2.0T Engine swap to... atmo? Is it hypothetically possible?

[renat2]

Hi everyone. I absolutely love my Stinger, it's an amazing car and so on, but its engine (2.0T in my case) is waaaay too much for me. I mean, I absolutely do not care about dynamics, 0-100 time and all other things everyone here are talking about. All I need from a car engine is to be simple, reliable and not too demanding in terms of service costs/schedule. I have had an experience with 1.6 / 2.0 (both atmo) engines on my previous KIA cars, and they were just wonderful and absolutely fitting my needs. But Stinger's T-GDI is just too complex and demanding just to move my ass from home to work in "granddaddy driving style". Here in Russia, we have a really bad fuel even at the most expensive gas stations; GDI and T-GDI engines can not ride on it for long, there are a lot of reports from local GDI owners about "XXXXX has broken in my engine again". My high pressure injection pump has already broken twice within a year I own my Stinger, leaving me without a car for a month each time, while the dealer was fixing it (considering I absolutely do not race, I have never run above 2500-3000 RPM, the car working conditions are always as spareful as possible).

So maybe it is an absurd idea - throwing the overkill T-GDI away and putting a nice and plushy atmo engine from some cheaper KIA's in - but this is totally what I need and want. I realize that with 99.9% possibility nobody has done something like this before (not just with a Stinger, but with any car), so maybe it's just some of my dumb thoughts and nothing more. Sorry for my grammar if there are any errors, English is not my native. Thanks.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Yeah. Sounds legit. Pull a lawn mower Honda in there. That would be better.

mkaaaaaaay

 

[BlueByYouGT]

Hi everyone. I absolutely love my Stinger, it's an amazing car and so on, but its engine (2.0T in my case) is waaaay too much for me. I mean, I absolutely do not care about dynamics, 0-100 time and all other things everyone here are talking about. All I need from a car engine is to be simple, reliable and not too demanding in terms of service costs/schedule. I have had an experience with 1.6 / 2.0 (both atmo) engines on my previous KIA cars, and they were just wonderful and absolutely fitting my needs. But Stinger's T-GDI is just too complex and demanding just to move my ass from home to work in "granddaddy driving style". Here in Russia, we have a really bad fuel even at the most expensive gas stations; GDI and T-GDI engines can not ride on it for long, there are a lot of reports from local GDI owners about "XXXXX has broken in my engine again". My high pressure injection pump has already broken twice within a year I own my Stinger, leaving me without a car for a month each time, while the dealer was fixing it (considering I absolutely do not race, I have never run above 2500-3000 RPM, the car working conditions are always as spareful as possible).

So maybe it is an absurd idea - throwing the overkill T-GDI away and putting a nice and plushy atmo engine from some cheaper KIA's in - but this is totally what I need and want. I realize that with 99.9% possibility nobody has done something like this before (not just with a Stinger, but with any car), so maybe it's just some of my dumb thoughts and nothing more. Sorry for my grammar if there are any errors, English is not my native. Thanks.

Maybe this is something you should consider after your warranty has expired.

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

(considering I absolutely do not race, I have never run above 2500-3000 RPM, the car working conditions are always as spareful as possible).

Huh.
You're lugging a turbocharged engine, one that is direct-injected.
And it breaks.
Who could have predicted that?

I'm only being sarcastic to make a point, not to be mean. Seriously, stop lugging the engine. That isn't to say because you have a turbocharger means you have to send it every time you accelerate, but by lugging the engine you're getting carbon buildup which can result in super knock and vastly reduced fuel economy. Just drive it normally, but keep the revs up higher rather than lower. You'll avoid heavy carbon buildup that plagues GDI systems, and you'll avoid super knock.

(edited to correct multiple typos)

 

[87and66]

I hate to ever tell someone to not drive a stinger, but it may be in your best interest to trade it in for a "normal" car. with your driving style, it sounds like a sporty car just isn't for you. The complexity and expense of an engine swap would far outweigh any positives (which for most people would be none). Maybe an Optima or a Cadenza is more your style. Pains me to say that

 

[General_Vodka]

I hate to ever tell someone to not drive a stinger, but it may be in your best interest to trade it in for a "normal" car. with your driving style, it sounds like a sporty car just isn't for you. The complexity and expense of an engine swap would far outweigh any positives (which for most people would be none). Maybe an Optima or a Cadenza is more your style. Pains me to say that

Still better than a kia soul.

 

[87and66]

Still better than a kia soul.

there's a car I would never recommend. Hideous .

Not to change topics, but is that a Stinger Roadster I see in your profile pic? I'm not a fan of convertibles, but I'd buy that if it were real. I have a 3.3TT, but the 2.0T in a miata sized car with stinger looks would be amazing. One can dream

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Knock the Soul all you want, but they are super reliable and practical. My soon-to-be BIL has one and he loves it. It's showing its age (near 300K miles) so he's going to get a new one.

 

[87and66]

Knock the Soul all you want, but they are super reliable and practical. My soon-to-be BIL has one and he loves it. It's showing its age (near 300K miles) so he's going to get a new one.

They definitely are reliable and practical. no doubt. good cars, as are pretty much all Korean cars. I just cant get over the looks. And i still cant get the image of hamsters driving it out of my head

 

[TwiceStung]

Hi everyone. I absolutely love my Stinger, it's an amazing car and so on, but its engine (2.0T in my case) is waaaay too much for me. I mean, I absolutely do not care about dynamics, 0-100 time and all other things everyone here are talking about. All I need from a car engine is to be simple, reliable and not too demanding in terms of service costs/schedule. I have had an experience with 1.6 / 2.0 (both atmo) engines on my previous KIA cars, and they were just wonderful and absolutely fitting my needs. But Stinger's T-GDI is just too complex and demanding just to move my ass from home to work in "granddaddy driving style". Here in Russia, we have a really bad fuel even at the most expensive gas stations; GDI and T-GDI engines can not ride on it for long, there are a lot of reports from local GDI owners about "XXXXX has broken in my engine again". My high pressure injection pump has already broken twice within a year I own my Stinger, leaving me without a car for a month each time, while the dealer was fixing it (considering I absolutely do not race, I have never run above 2500-3000 RPM, the car working conditions are always as spareful as possible).

So maybe it is an absurd idea - throwing the overkill T-GDI away and putting a nice and plushy atmo engine from some cheaper KIA's in - but this is totally what I need and want. I realize that with 99.9% possibility nobody has done something like this before (not just with a Stinger, but with any car), so maybe it's just some of my dumb thoughts and nothing more. Sorry for my grammar if there are any errors, English is not my native. Thanks.

Honestly, this is something I never would have guessed would be a problem. I often say I’m never surprised by anything but then........

The 2.0 is too much?? Get another car. In the meantime, get your rpm’s above 3000. It will actually HELP you and your engine.

 

[General_Vodka]

there's a car I would never recommend. Hideous .

Not to change topics, but is that a Stinger Roadster I see in your profile pic? I'm not a fan of convertibles, but I'd buy that if it were real. I have a 3.3TT, but the 2.0T in a miata sized car with stinger looks would be amazing. One can dream

Yes it is. Would make for a great GT car. One can indeed dream lol.

 

[eflyguy]

So maybe it is an absurd idea

Anything is possible with enough time and money.

With the integration of all the electronic systems, in Western countries I estimate you would pay about half as much as the car itself in order to perform this kind of swap. If that is worth it to you, then go ahead! We'd love to hear about it.

 

[Helo58]

I think that OP has a problem with bad gasoline and that using it on a finely jetted (high atomization) high-pressure DI system with a turbo isn't going so well. The fuel damages and/or fouls the system to the point it requires downtime due to maintenance.

The simple answer to your question is that it is possible (as all things with $$$ are) but not practical. In the end, another vehicle with normally aspirated, port injection (or carb if that still exists where you are) engine would probably easier and cheaper than an engine swap.

 

[eflyguy]

Just realized - don't they sell the diesel models in .ru?

 

[spacedawg]

I was expecting posts about LS swaps or even electric conversions at some point but this one is just perplexing lol

 

[renat2]

Just realized - don't they sell the diesel models in .ru?

No, unfortunately, diesel modifications in Russia are not available at all. Only options available are 2.0T and 3.3TT. I can tell you that our local diesel fuel is even way worse than gasoline... Diesel cars are really rare here because of shitty fuel lol. In other words, any modern complex engine will suffer here, being it gasoline or diesel; the best choice is a '92 $3000 Toyota with 500k+ mileage It never breaks, a lot of people use them and like them. Mostly because of country real average salary of $350/month, sadly. Even that 30-year-old Toyota is something to save money up for a long time...