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Sedans Kia Optima Kia Optima Real World MPG
139 messages, Last post on Sep 16, 2009 at 6:48 AM
You are in the Kia Optima Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
Just bought the LX 4-cylinder manual and very happy with the ride and fit of the construction. But initial mpg with A/C on in the city is not good (<17mpg) for a 4 cylinder. However, without A/C and about 50% city/highway = 25mpg. With gas in LA  4.70/gallon, the joy of buying the KIA at such a good price compared to a Toyota is tempered down with the real world, poor mpg's. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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Replying to: mingdoi (Jun 23, 2008 8:07 pm) According to Consumer Reports, real world MPG on a 4 cylinder Optima with automatic tranny is 15 city 33 highway.BTW I have 35lbs of air in my tires. That seems to help. I have gotten as much as 40.7 on a long interstate drive. I have not noticed any worse gas consumption with the AC on. Matter of fact,I get better MPG in the summer with the AC on than in the winter. |
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Replying to: mingdoi (Jun 23, 2008 8:07 pm) |
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Thanks for the replies regarding the mpg on my new Optima. I will keep an eye on the mpg's as the car ages and will also increase the psi on the tires. Also, decided to poke under the hood and was surprised to find a loose, detached hose from the air intake to the filter. Reattached and hopefully will help. I guess the dealer's new car check was not too thorough. |
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About 10% under my Maxx V-6 and 20% under my 01 Elantra. Mostly my wife's drive and she doesn't make much use of cruise. Still, far from good.
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Replying to: csandste (Jun 26, 2008 7:14 pm) 
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Replying to: mingdoi (Jul 06, 2008 6:24 pm)
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Hey guys... Max tire pressure depends on the tire. Look on the sidewall...better yet, if you have a tire store nearby, ask them the max. PSI they would suggest running in the tire. Realize that there are some tradeoffs, more PSI means less contact with the road (less friction) for stopping but also less contact with the road (again, less friction) for better gas milage. So, realize that a happy medium might be the best solution...I would much rather spend more money in gas than several thousand in repair costs and higher insurance payments...not to mention the precious cargo. I have an '02 Optima and here is what I have learned over the 120K I now have on the car. 1. I run the tires at about 35 psi. This is about 2/3s max psi. 2. I actually get better gas milage by not using the cruise control. It allows me to feather the gas to speed up or slow down instead of the hard on/off that the cruise seems to have. 3. I use Mobile 1 7500K oil. This seems to be the best as far as viscosity breakdown vs cost. Mobile 1 is excellent oil...the only one I will use. 4. I have experimented with speed on the freeway, from 55mph to 80mph (max I'll admit to) which is 5mph over the posted limit. These experiments on long trips have led to an understanding that air resistance is a huge factor in the MPG factor. If you want the best MPG, stick to 55mph...it's that simple. At 55mph I get 37 MPG on the freeway, at 80mph I get 18 MPG. 5. I use a K&N air filter. It's expensive, but will outlast your car. You can let it get very dirty and it will still have far more airflow than a new paper filter. (I know, I know...K&N let's small particles in that will ruin the engine... Well, after 120K I have no pressure loss which tells me that this is crap! It might also be that I let the filter run a little dirty most of the time which helps trap more of the small stuff.) 6. I use Lucas Oil additive in every oil change. 7. I use a product called ER (Energy Release). After I had an experience with a Honda Accord transmission that I thought was trashed and got the gear shift handle so hot that it burned my hand, put in some ER, drove it around town for three months, after that 3 months there was no excess heat or noise. The trasmission lasted for another 60K before the I lost the overdrive. So, ER reduces friction extremely well, allowing for more power and less engine wear. 8. Replace the timing belt at suggested intervals as well as other components. 9. Use softer brake pads. The lifetime pads are very hard on the rotors and require them to be replaced. Soft pads may wear out faster but the pads are much easier and cheaper to replace and the rotors...much cheaper. 10. Look in to BG products. If you can't get ER, use BG. There are products for every system on the car. Expecially, the MOA and 44K. 11. Every oil change, spray off the MAF sensor with some MAF sensor cleaner. This sensor is located right after the air cleaner. It can be removed with a phillips screw driver. Just spray off the metal sensor inside...you don't have to clean the whole housing. Believe it or not, this is a HUGE maintance item!!! 12. Keep the wheels aligned. It's worth having checked whenever you get new tires put on. Well, hope this helps.
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Replying to: jeepster93 (Jul 10, 2008 7:48 am) http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm |
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Replying to: mickeyrom (Jul 07, 2008 9:16 am)
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