2013 Kia 2.0L T-GDI, cold start noise identification?
- Thread starter TheReal_DW
- Start date
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
You can check for Rod Knock by bringing RPMs to 3000, then letting off the gas. If it's a rod, you'll hear it when RPM comes down. Your video sounds like start up rattle from the chain. The positioning of the oil pan is what varies the time it takes for the oil to get up and make pressure. I take it this usually only happens at a cold start? I am also going to assume you have the TSB PI1803W/X (or SC147/SC200) complied with for rod knock?
Correct, I do have Pl1803 and SC147 it completely disappears after 3 seconds.
Could be a job for Valvoline Restore and Protect?
The issue began after two extended synthetic blend OCI, I replaced the leaky valve cover gasket and started using Restore and Protect ~1,100 miles ago and noticed the oil level isnt decreasing as much, previously 1qt/4,700 miles. exhaust doesn’t smell as much like burnt oil like before, and flooring it no longer results in a small amount of dark gray smoke, but I will post an update after 3 intervals/9k miles.
It’s a 2012 engine kia based on manufacture date so I’m hoping I get that 3/4 chance my engine didn’t come from that single recalled factory out of the four they have. Only around ~8,000 sportages were affected from 2011-2013 and I’m already at a pretty high mileage so only time will tell.
4,000 miles 4.5 months in so far, the noise is still there. The smell in the cabin was actually from me using 87 octane on the 2.0 Turbo instead of something greater. Oil consumption has vastly increased so I am hoping it will drop in the next few thousand miles.
I have been listening to startups since this initial post and when the car is dramatically tilted, I can hear it faintly on warm startup as well. - I’ve been told the oil pickup screen is possibly clogged but can’t know for sure without a pan drop.
I don’t think the rod bearings are going out quite yet as I haven’t heard any signature rod knock during normal driving or had a ksds light come on
Maybe a bad filter?
Valvoline restore & protect cleaning and something big got into the pan and possibly the pickup tube?
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The vehicle had a 6,300mile oil change and then a 9,500mile oil change which the mechanic found it to be 2-3 quarts low. Thankfully this is not long enough to void the lifetime warranty. I understand it is a long interval especially for a turbocharged theta 2, it was due to ignorance at the time. It used aftermarket cheap oil filters from Meineke on those two oil intervals, however I am currently running a OEM Kia filter since the first Valvoline change.
I never saw the oil light come on during this period. The noise began sometime during the middle of the second oil change interval. A thousand miles later I swapped to Restore and Protect and began to change my oil on time and check it every other day as well as documenting cleanliness of the dipstick and oil fill hole.
