Since day one I have noticed my accent with the 1.6gdi had some knock/ping on 87 octane under accel. Dealer said it was not knock/ping but rather exhaust vibrating or high fuel pressures causing the sound. When I took the techs for a ridealong showing them scan tool while making it knock/ping and timing was pulled when it did so they were speechless. They told me no fix but run 89 octane or higher in it. That is one solution however I had other things in mind.
First I thought colder plugs would do the trick. Tried 1 step colder plugs and it did help and managed to get rid of much of the knock/ping but not as much as I would like. It did give me increase in mpg by 2-3%. Also cost for 4 plugs were just over $60 at local napa. Took 15 minutes to change them out.
I knew heat was a factor so I researched thermostat for the 1.6gdi and found few options for cooler one and none were cheap. I then researched dimensions of cheaper cooler temp thermostats that matched closely to the oem one. I found a 160 degree thermostat(oem is180 degree) through napa made for a dodge v8 that had same flange diameter (54mm) and similar height for less than $10. Took oem rubber flange gasket from thermostat and placed on dodge thermostat before install. Also reused fluid to save cost. Tested it out and bingo! Runs 16-20 degrees cooler than stock coolant temps. Also only time I can make it knock/ping is if let idle for extended period to where coolant temps are high then accel. Even then it only will do it briefly as coolant cools quickly.
Noticed same mpg increase and butt dyno increase as well. Also colder plugs not required. Install time was about 1 hour. Cheap easy mod with great results imo. Hyundai should have done this from the factory.
First I thought colder plugs would do the trick. Tried 1 step colder plugs and it did help and managed to get rid of much of the knock/ping but not as much as I would like. It did give me increase in mpg by 2-3%. Also cost for 4 plugs were just over $60 at local napa. Took 15 minutes to change them out.
I knew heat was a factor so I researched thermostat for the 1.6gdi and found few options for cooler one and none were cheap. I then researched dimensions of cheaper cooler temp thermostats that matched closely to the oem one. I found a 160 degree thermostat(oem is180 degree) through napa made for a dodge v8 that had same flange diameter (54mm) and similar height for less than $10. Took oem rubber flange gasket from thermostat and placed on dodge thermostat before install. Also reused fluid to save cost. Tested it out and bingo! Runs 16-20 degrees cooler than stock coolant temps. Also only time I can make it knock/ping is if let idle for extended period to where coolant temps are high then accel. Even then it only will do it briefly as coolant cools quickly.
Noticed same mpg increase and butt dyno increase as well. Also colder plugs not required. Install time was about 1 hour. Cheap easy mod with great results imo. Hyundai should have done this from the factory.