Since 2006, the company’s Chinese plant has been producing the 1.4-liter Hyundai G4FA engine, which is mainly used as the base power unit for models like the Accent, i20, i30, and Ceed.
G4FA, G4FL, G4FS, G4FC, G4FD, G4FG, G4FJ, G4FM, G4FP, G4FT, and G4FU are members of the Gamma family.
For the European market, a 1.4-liter version of the new Ceed model was introduced in 2006. This motor has an aluminum block, an open cooling jacket, a timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner, and an aluminum 16-valve cylinder head without hydraulic lifters. This is where fuel injection is distributed, and the intake camshaft has a phase regulator. This unit lacks a geometry change system and has a plastic intake manifold.
The engine has undergone several modernizations during production, the most significant of which is the substitution of a standard small catalytic converter for a massive “ram’s horn” exhaust manifold. Following this, catalyst crumbs started to enter the cylinders, causing the unit to rise.
Specifications
| Production years | since 2006 |
| Displacement, cc | 1396 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 99 – 109 |
| Torque output, Nm | 135 – 137 |
| Cylinder block | aluminum R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 16v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 77 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 75 |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| Hydraulic lifters | no |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | yes |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 0W-30, 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.7 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 4/5 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Hyundai Solaris 2012) — city — highway — combined |
7.6 4.9 5.9 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~300 000 |
| Weight, kg | 99.5 |
The engine was installed on:
- Hyundai Accent 4 (RB) in 2010 – 2018;
- Hyundai i20 1 (PB) in 2008 – 2014;
- Hyundai ix20 1 (JC) in 2010 – 2019;
- Hyundai i30 1 (FD) in 2007 – 2012; i30 2 (GD) in 2011 – 2015;
- Hyundai Solaris 1 (RB) in 2010 – 2017;
- Kia Ceed 1 (ED) in 2006 – 2013; Ceed 2 (JD) in 2012 – 2015;
- Kia ProCeed 1 (ED) in 2007 – 2010;
- Kia Rio 3 (QB) in 2011 – 2017; Rio 3 (UB) in 2011 – 2017;
- Kia Venga 1 (YN) in 2009 – 2019.
Disadvantages of the Hyundai G4FA engine
The engine had a large ram’s horn exhaust manifold in its early years, but since around 2010, a very small catalytic converter has taken its place. The crumbs now fall into the cylinders and scratch the walls when the catalyst is destroyed.
This aluminum unit has thin-walled sleeves with low rigidity and an open cooling jacket. The cylinders may go in an ellipse with extremely active use or frequent overheating, and a progressive lubricant consumption will show up right away.
The timing chain functions flawlessly for sedate drivers; typically, it changes after 200,000 kilometers. On the other hand, the resource decreases by half if the engine is continuously run at high speeds. Additionally, it frequently fails here due to dirty oil, and the hydraulic tensioner jams.
Smaller issues include the alternator belt frequently whistling because of a weak tensioner, short-lived engine mounts, grease leaks from under the valve cover, and frequently occurring floating engine speeds because of a contaminated throttle assembly or fuel injectors.