2006.5 Optima Takes Premium Unleaded

[kruhland]

I have both a Sedona and an Optima, and the Kia 2006 Sedona in the US takes premium gas, and looking at the Kia website, the 2006.5 4 cyl takes premium gas as well. Isn't this strange in a non-premium car line to require more expensive gas? Does premium give better fuel economy or some kind of other tradeoff that I don't know about? I assume this new Optima is just the 2006 sonata, maybe its to sell more 6 cylinder cars (which get less fuel economy). Just strange.

[Dman1458]

Actually the brochure and owners manual mankes reference to Premium as this is how the maximum haorsepower is acheived. SAE introduced a new standard that while voluntary this year is mandatory next. As such most if not all car manufacturers are foing to publish the premium hp so next year their numbers are not different.

Basically these 2 vehicles do not require premium and it is not even suggested only as a means to get the most horsepower out of the engine. The computers in the 2 will more than be able to compenste and therfore you will be able to run regular safely and still be covrd by the warranty should anything go wrong.

[ahfrederick]

Premium Gas (92+ Octane) is NOT required, but recommended for the full potential of HP from the engine.

[councillor]

Actually we found out is racing that the low octane fuels burnt faster (which means) more RPM's..... so i'd say stick with reg fuel unless your running a stroker kit

[skidoofast]

these new engines in the optima and the sedona are running higher compression ratios and also have constant variable valve timing (cvvt) which alows the new engine to have the same displacement but push out alot more power, and the difference between the regular fuel and higher octain fuel is mainly felt at higher rpms and is mainly a performance issue

[rlogle]

Just got my 6.5 Optima yesterday and my owners manual makes no mention of premium fuel. It say's fuel with a minimum octane rating of 87, that's Regular Unleaded here in the states. It say's something about Anti Knock rating or something but all in all I think 87 is okay for this engine. BTW it even talks about using gasahol in the engine...