2012 2.4L engines - Kia Forte Forum : Sedan / Koup / Forte5 Forums

DiamondDave8 · 01-21-2012, 05:05 PM

I'm looking to buy a Forte Koup SX. Is there any information on these engines and their reliability?

This would be my first Kia and I know their past (before Hyundai) they were not looked upon very favorably.

However, things appear they have changed.

So, Engine and 6speed auto... in the SX.. first thing..

does it have a timing belt or chain?

Any know issues with the tranny?

Thanks,

DiamondDave8

Xray89 · 01-21-2012, 06:10 PM

I have had my sx koup for over two years and have put on just shy of 50k miles. So far I have not had a single serious issue with the car, and the few minor things (broken dome light and bad tpms sensor) were fixed no problem. The new 6speed automatic trans seem to be a big improvement over the old 5speed, but I cannot comment on that because I have a 6speed manual, which has had no issue. And then for timing belt or timing chain, in 99% positive the 2.4 uses a timing chain.

I love this car and i would suggest it to anyone who is looking!

AutoItKing · 01-21-2012, 06:24 PM

Pretty close to bullet proof. Handles 8 pounds of boost no problem, so that should tell you something.
And it uses a chain with hydraulic tensioner.

scottieboi · 01-21-2012, 08:16 PM

only 12k miles but runs great so far. They really stand behind their cars no so that has to speak for something. If they didn't last they would be losing money with their 100k warranties.

bigbossman94 · 01-21-2012, 11:28 PM

The 2010 5sp AT was the one known to be not to par. I got the six speed auto in the 2.0 and everythings fine and dandy.

Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

GraveSideTears · 01-22-2012, 07:39 AM

Wikipedia the Theta II Engine. It is primarily made by mopar and as stated above, these engines were built for boosted applications. They aren't GDI and they have a clackidy sound to them but IMO it is a great engine

Walpole5 · 01-22-2012, 08:28 AM

Are these one of the finest engines ever made? No. But, I have 31k miles on my car with zero problems. It has plenty of power, but mpg is only OK. I average 30mpg in suburban driving. I think the engine is noisy and a little rough at high rpms, but it has tons of torque, so you really don't need to rev it. It does use a timing chain.

I have the manual tranny, so can't comment on the auto.

xXRockAweaRXx · 01-22-2012, 11:10 AM

Hyundai had a major hand in developing the engine for the current Mitsubishi Lancer and Evolution. Our Theta II engine is nearly identical to the Hyundai Genesis Coupe's engine and the Mitsubishi Lancer's engine.

Hyundai and Mitsubishi have had a long partnership that goes back before the 80's. There have been a lot of joint projects and sharing of technology. Although most of this occurred during past years. In recent years Hyundai helped Mitsubishi design and create the engines for the Lancer and Evo Lancer.

The Forte Koup is built well. I've owned my Koup since early 2010 with no issues.

Kia and Kinetic Racing Build a Forte Koup Grand-Am Racer ? Kia Koup News ? RoadandTrack.com

This article may enlighten you to how capable the Forte Koup really is.

Tebore · 01-22-2012, 01:04 PM

The engine has been in the Rondos, Optimas, Sonatas for years before it went in to the Forte.

The engine was also designed for boost so for what it is in the Forte it should be fairly reliable.

We'll need to see in 20 years how all these Thermoplastic do. The engine in one for or another has been around for almost a decade now and there haven't been any known major problems.