I have posted here from time to time about my lowly Kia Soul from 2015. We’re currently at 91,450 or so in mileage. I just found out thanks to a helpful Valvoline tech that we’re burning oil at an accelerated rate. Apparently, my stupid behind doesn’t know how to properly check oil, because when I checked it 2 weeks ago it appeared to be full. However, yesterday the guy said the oil was barely registering on the dipstick. There’s absolutely no sign of leaks, so this mother freaking GDI engine has to be burning what’s missing.

This is all backed up by the fact that towards the end of an oil change interval, I’m getting a periodic knock on acceleration. It appears that this was my poor 2.0L engine starving for oil. After the oil change, there’s magically no noise at all. In the back of my mind I kept thinking that the noise sounded like sucking too little fluid through a straw, and it seems like that’s very close to what was happening.

I have an offer in hand from CarMax from an appointment yesterday, and they’ll give me $5,500 for my current car.

This leads me to go looking for alternatives. I’m trying not to have a huge payment, so I’m trying to stay under $10,000. That prevents me from considering any Toyotas or Hondas unless they are very old or very high mileage.

Looking around, I found a 2015 Ford Fusion hybrid ( titanium edition) with 115,000 miles for $11,000 from a local Honda dealership that I trust. I also found a 2017 Ford Fusion hybrid at a Ford dealership that I do not know about 40 miles away at $9,880 with 109,000 miles.

I know Fords are not generally well regarded these days, but all my research points to Fusion hybrids being reliable, lasting up to 250,000 miles or more. Given that I’ve put less than 92,000 miles on my Kia in 10 years, it seems like either of these might be a good buy for me that would be well within my budget.

With all that said, I invite you guys to play: Is it better than my 2015 Kia Soul?

  • slingstone@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    2·
    18 hours ago

    I’ve done the intake cleaning with the spray into the intake that goes into the throttle body. After I waited an hour, I took it on the road and put my foot down going onto the interstate. Put out a Billie of white smoke like you wouldn’t believe. Changed the oil after as directed.

    Is there something else that needs to be done with that?

    I’ll look into that Valvoline oil, for sure.

    • CCMan1701A@startrek.websiteEnglish
      2·
      9 hours ago

      Sounds good. Try to gague the rate of usage by checking the oil level a few times a month. This reminds me that it’s time for me to check mine.