Hyundai Palisade Engine Problems
What Hyundai Palisade owners describe when they ring us, what those symptoms usually mean on a turbo-diesel engine, and the point at which replacing the engine costs less than chasing the fault.
General guidance, not a diagnosis
The same symptom can have several causes and nothing here replaces having the vehicle looked at. If you are not sure, ring us and describe what it is doing before you spend money on parts.
The symptoms we hear most on turbo-diesel engines
Black smoke when working hard
Over-fuelling or not enough air. Worth checking the intake and the turbo before anyone talks about the engine itself.
Hard starting when cold
Glow plugs and compression both cause it. If it improves once warm and worsens over months, compression is the likelier of the two.
Using oil between services
A sudden change in how much it uses matters more than the absolute figure.
Loss of power under load
Turbo-diesels show this first when towing or loaded. Turbo, intake and compression all produce it, and a compression test separates the cheap causes from the expensive ones.
Rattling at idle, quieter when warm
Common on high-kilometre diesels. Often injector or timing-chain related rather than bottom-end, which is worth establishing before anyone quotes an engine.
Using coolant with no visible leak
If the level drops and you cannot find it on the ground, it is going somewhere internal. This is the symptom not to defer on, and continuing to drive is what turns a head gasket into a replacement engine.
What this means on a Palisade
The Palisade is the largest vehicle in Hyundai’s Australian range and is usually bought to carry people and tow. It is a newer model, so engine enquiries on it are uncommon.
Towing and loaded running are what bring these faults out. If it only misbehaves with the van on the back, that is information, not a coincidence.
The Palisade runs turbo-diesel in our range, so the fault patterns above are the ones worth checking first.
There is a point where chasing a fault costs more than replacing the engine. Diagnostic time, parts fitted on a guess and the vehicle off the road all add up. For this model a reconditioned engine starts at $5,200 with GST included, or $6,200 supplied and fitted at Hallam, so you can weigh that against a repair estimate before deciding.
What we will ask you about the Palisade
Answering these first usually saves a call, and often saves money.
- Does it smoke, and is it black, blue or white?
- Does it do it loaded or towing, or all the time?
- Has the coolant level moved?
- What year is it, and what is the rego?
- Would you consider a new engine as well as a reconditioned one?
Common questions
Is white smoke always serious on this engine?
A puff on a cold start that clears is normal. Smoke that persists once the engine is warm is not, and on a turbo-diesel it is worth establishing whether it is fuel or coolant before anything else.
How do I know if it needs a new engine or a repair?
A compression test separates the cheap causes from the expensive ones. If the engine has an internal fault and the vehicle is otherwise sound, replacement is often cheaper than diagnosis plus repair. If you are not at that point we will say so.
What engine does my Palisade take?
In our range it uses D4HB. We confirm the exact code from your rego or VIN.
Can I keep driving it?
If it is overheating or losing coolant, no. Continuing to drive is what turns a head gasket into a replacement engine. For most other symptoms, get it looked at before the next long trip.
Where to go from here
Not sure how serious it is?
Describe the symptoms and send your rego or VIN. We will tell you what we think before you spend anything.