Kia Forum banner

SX Turbo Owners...what gas do you use?

39K views 17 replies 12 participants last post by  East Haddam  
#1 ·
Just had my first fill-up and used 87. Definitely feels rougher than whatever the dealership used. But what do you all use?

Coming from a VW that "required" at least 91 octane, i wasn't sure what peoples' other experience was.
 
#9 ·
instead of asking... which is not a bad thing, why don't you simply check the owners manual? It states what kind of fuel you should use.
 
#11 ·
hmmm - possibly.
Not to offense anyone, but sometimes an advice given here may not be completely true. You know, such situation like my uncle heard from his cousin, and I think it should work...

That's why I strongly believe that new car owners always read owners manual.
 
#12 ·
I've dropped the extra coin on 89 here in SoCal when we were having 100 degree temps each day my way in late July through August. And am now back to 87 octane. If I knew I was going to take the car on a 110 + run I would run 91, which is the highest available here in California. The higher the octane generally has a less chemical energy than the 87 as they doctor it with ethanol to increase the rating, but even so, if the car starts pulling timing with the 87 gas then one is still better off with the higher ethanol spiked fuel. In a perfect world, given high outside temps, and a heavy foot, one would want me thinks a 95 octane rated fuel spiked with toluene or xylene, just as insurance against detonation, or the car pulling timing to prevent same.
 
#13 ·
Higher octane fuel is formulated to prevent pre ignition in high compression engines and in engines that compress (super charge or turbocharge) their fuel/air mixture. If the knock sensor in a modern cars ECU detects pre ignition/knock it will alter the cars ignition and the fuel injectors mapping program to prevent damaging the engine if ignition timing isn't dialed back. If you drive with your right foot planted to the carpet on a regular basis or are driving in extreme conditions (up hill, under load in hot weather) using a higher octane fuel will delay the CPU from de tuning the engine a bit longer. Under more normal driving conditions the lower octane requirements designed into the Kia's 2.0 turbo engines is all that's needed. Despite what the commercials proclaim, the amount of detergents used in today's gas is generally equal across the entire octane range. Save the money and use what the book says - 87 octane - unless you feature yourself as a race driver.
RB
 
#16 ·
Dude, most people use what the cars owners manual says. Hence the, "why not read what Kia tells you to use."

It sounds like you had 1 bad tank and jumped ship, if you have a consistant problem with the gas and its from multiple locations, take it to the dealer and have them check your motorcarrige out.

PS: 90% of said stuff online it false. Everyone is an expert somehow... Untill they have to actually responsible for said advice.
 
#18 ·
How many on this forum that actually own a new SX or EX Turbo weren't partially lured into a Kia dealership to feel what a 274 hp 87 octane fueled car felt like? Kia could have easily raised the bar and required premium fuel and perhaps pushed the hp rating closer to 300 but chose not to. Kia most likely felt that advertising a relatively high performance sedan with impressive mpg capability that was designed to run on less costly 87 octane regular fuel would generate more dealer traffic and sales. I doubt that using premium vs. regular fuel would make more than a tenth of a second difference (if that) in the quarter mile times of your car. Spend your fuel money as you wish but I'll stick to the less costly 87 octane brew unless I were trying to be the fastest two liter sedan up Pike's Peak which - I'm not.