On Jul 7, 4:01 am, Jeff <j...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> quikandski...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote
innews:1183740357.589182.100090@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > I am a new Kia owner, having purchased the 2006.5 Optima last weekend.
> > It's the LX V6 model, and so far I love it, but have a couple of
> > questions for "those in the know". First - I've been reading about
> > cold-air intakes and chips that can bump the MPG from it's current 28
> > hwy to over 30, and I was wondering if anyone here has had good/bad/
> > indifferent luck with them and which ones to look into/avoid. Second -
> > on a related line, I've also been told that chips can void a warranty
> > (I still have nearly 50,000 miles left on the 60,000 mile warranty, so
> > I'd rather not do that).
>
> > Thanks in advance!
>
> > Matt
>
> Generally speaking, the aim of the mods you are suggesting is to produce
> more power. Producing more power means burning more fuel, period.
Those
> mod chip sellers that tell you they will give you more power AND higher
> mileage are just lying.
>
> I don't have first-hand experience with these mods, but from what I've
read
> all that the cheap chip mods do is trick the ECU into thinking the
intake
> air is cooler or more dense than it really is to advance the spark
timing.
> They also recommend using higher octane gas with the chips. Why? With
low
> octane gas and an advanced spark your engine will be prone to knocking.
> The engine's built-in anti-knock sensor reacts to this by retarding the
> spark, thus undoing the so-called improvement from the chip. Even if
they
> could manage a small improvement in mileage under conservative driving
> conditions, you are spending more for each gallon of gas you are using.
>
> Go ahead and try the cold-air intake if you want. At least it will do
no
> harm and you are honestly giving the engine cooler air instead of
tricking
> a sensor.
>
> Be glad you are getting 28 MPG. My average is about 23.5 with over 75%
> highway driving. The trip computer shows 44 MPH average since new. You
> won't get that from sitting at stop lights all day ;).
>
> Jeff
Thanks, I appreciate the info. I was definately leaning away from the
chips anyway, and figured there had to be a "catch" of some sort. So,
should I choose to try the cold-air intake, would I need to go to a
higher-octane gas as well? If so, it would nearly defeat the purpose
of getting a higher gas mileage.
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