2014 Kia Soul 1.6 GDI

[daemontrym]

After bearing with the nasty manual transmission on my 2012 forte, my wife and I decided to trade it on new Kia Soul Base. What is the common experience with newer GDI or Hyundai GDI engines? This is my wife's car so it will mostly see short trip city driving. Should I go with a severe service interval of 3750 on conventional? Or should I use a full synthetic at 6 or 7k miles? It would probably take more than 6 months to put 6 or 7k on it. She commutes 6 miles round trip a day to work and we take some long drives on the weekend.

Plus carbon build up, is this of the past now? I read that timing has been altered so the intake valve wont get gumped up.

 

[147_Grain]

Go to severe service with your short trip city driving and watch out for fuel dilution with the short trips and the direct injected engine.

Recommend the shorter 3,750 OCI on conventional while under warranty.

 

[wemay]

Any oil that meets spec and you will be fine. Valvoline conventional has been sited as holding up well to dilution in some GM d.i. engines here. Quaker State Conventional, Mobil Super 5000, Pennzoil Conventional... all great oils.

 

[gregk24]

If it were my car it would get a decent synthetic with the severe service intervals. But to be honest any oil that meets spec at the severe service intervals should be fine.

 

[Drew99GT]

What was wrong with the manual trans on your Forte?

 

[KCJeep]

I'd do the severe service interval, at which only conventional makes any sense, and if the 2014 manual still allows 5w30 I'd use that as well over the 5w20.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
I'd do the severe service interval, at which only conventional makes any sense, and if the 2014 manual still allows 5w30 I'd use that as well over the 5w20.

 

[daemontrym]

The stock tuning on the fly by wire throttle had a long delay and was very touchy after a delay. It was more of an on off switch vs a gas pedal. The clutch had no feeling where you were able to find an engagement point. These 2 it was pretty simple to get used to as you drove it. But, the transmission was very notchy and would buck if you didnt do everything exactly perfect. Quick shiftin was in possible it was like there was a delay between gears. I tried bleeding the clutch, taking it to the dealer, changed the gear oil with all the expensive OEM and boutique oil choice to no avail.

Long story short after 43K in the 1.5 years i owned it I had enough. I commute 80 miles round trip a day.