Hi Scotty
I bought a 2019 Kia Sorento with a V6 last summer 2021. It had 30 thousand miles. My wife puts about 1000 miles a month on the car. The first month we had the car it consumed a quart of oil and I noticed the oil on the dip stick was absolutely black and smelled burned. The brakes squeaked like mad. One weekend I decided to change the brake pads and the oil. The pads had plenty of meat still left on them but I changed them anyway. They were worn at an angle as though they were cocked in the caliper. I assume they were the original pads. I paid a premium price for Acabono pads. That took care of the brakes. They are now as smooth as silk.
Then I changed the oil. It was as black as can be and smelled burnt. It's a pain because their is no access to the drain plug until you remove 12 bolts to get the bottom cover off. I monitored the oil consumption and found now I was only using 1/2 a quart a month although the oil was unusually dark. At the three thousand mile mark I decided to change the oil again. I kept monitoring the oil and now the level on the dipstick barely moved. Another 3000 miles I changed it again. It's been two months and the engine has consumed no measurable oil at all. The look while slightly darkened is what I would expect on an engine with 40 thousand miles.
Of course the dealers answer to all this was "You bought a used car".
I suspect the oil was never or at least infrequently changed. Typically I associate oil burning with permanent damage. Is it possible the dirty oil was the only cause of the high oil consumption?
PS: I also have a 2021 Sorento I bought new. I also change the oil every 3 thousand miles. The line on the dipstick never moves.
Sorry to be so long winded. This is not an endorsement of any particular brand. Any and all comments are welcome.
That took care of the brakes
wow thanks for that life story to go with the question.
Typically I associate oil burning with permanent damage.
oil evaporates too
The first month we had the car it consumed a quart of oil
who knows what the previous owner was putting in there, and doing with the car
Maybe there was some sludge in there and the fresh oil cleaned it up
You may have had some gunk in the rings that was cleaned up with the oil changes. Time to buy a lottery ticket! 🙂
Stopped burning oil?
I've had the exact same thing with my Corolla, Bought it (a small but noticeable) oil consumption and it did turn oil dark brown,
(It's the same engine as the Prius had, just with a shortened stroke and lower compression to create a lower power variant)
After servicing every 5k miles for the last 50k miles, I don't see any oil consumption and oil stays bright.
In hindsight it appears that the previous owner was following Toyotas manual and serviced it once every 10k miles.
I had a Ford Focus which also was serviced only once every 10k miles, although it had 0 consumption, the oil always was black.
(But dark oil was normal on that specific, Ford even painted the dipstick black to hide how quickly oil gets dirty)
I also change the oil every 3 thousand miles
Also, since the recommended service internal under "severe usage conditions" is 3.75k miles, 3k miles might be a bit too much.
("Serve Usage Conditions" on a modern car, by the owners manual definition, is pretty much any driving except only using the car on a perfectly smooth highway at a medium speed without jams and without downhill/uphill/mountainous sections - anything else is "severe conditions")
Of course the dealers answer to all this was "You bought a used car".
Have you transferred the warranty? You should still be able to get a 5 years / 60k miles warranty.
The line on the dipstick never moves
As it should. The line on the dipstick doesn't move on my Kias and haven't moved when I had a Hyundai.
I also have a Kia Niro (It's a corporate car) and it seems to have some consumption, but it was serviced once every 10k miles.
Contacted Kia Irvine about warranty. Car was certified and sold by a Kia dealer therefore the existing warranty continues. The warranty is 60k or 5yrs on car and 10yrs or 100k on drive train of which the previous owner used up 3 yrs. Dealer verified but said extra oil not covered. If the engine blows up that's covered but until that time cost of oil is on me. Was told if you buy a Kia from a private party or non authorized dealer the warranty ends.