Theta II Engines

How much does a Hyundai or Kia Theta engine cost?

Theta and Theta II replacement engines at Power Engines run from $1,849 to $3,399 depending on the engine code and the generation. The 2.4L G4KC from the 2006 to 2008 cars is the cheapest at $1,849. The 2.0L turbo G4KH sits at $1,949 for the Gen1 version and $2,599 for Gen2. The 2.4L GDI G4KJ Gen2 is $3,399. Every price below is the engine itself with no core charge, so you keep your old block and there is no deposit to chase after the swap.

Output figures are the values published on each product page and vary by model year and application. Confirm the figure for your own vehicle before you order.

Which Theta engine is in your car?

Hyundai and Kia used four related 4-cylinder blocks across the same nameplates, and the difference is not visible from the badge on the tailgate. A 2013 Sonata can carry a 2.4L G4KJ or a 2.0L turbo G4KH. A 2012 Sportage can carry a 2.4L G4KE or the same 2.0L turbo. The engine code is what decides which long block bolts in.

• G4KC is the original Theta 2.4L with port injection, fitted to the 2006 to 2008 Sonata, Optima and Rondo.
• G4KE is the Theta II 2.4L MPi, still port injected, used in the 2010 to 2013 Santa Fe, Tucson, Sportage and Sorento.
• G4KJ is the Theta II 2.4L GDI with direct injection, from roughly 2012 onward. Gen1 and Gen2 are not interchangeable.
• G4KH is the Theta II 2.0L turbo GDI, used in the Sonata 2.0T, Optima SX, Sportage SX, Santa Fe Sport 2.0T, Veloster N and Elantra N.

If you are deciding between the two 2.0T generations, the G4KH Gen1 vs Gen2 fitment guide covers the differences that matter during a swap.

G4KJ 2.4L Theta II GDI engines for sale

These are the Gen2 2.4L GDI long blocks, covering the Sonata, Optima, Sorento, Sportage and Tucson from the 2015 model year onward. All five are new engines, and each one is a separate stocked listing.

G4KC 2.4L Theta engines for sale

The original Theta 2.4L, port injected, for the first-generation Sonata and Optima and the Rondo. At $1,849 this is the lowest-priced engine in the family.

G4KH 2.0L turbo Theta II GDI engines for sale

Ten turbo listings are in stock across both generations. Gen1 covers the 2011 to 2016 cars at $1,949 and Gen2 covers 2015 onward at $2,599. These engines also appear in the turbo engines collection alongside the EcoBoost, EA888 and FA20DIT blocks.

The engines ship as bare long blocks. The turbocharger, manifolds and accessories are not part of the long block assembly, so confirm on the phone what is attached before you book shop time.

Theta engines that are out of stock today

Ten listings in this family are unavailable at the moment. They stay published so you can see the exact part number and price, and so you know whether the engine you need is one we normally carry.

Stock moves weekly. Call 877-900-2695 between 8am and 5pm ET Monday to Friday and ask for the incoming date on a specific engine code.

Why the Gen1 and Gen2 split matters

Hyundai and Kia revised both the 2.4L GDI and the 2.0L turbo mid-cycle. The two versions carry the same engine code on paper but differ in block casting and in the parts that bolt to them, which is why they are sold as separate part numbers here. Fitting the wrong generation usually shows up at the point where the harness, the oil pan or the intake no longer lines up, after the old engine is already out of the car.

Two things settle it before you order. The model year is the first filter, but overlap years exist, so the second check is the 8th digit of the VIN, which identifies the engine on Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the US. Read both, then match them against the listing title.

Symptoms that usually end in a Theta engine replacement

Most Theta and Theta II replacements we ship follow one of a short list of failures. None of these diagnose your car on their own, but they narrow down whether you are looking at a repair or a long block.

• Knocking that rises with engine speed and does not quiet down once the oil is warm. Rod bearing wear on the GDI blocks is the common cause and it does not respond to an oil change.
• Oil consumption between services with no external leak. See the Theta II oil consumption guide.
• Overheating that returns after a thermostat or water pump job. See the Theta II overheating guide.
• Coolant or combustion gases crossing the head gasket. See the Theta II head gasket guide.
• Rough cold running and misfires from intake valve deposits on the GDI engines. See the carbon buildup guide.
• Loss of boost or a failed turbo on the 2.0T. See the 2.0T turbo failure guide.

Background on the wider failure pattern and the manufacturer programs around it is in the Theta II 2.4L failure and replacement guide and the Theta II recall and class action summary. Check your VIN against an open campaign before you buy a replacement, because a covered car may be repaired by the dealer at no cost.

Confirm the right engine before you order

Displacement alone is not enough on these cars. The same nameplate and the same model year can carry two different engines, and a 2.4L listing will not fit a 2.0T car. Have these four items in front of you before you order:

1. Year, make and model, including the trim where a turbo option exists.
2. Displacement, 2.0L or 2.4L.
3. The engine code stamped on the block or printed on the under-hood label: G4KC, G4KE, G4KJ or G4KH.
4. The 8th digit of the VIN, which identifies the engine on US-market Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Then confirm the match with Power Engines on 877-900-2695 before you place the order. A listing title that mentions your vehicle is a starting point, not a fitment guarantee.

What arrives when you order

Every Theta engine on this page ships as a bare long block. That is the block, crank, pistons, rods, head and valvetrain as an assembly. External accessories are not included, so the installing shop moves your original parts across.

• Intake and exhaust manifolds come off your old engine.
• Sensors, coils, wiring harness and brackets are reused.
• On the 2.0T, the turbocharger and its plumbing are not part of the long block.
• Fluids, filters, gaskets and the timing service parts are supplied by your shop.

Budget for new engine mounts, a fresh oil and coolant fill and any seal your shop will not reuse. Those are normal line items on a swap and they are not covered by the engine warranty.

No core charge on any Theta engine

Power Engines does not hold a core deposit. You are not charged a refundable amount on top of the engine price and you are not on a clock to crate up the old block and ship it back. The price you see is the price you pay for the engine. Most national remanufacturers in this category hold a core deposit, so compare the total out of pocket rather than the headline price.

Shipping, local delivery and pickup

Orders placed before 2pm EST ship the same day. Freight is quoted by destination and by what the receiving address can handle:

• Free local delivery within 30 miles of the warehouse at 55 Thomas Rd N, Hawthorne, NJ.
• Free pickup at the same warehouse if you or your shop can collect.
• No direct shipping to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico.

A commercial address with a dock or a forklift is the cheapest way to receive an engine. If the engine is going to a house, the liftgate charge applies because the crate cannot be handed down from the truck.

Warranty and the 30-day installation window

Theta engines carry a 6 month warranty from the delivery date, with conditions that are worth reading before the engine leaves the crate.

• The engine must be installed within 30 days of delivery.
• Installation has to be done by an ASE-certified shop.
• Coverage is limited to the internal lubricated parts.
• Cracks are not covered.
• Covers, seals and gaskets are not warranted.

Book the shop before the engine arrives. The 30-day window starts at delivery, not at the point the car goes on the lift.

Returns

Returns are accepted within 30 days. An unboxed engine carries a 20% restocking fee. Full terms are in the refund policy.

Theta engine questions we get on the phone

Is the G4KJ in a 2014 Sorento the same as the one in a 2017 Sorento?

No. The 2014 to 2015 Sorento uses the Gen1 2.4L GDI and the 2016 to 2020 Sorento uses Gen2. They are listed as separate part numbers. Check the model year and the 8th VIN digit against the listing title.

Does the 2.0T engine come with the turbocharger?

The listing is a long block. Confirm on 877-900-2695 what is attached before you schedule the installation.

Can I fit a 2.4L in a car that came with the 2.0 turbo?

Not as a parts swap. The two engines differ in induction, fuel system and engine management, and the car expects the engine it was built with. Order the code that matches your vehicle.

Are these engines new or remanufactured?

Every Theta and Theta II listing on this page is a new engine. The condition is stated in the specifications on each product page, and the Condition filter at the top of this collection reflects the same data.

My car is in an open recall. Should I still buy an engine?

Check the VIN with a Hyundai or Kia dealer first. If the car is covered by an active program the dealer may replace the engine at no cost to you.

How long does the swap take?

That is a question for your installing shop, because it depends on the vehicle, the condition of the surrounding parts and the shop schedule. Confirm the labor estimate before the engine ships so it is installed inside the 30-day window.

Related collections and guides

• Kia engines, every Kia listing including the Gamma, Nu and Lambda families.
• Hyundai engines, the full Hyundai catalogue.
• Turbo engines, where the G4KH sits alongside the EcoBoost and EA888 blocks.
• 4-cylinder engines, the complete 4-cylinder catalogue.
• New engines, filtered to new condition across every make.
• Hyundai and Kia 1.6 turbo Gamma II guide, for the smaller GDI turbo.
• Kia Sorento 2014 to 2015 engine replacement guide.
• Hyundai Tucson engine replacement guide.
• Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 to 2016 engine replacement guide.

Questions on fitment, stock or freight go to 877-900-2695, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm ET.