Hyundai Iload Diesel Problems

Broadly speaking, diesel engines have longer life expectancies than their petrol equivalents. That's because the typical diesel has to be more strongly engineered to cope with its inherently higher compression ratio and heavier moving parts, which also means it runs slower with less stress.

However, the advent of turbocharging and higher diesel engine speeds have also seen some lighter duty diesel engines lose some of that under-stressed longevity, meaning that they're not living as long as some old-school, slow-revving, under-stressed diesels. Modern changes including DPF technology, exhaust gas recirculation (for emissions) and single-rail, high-pressure injection have also contributed to shorter working lifespans in some diesels.

In any case, the life you will get out of any engine is directly related to how well it's been serviced and maintained throughout that life. A petrol engine treated to proper servicing will easily outlast a diesel that has been neglected and abused. As for the Hyundai petrol engine in your van, the rule of thumb says you should be aiming for at least 200,000km before spending any meaningful money on repairs. Again, though, this is entirely dependent on regular maintenance.

Hyundai’s diesel engines are generally regarded as being among the better ones on the market. That’s probably because the South Korean domestic market has been switched on to small capacity diesels for decades and, as a result, Hyundai has been building them just as long.

But, like any modern turbo-diesel, the iLoad’s diesel can be prone to a build-up of black gunk in the intake system, a result of diesel soot and oil mist mixing as part of the vehicle’s own emissions-control systems. The other problem that has cropped up a few times now is a failed turbocharger unit. Generally, this has been the result of a blocked oilway that feeds lubricating oil to the turbo’s bearing. This is a narrow oilway and any sludge in the engine can block it and starve the turbo of its oil. Which is when the turbo itself fails.

That’s far more likely to happen in a vehicle that has not had the correct maintenance with regards oil changes. So check the service handbook before handing over the cash and only buy a second-hand iLoad with a full and correct service history.

The Hyundai iLoad/iMax is a great buy for what you intend to use it for, as they're big, robust and roomy boxes on wheels. Not especially quiet, refined or car-like, but well suited to a camper conversion.

However, you must ensure that the example you are looking at has a full and regular service record. This is because the well-known diesel engine and turbo failures are connected with lapsed servicing. It seems oil sludge builds up, thus starving the engine and turbo of sufficient lubrication.

But here's the tricky bit. Hyundai recommended that all scheduled servicing was carried out every 15,000km, when actually 10,000km maximum was closer to the truth for vans that were driven regularly or had a hard life. Which is most of them.

So, you need to buy on condition as well as service history, to ensure you get the promised long-life out of the iLoad/iMax. If that's the case, you can expect to hit 300,000km without any major issues. Just get that oil changed regularly!

I don't believe there is one, but try the Castlemaine Rod Shop (03 5472 2853) as they do a lot of that sort of thing and might have something they could help you with. If they don’t you could have the conversion done by a Vicroads accredited engineer, but it would an expensive exercise and I would think it would be more economical to buy a replacement diesel engine for your van.

It's always worth starting with the basics when trying to trace the cause of a problem, and they are fuel and spark. There's no ignition with a diesel, so fuel should be the focus. Good to see mechanics that know their stuff.

You shouldn't be too concerned about the warranty expiring as the company has an on-going responsibility to fix it beyond the end of the warranty. The loss of performance without the turbo should be huge and easily observed by the dealer, so I would approach the dealer again and ask that someone go with you so you can demonstrate what it is you're concerned about. I would also pick up the phone and call Hyundai to remind them that they haven't honoured their commitment to get back to you. We haven't had any other reports of turbo problems with the iLoad but we are aware of other reports. Have your dealer check that oil is getting to the turbocharger and also check the operation of the wastegate.