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poor fuel economy for 2003 Kia Optima, 4 cylinder, automatic

I have a 2003 optima with ~8900 miles. My average fuel economy (mostly city) has been between 17-20 mpg. I finally got to take it out for a longer drive on the freeway, and was only able to get up the number up to 24 mpg.

I'm using regular unleaded (87 octane) and oil changes every 5k with Mobile 1. I wonder if stepping up to a higher octane would help? I did read somewhere that someone was getting good results with Amoco Ultimate Super Unleaded.

What has been other peoples experience? I'm wondering if this is an issue I should take up with dealer.

Aside from that, the car is great. I moved up from a Rio, so I guess I'm an easy person to please!

Thanks all,

tone

Reply to
tone
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My Rio only got about 24-25mpg until I hit about 10k miles.. then it was up to 31/32mpg. I plan to start using a Multiblend oil, so I don't know yet if it will effect it. It might just be the low miles on the vehicle, they seem to have a long break in for gas mileage.

Rob

Reply to
Sijuki

Wife's 02 Optima w/30,000 miles consistently gets 22mpg city and 28mpg highway.

Reply to
mookie89

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thanks for the feedback...

My Rio did about the same, except it didn' really start to get better until about 30K miles. I drove the car VERY CAREFULLY. I intended to keep if for a long time, but then he family grew!

what kind of gas are you all using? regular, plus, super? Also, is the wife's optima an automatic? I should have just gotten the 5 speed...

thanks,

tone

Reply to
tone

Driving an 03 Kia , have only checked the mileage once, last month it was

26 mpg, have a about 100lbs of parts and manuals related to my job, mix of city /highway , using lowest octane. (checked the tire pressure? )

Phil

Reply to
Phil

Automatic transmission, using regular unleaded fuel. We live in the Chicago area.

Rich

Reply to
mookie89

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i check the tire pressure about once a week. pressure doesn't fluctuate very much, usually put between 1-3 psi every couple of weeks. i've got the lx model with the hankook radials, not the michelins.

just some more info...

i drive with the AC constantly on. almost never have it off. i live in hot/humid ass florida. i think the heat and running the AC all the time have something to do with it...

tone

Reply to
tone

Release the parking brake!

I have a 2001 Optima, 4 cyl, Manual. Always regular gas, always regular oil (Castrol)

I average around 27 MPG, on long trips, it goes up to 30 or so.

Reply to
T. D.

My 2001 Optima gets 25 mpg in the city and 32/33 on the highway...it's a

Reply to
Jeff Czecholinski

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