Thread: GDI Engines and soot

I took delivery of a 2013 Azera last Wednesday, 3/20/13. The car had just under 400 miles on it at delivery. It is white with dual stainless exhaust tips. On Saturday, we drove it from Florida to Pennsylvania to visit our kids and grandson. On Sunday I was showing off the new car and noticed that the exhaust was black with soot as was the surrounding area of the bumper. I cleaned it off as best as I could and then called my dealer. He cautioned me on using brand gas (no disounters where you could get "stale gas") and as low in ethanol as possible to cut down on the exhaust emissions. I then called Hyundai and was assigned a case manager who told me that Hyundai was aware of the issue and it was inherent in GDI engines. It has to do with lowering emissions coming out of the exhaust, burning fuel hotter in doing so. He said that the only thing that can be done is to keep cleaning the area on the bumper. He said that he was not aware of any fix coming forth from Hyundai to cut the soot down.
Don't read this the wrong way, we love the car! It is beautiful but to have to constantly clean the exhaust area (how will we ever keep the tips clean?) on the bumper will be a royal pain. We never would have bought a white car had we known. A black car would have to be washed frequently but at least you'd never see the soot on a daily basis. When we get back home we're going to see the dealer. They had to have known about the issue since the car had 370 miles on it, yet they must have continually cleaned the area to sell the vehicle. I really don't know what the answer is, I'm just frustrated that we have to deal with this. We traded in a white Lexus that was a pleasure to drive and only had to be cleaned as often as we wanted to wash it. We never had a soot problem with our stainless exhaust on the Lexus.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!

It is a trait of the GDI engine according to Hyundai. No fix. You just need to clean it off. An all purpose cleaner and steel wool will work to clean it.

I recommend 000 wool or 0000 wool if you want to polish.

I've read a lot of different threads on this in the last few day and some people are saying it seems to settle down a little after a while. We drive back to Florida this weekend and then I'll talk to the dealer. I know that there is nothing to be done other than continually cleaning it. It's sad that they have this problem and even more sad that we weren't aware of it before we bought white. Thanks for your input!
You do need to be very careful of the sharp edges of the tips, I sliced my finger open the other day cleaning it.

I have a 2 week old 2013 Azera with 1,000 miles. Excessive sooty build- up in exhaust pipes and 6 inches up my white bumper. Dealer won't do a thing. The black soot has stained my rear bumper after only 2 weeks. What is it going to look like in 6 months, 1-2 years. Horrible!!!!! Don't buy a Hyundai. I'm sorry I did and it will be the last one!!!!!

I drive a lot in my 2013 white hyundai azera and even at 7400 miles I still have the problem. And your right it is annoying. Especially on a white car.

Did you try to fill ethanol free gas? Some gas stations do have it.

I don't know if ethanol-free would help, but here are sites you might use, but I doubt you'll find non-ethanol regular:

http://buyrealgas.com/

http://pure-gas.org/

I guess I should be glad I bought my 2006 Azera in "Augergine," a fine, dark color...

Ethanol free gas is difficult to find especially when traveling through small towns! Other blog responses have indicated that this really doesn't solve the issue. If Hyundai wants to sell white/light colored cars that become stained after only two weeks of driving and it requires ethanol free gas, this should be told to perspective buyers upfront. Trust me, their sales would fall. Had I known this I would have bought a black azera or gone with a different car altogether. The extra time and money spent on products trying to keep this car clean will be a a real pain.

I think Hyundai and/or the dealer should pick up the cost to have these cars detailed every couple of months. But, neither seem interested in getting and keeping their buyers happy. Too bad!!!!

I currently own a 2013 silver frost Azera and have not experienced this issue, I've also owned 2 Sonata's as well a 2012, 2013 with combined mileage of more than 30,000 and no soot. My wife has a 2013 Santa Fe and none as well though we do run non ethanol gas.

Soot on the tailpipe and bumper would indicate unburned gas which is caused by the engine running too rich. Running to rich will also lower your gas milage. This should be addressed by Hyundai service. I would ask the service department to verify that the car meets EPA specifications for exhaust emissions.