Lets improve our MPGs

[AJ4U2]

I got 2 92's AWD I get about 27 to 29 and my 94 FWD is still about the same so i think it has to do with condition of the engine and driving habits.
Just my 2 cent, 91 fuel not cheap you just got to pay if you want to play.

Originally Posted by intelisevil

Sounds like you have a problem.

He lives in CO. That means he's probably going up and down a lot more than you. I'm guessing that's the reason. As for improving your mpg...

1. Overinflate your tires on long trips.
2. Put synthetic in your front and rear diffs.
3. Clean air filter.
4. Run some xylol or toulene through your tank sometime to clean out the gunk.
5. Draft SUVs. heh.
6. Keep your windows up and sunroof closed.
7. Install a home depot 'chin spoiler' lip thing from landscaping edging. Should help a tiny bit.
8. Get to know your transmission, and use as little gas as possible when maintaining speed, and sort of vary your foot when accelerating to help keep hte engine from bogging or over revving.

Originally Posted by svx_commuter

3. Anytime I go down a hill I take my foot of the gas and coast as long as I can. The SVX just loves to coast. I am amazed at how easily the SVX will coast and maintain speed. I keep the car moving and out of 1st gear by planning ahead, braking at higher speeds and then coasting waiting for the light to turn green so that I do not have to stop. It takes a lot of energy to get the car moving from a stop. I make space in front of the SVX for coasting. The SVX is not made for sitting still it wants to move.

That's true. It weighs a lot, and has awesome aerodynamics. There's a hill on 90 where I live near brookfield and I put mine in Neutral and actually pass people. :P

[Earthworm]

Originally Posted by TheSTig

That's true. It weighs a lot, and has awesome aerodynamics. There's a hill on 90 where I live near brookfield and I put mine in Neutral and actually pass people. :P

You actually burn more gas in neutral as opposed to coasting in gear. Reason: the engine needs gas to keep from stalling in neutral.

Originally Posted by Earthworm

You actually burn more gas in neutral as opposed to coasting in gear. Reason: the engine needs gas to keep from stalling in neutral.

But coasting in gear= slower acceleration and more drag.... so you coast less....hrm... a predicament. Sounds like we need to call mythbusters.

[intelisevil]

Originally Posted by TheSTig

That's true. It weighs a lot, and has awesome aerodynamics. There's a hill on 90 where I live near brookfield and I put mine in Neutral and actually pass people. :P

How is our transmission oil pump driven? I don't claim to be a transmission expert.

If it's crankshaft driven only (like most), do we have enough ATF pressure to keep circulating the fluid when coasting in Neutral? In Neutral, the wheels are still causing some internal transmission parts to move.

Engine speed = idle, Tranny internals = 60 MPH? This can't be a good thing.

Knowing the inherent weaknesses of our transmissions, I coast down hill in gear. A few more cents in fuel costs now, hopefully stretching out the time for the inevitable tranny rebuild/replacement . . .

Just my $.02.

Dan

[Yoda3000]

Wow, I never thought about that stuff!

anyway, I've been delivering pizza this summer: Stop and go traffic, car on an off constantly, and I drive what most would call very agressively. Over the last 1500 miles (month) I've got an average mpg of 20.42, ranging between 18.65 and 23.15 mpg.

I used zmax with my last mobil-1 oil change, and Just last week I upped the pressure in my tires, which I think helps. I also use 91 octane, which is pretty rare here in NM.

I also never use the A/C (that doesn't work) and windows usually open (90+ degree weather)

Originally Posted by intelisevil

How is our transmission oil pump driven? I don't claim to be a transmission expert.

If it's crankshaft driven only (like most), do we have enough ATF pressure to keep circulating the fluid when coasting in Neutral? In Neutral, the wheels are still causing some internal transmission parts to move.

Engine speed = idle, Tranny internals = 60 MPH? This can't be a good thing.

Knowing the inherent weaknesses of our transmissions, I coast down hill in gear. A few more cents in fuel costs now, hopefully stretching out the time for the inevitable tranny rebuild/replacement . . .

Just my $.02.

Dan

I'm sure if that were a huge problem it would say something about it in the SVX manual.

[Beav]

Originally Posted by TheSTig

He lives in CO. That means he's probably going up and down a lot more than you.

Ft. Collins is flat, like Kansas. When I lived in CO mountains my '92 got 31mpg hwy, 30 with the bra on and 16-23 in town. Not much difference at lower altitude, read on:

Thin air = more mpg, no doubt about it. Up and down doesn't make any difference - $$ up, no $$ going down.
My motorhome in the mountains would get 15mpg. In Missouri it dropped to 9mpg. Air drag is a huge factor. SVX has low drag so it isn't an issue.

[intelisevil]

Originally Posted by TheSTig

I'm sure if that were a huge problem it would say something about it in the SVX manual.

You're starting to sound like a lawyer . . . I'm surprised our bad word monitor allows that word!

The word according to Subaru:

"All-Wheel Drive vehicles cannot be towed with any wheels on the ground. The vehicle can only be towed on a trailer with all four wheels off the ground and the transmission in park. Front-Wheel Drive vehicles can be towed with front wheels off the ground or all four wheels off the ground and transmission in park."

I know this isn't exactly the situation I described above but it makes me believe that the oil pump is crank driven. If it was internally driven, I would think towing with all four wheels on the ground wouldn't be quite as bad.

I'd like to see an automatic transmission expert chime in here before I subject my tranny to the experience.

Dan

[Earthworm]

I always thought it's driven by the torque converter.

Originally Posted by intelisevil

I know this isn't exactly the situation I described above but it makes me believe that the oil pump is crank driven.

It is. Like on most engines. We were talking about hte transmission.

[CDG]

I'm not sure what my milage is but I get 200 miles to the tank, and its past E but no light on when I fill it up.
I'm paying $73 per fillup these days. Thats about 57 litres, average. 1Imp Gallon ~= 4.546 litres, 1US Gallon ~=3.983 litres, fyi.

I only drive in the city, occasional highway, if I'm lucky, and there's only 1 in Vancouver.
My tires are stock and I keep them at 39(fr) and 36(rr). Maybe I should bump then up a little more. Except the roads here suck,but with the 2010 Olympics coming things are shaping up

as for coasting in neutral: I think the trany's getting plenty of lube, don't worry, doesn't the torque converter force fluid flow???

[SVX10]

With my 92 when I had a freshly rebuilt AT and KC intake in wheel well I got 31MPG doing a full highway trip going 70-75. That was the highlight of my life

Now with a 5MT and the STi ratios (stock 5th) doing about 70% highway I get 21-22MPG.

Man I wish Subaru would've been on top of variable timing/lift back in '92. They were on top of all the other technologies that have just recently become popular

[Jade Dragon]

yeah, fort collins isnt too up/down.