What Do You Do to Get a Little More Mileage?

[ThePDW]

I just got my 2013 LX 6-speed and ordered a K&N air filter. I'm curious if people who have installed a K&N see better gas mileage. I'm also curious what kind of motor oil people have used that has given them better mileage or overall performance. Has anyone tried the Mobil Advanced Fuel Economy 0W-20 (http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...1_0W-20.aspx)? My first 2 tanks of gas with stock filter and oil I've averaged a little over 38 MPG with a good mixture of city/highway. I drive like a pansy though...

[ELI 10]

I just turned 5K miles on my Rio5. I have been getting an average of 32.8 MPG in a freezing cold Upstate NY mountain area. This is excellent gas mileage for winter driving - absolutely no complaints.

This weekend I switched to Mobil 1 oil and installed a K&N filter cartridge (standard stuff for all of my cars!). I will let you know the difference once I have about 1K miles on the new setup...

[cobra259]

Don't carry any extra weight in the car that you don't have to. This includes mother in laws!!

[Wry 'Cuda]

You're unlikely to get a major improvement in economy by switching to a particular brand of oil. Mobil 1 is supposed to be a good oil, but you are probably already using 5W-20 of KIA's choosing, so a switch to 0W-20 isn't going to help much. Mobil themselves are cautious about predicting fuel savings, and are a bit coy about the type and grade of oil that they're using as a comparison. Note that the Mobil 1 0W-20 is at the high end of "20 Grade" when it comes to working viscosity (8.7 cSt), so it's not likely to be much different to a good 30 Grade (Typically 10 cSt).

Mobil 1 0W-20 Advanced Fuel Economy

One economy measure that DOES work is changing to energy efficient tyres. I've found Michelin XM1+ tyres get an extra couple of MPG over standard-issue.

Oh, and you are probably going to get a SLIGHT improvement in economy after the car is broken in.

[marleyfan61]

From what I've read, there's no strong evidence that K&N filter makes any difference to fuel economy either.

As for what I do to improve mileage......I only drive downhill.

[OzSLS]

forget oil, and filters will give you a better throttle response if anything, which can actually make economy worse

best thing you can do to improve the economy is run the car in properly, and after that keep the engine in its sweet spot of between 2-4000rpm between shifts where the dual stage intake takes effect. I've tried driving like a grandma and i got worse economy after several tests than revving the thing out.

Our economy improved markedly after 10,000KM.. we're at 17500KM now and it pulls great figures.

[b18c5rodney]

i did the k&n thing and lighter oil, made no difference.

biggest thing you can do for better mileage is have a lighter right foot. wifey gets over 40mpg when she takes the rio, i get 33-35. i drive like a goon, she doesnt. simple.

[Mouse]

Yes, I have found the K&N air filter gives me better throttle response.
I have also changed my fuel from 91 to 95 as the performance is incredibly better.
Soooo....I doubt very much I will end up getting better economy, I would definitely say...worse as my Rio is a lot more fun to drive now and so I tend to drive it like it should be driven.

Bugger better Milage.....Im having too much fun LOL

[TJ85]

Dont eat that sandwich??

I coming up to 40,000k in it now and doing my bit to prop up the local economy... Also the Chinese and Korean ones too...

Honestly I stopped babying it about a day or two after picking it up. Economy does improve and it gets better over time. What I have found is turning off Nanny control lets you gauge the car better and in time you figure out where the car is at its best; around the 2000-4000rpm range. Car always seems to sit in this range regardless what you are doing.

Even more testimant to these things getting better is my one is not exactly standard and I getting the same economy as everyone else. Car gets driven for fun. Ive rarely ever seen the FE hit over 7.0l/km and I always use 98 from BP in it.

Its going down the strip next weekend too. FE will be interesting on that day. May do it just for laughs to see how good the FE is down the 1/4mile

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by Mouse

I have also changed my fuel from 91 to 95 as the performance is incredibly better. I doubt very much I will end up getting better economy, I would definitely say... worse as my Rio is a lot more fun to drive now and so I tend to drive it like it should be driven.

I've seen a few reports on improved performance of the Rio when using 95 RON fuel, but I'd be surprised if you could describe the difference as incredible. Probably the placebo effect. A friend once descibed a similar effect after he filled up with 98 RON by mistake: "It was incredible, mate, I could hardly control it as I left the forecourt". Considering that the new fuel would not have had time to get to the engine by that stage, it was a remarkable comment. This guy is prone to hyperbole, I must admit.

It's the old story; use the fuel specified. Slight improvements in performance or fuel consumption have been reported with higher-than-spec fuel, but not enough to justify the extra cost. An exception would be the case of very poor 91 RON or alcohol blends when they are offered as "standard fuel".