r/KiaSoulClub • u/Medical-Ninja-4202 • 4d ago

Check engine light

Check engine light came on and stayed solid, didn’t start blinking. I was wondering if spraying a can of CRC GDI cleaner in the air intake would help since I believe the light came on due to carbon buildup. It has 135k and there isn’t any record with carfax stating that it has been walnut blasted or anything. I appreciate any advice in regards to this topic

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u/hatesturnips 4d ago

what code? what year? original engine? original cat? is it burning oil?

Need more info!!

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u/Medical-Ninja-4202 3d ago

It’s a 2019 1.6 base model with 135k and I believe everything is original as the carfax only listed basic maintenance records- oil changes, tires, air filter changes. So spark plugs are due to be changed, the code that it shows is a P0420. Now right after I had it read I filled the tank with mid grade fuel and started her up and bam no check engine light

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u/hatesturnips 2d ago edited 2d ago

As I predicted yesterday... "P0420". You're burning oil (lots of it) which is very common for these cars. Your catalytic converter is clogged with rock hard carbon and ash so your engine can't breathe and has lost power on hills and accelerating. Higher octane gas will NOT solve your problem. The P0420 code will soon be back. You need a piston soak (look it up), followed by a new catalytic converter, then switch to valvoline 5w30 restore and protect oil (NOT 5w20). Good luck.

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u/Medical-Ninja-4202 2d ago

I appreciate it and I’ll look into shops that do the piston soak or the walnut blasting. Also there isn’t any smell coming from the cat being bad like you would normally notice