Has anyone else with the 2024 LXS noticed that the gas light comes on earlier than the stated mileage? It’s supposed to come on at a certain range, but mine shows up at 300-320 miles in the city, which is lower than expected. How many miles do you typically get before the light turns on when driving mostly in the city?
My tank seems to go for about 400 miles, but that’s mostly highway driving, not city.
Mine shows 420, and the light comes on around 402, so it’s fairly accurate. But I’ve only checked once and don’t quite remember exactly, but it was somewhere around that range. 320 seems pretty low, did you break in the engine properly? And are you using good quality fuel? I also drive in smart mode.
@Livia
It has around 1200 miles on it, and I always use Shell gas stations. I’ve mostly driven it in the city for the first 600 miles.
valentinholes said:
@Livia
It has around 1200 miles on it, and I always use Shell gas stations. I’ve mostly driven it in the city for the first 600 miles.
Did you keep it under 2500 rpm and avoid flooring it during the break-in? Apparently, that’s really important, and if not done properly, it can affect mileage and engine life. Also, the engine may burn oil during the first 600 miles; mine did, so you might want to check. Mileage typically doesn’t stabilize until around 3000 miles. But even with that, mine has always been over 400 miles at fill-up. City miles are fine, just make sure you kept the rpms low and didn’t push it too much.
@Livia
Yes, I did. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but this is my second Kia, and both have had similar issues.
valentinholes said:
@Livia
Yes, I did. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but this is my second Kia, and both have had similar issues.
Maybe it’ll even out after 3000 miles. I changed my oil at 1000 miles to get rid of any debris from the piston rings seating and other break-in stuff. I filled up this morning, and it shows 436 miles. I mostly drive in the countryside at 55 mph, with very little town driving, but a lot of hills.
@Livia
The manual for my 2023 GT-Line said the estimated mileage can vary until around 6k miles, when it finally settles in. I bought the car with only 50 miles on it, and the estimate usually shows between 360-380 miles, which is still accurate at 17k miles. It’s not stock, though – I did some exhaust work and added a K&N air intake. I also always drive in Sport mode with TC and SC off. My actual mileage with these mods tends to be closer to 280-300, mostly busy highway driving, but I’ve found I can improve the numbers with better fuel-saving habits.
@RadiantRogue
Yeah, mine has always said around 420, too. Maybe your car just hasn’t leveled out yet. I’m at 5000 miles now, and it shows 430.
valentinholes said:
@Livia
Yes, I did. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but this is my second Kia, and both have had similar issues.
Have you been keeping an eye on the oil level?
valentinholes said:
@Livia
Yes, I did. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but this is my second Kia, and both have had similar issues.
Have you been keeping an eye on the oil level?
No.
Lol, those are amateur numbers. I easily get 450 miles per tank and even up to 600 miles if I’m really careful. That’s a mix of highway, backroads, and city streets.
Cillian said:
Lol, those are amateur numbers. I easily get 450 miles per tank and even up to 600 miles if I’m really careful. That’s a mix of highway, backroads, and city streets.
I’m glad you found this funny. But this vehicle is for my 17-year-old, and I’m concerned about her safety.
@valentinholes
Safety? It’s just gas mileage. If it’s a 17-year-old, I can pretty much guarantee she didn’t keep it under 2500 rpm. Also, did you check the oil? It’s very likely it’s low. Make sure she keeps gas in it, and don’t overthink it too much. Everyone gets different mileage, especially with city driving and a lead foot. Trust me, it’s not a big deal.
@Livia
We live in a small town, so if she drove fast, she would have been pulled over. The speed limit here is 35 mph. The car is brand new with only 1200 miles, so I doubt it’s the oil. But yes, safety is still a concern. If the gas mileage is off, she could run out of gas.
@valentinholes
I mentioned earlier, the manual says it may burn oil in the first 600 miles. Mine did. You need to check it, or your car won’t stay new for long. Also, there’s about 2 gallons left even when the light comes on, which gives you around 60 miles. If you’re in a small town, you can make it to a gas station within that distance. At 600 miles, I had no oil on the stick, so really check it. The first 1000 miles are super important for break-in. Poor break-in means poor fuel efficiency, and it will affect the engine in the long run.
@valentinholes
The manual also says not to maintain one speed for too long, and to change speeds often. If you stay at 35 mph for too long, the engine won’t break in right, which will decrease fuel efficiency. Don’t idle the engine for too long either.
@valentinholes
I’m a mechanic, so I know this stuff. Poor break-in results in poor fuel efficiency. Just trying to share the facts. Good luck.
Livia said:
@valentinholes
I’m a mechanic, so I know this stuff. Poor break-in results in poor fuel efficiency. Just trying to share the facts. Good luck.
So, is it possible to fix it if it wasn’t broken in correctly? Before the 600 miles, we did drive it on a few days with a 50 mph speed limit.
@valentinholes
Once the engine is broken in, it’s done. If the break-in wasn’t correct, the damage is done. Bad break-in can cause oil burning early on. Always check your oil at least once a month. If you don’t, you’ll pay for it in the long run. Kias are great if you keep up with oil changes. Run it dry once, and you’re done. The computer adjusts for mileage, so if it says 300 miles, you’ll likely get 280-320. If you didn’t break it in properly, it could cause debris in the engine, so it might be a good idea to change the oil. Always do the first oil change early to clear out any debris. I prefer to change it around 5k miles, not 7500 like the manual says. It helps keep the engine healthy in the long run.