maybe also send a sample of the oil to a place like black stone labs to see how much of the connecting rod bearings there are in your oil...
Hi Dan, I do oil and filter changes every 3-5k miles. I've never had a transmission flush. I did change the pcv valve about 6 months ago.
I hope I can get more than a few tens of thousands miles on it.
Sending a sample in is actually a pretty good idea.
Ty for your help.
Hi, Do not flush the automatic transmission- only drain and fill with oem spec fluid (I believe it’s Hyundai-Kia SP IV).
These 6 speed transmissions really do not like it dirty oil - you can see if the fluid is not too far gone using the dipstick (Hyundai had those until 2017 I think)
Good luck!
Well if it's using it every 2 weeks it's burning it. If it was leaking that much you would have giant swimming pool puddles of oil under the car. Does green cars are not that well made many of them burn oil because the piston rings valve seals just wear out because they're poorly made
Hi, I have never had any oil spots on the driveway nor smoke from the exhaust. It seems like it's just gunking up under the valve cover.
I'll try and send a link of the pics
They opened the valve cover and there was soo much gunky oil in there that the mechanic took a picture.
The photos paint a grim picture, it looks like the oil was hardly ever changed. That engine is badly sludged. About all you an do at this point is keep the oil clean and add oil as needed.
Right, it looks like it is never changed but we do every 3-5k miles and add oil as needed.
I just don't understand why there is this much sludge.
get rid of it asap. The only thing worse than a Korean car, is a poorly maintained (not by you) Korean car .
Is there anything else I can do to prevent this?
Ty
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