MajorCommonEngine

Daihatsu Hijet: KF-VE Piston Ring Oil Consumption

KF-VE Piston Ring Oil Consumption is a common engine fault on the Daihatsu Hijet on the 2014 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs ≈A$2,300 to ≈A$5,060 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 12 documented faults on the Daihatsu Hijet.

Vehicle: Daihatsu Hijet
Engine: KF-VE
Years: 2014 onward
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Daihatsu Hijet as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Daihatsu Hijet faults12 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The KF-VE 660cc three-cylinder engine introduced in the S500P Hijet (2014–present) has documented piston ring wear leading to above-normal oil consumption. The narrow-profile rings used for low friction can lose sealing ability early, particularly in vehicles used for short stop-start commercial runs where the engine rarely reaches full operating temperature. Oil consumption of 1 litre per 1,000–2,000 km has been widely reported, and running low on oil accelerates cam and bearing wear.

What you would notice

Needing to top up engine oil by 1 litre or more between standard service intervals
Blue-tinged smoke from the exhaust on acceleration after coasting or on cold start
Oily residue around the PCV hose and in the intake manifold

How to check it

Where to look. Internal engine — pistons and rings inside the KF-VE cylinder block

Check the oil level and condition at purchase; ask for service records showing oil top-up frequency.
Inspect the air filter housing and intake for oily residue indicating blowby.
Look for blue smoke from the exhaust on acceleration after a period of trailing throttle.
If a workshop inspection is possible: Perform a cylinder compression test (spec ~1,200 kPa) and a leak-down test to quantify ring seal.

What it costs to put right

≈A$2,300 to ≈A$5,060 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“How often do you need to top up the engine oil between services?”
“Has a compression or leak-down test been carried out on the engine?”

Now check the Daihatsu Hijet you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Daihatsu Hijet buyer questions

Is kf-ve piston ring oil consumption serious on a Daihatsu Hijet?

We rate it major and common on the Daihatsu Hijet. The KF-VE 660cc three-cylinder engine introduced in the S500P Hijet (2014–present) has documented piston ring wear leading to above-normal oil consumption. The narrow-profile rings used for low friction can lose sealing ability early, particularly in vehicles used for short stop-start commercial runs where the engine rarely reaches full operating temperature. Oil consumption of 1 litre per 1,000–2,000 km has been widely reported, and running low on oil accelerates cam and bearing wear.

How much does it cost to fix on a Daihatsu Hijet?

≈A$2,300 to ≈A$5,060 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Daihatsu Hijet years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2014 onward Daihatsu Hijet. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the oil level and condition at purchase; ask for service records showing oil top-up frequency. Inspect the air filter housing and intake for oily residue indicating blowby. Look for blue smoke from the exhaust on acceleration after a period of trailing throttle. If a workshop inspection is possible: Perform a cylinder compression test (spec ~1,200 kPa) and a leak-down test to quantify ring seal. Look here: Internal engine — pistons and rings inside the KF-VE cylinder block