The name of the game is "conservation of momentum". See a red light in the distance? Take your foot off the gas. SLOW to a stop, try not to COME to a stop. Also, your MPG/pocket cash is worth more than the person's attitude behind you. 👍
Yeah. I used to ride a couple miles through several stoplights to get to a creek parkway path. So I would soft pedal to the next light and anticipate the green, where I would ride past all of the vehicles that went by me. Some of the drivers were clearly upset as they would gas it to catch up and pass, just to stop at the next red, where I would repeat the procedure for a few blocks. Some people never learn.
@@mkloudsql3285 Manuals rule! Increasingly hard to find and can be odd coexisting with other drivers. Take stop and go traffic as an example. I prefer to leave a space cushion in front so I can just leave it in 1 gear and crawl, versus constantly clutching and braking. You have to be on your game as some knucklehead will attempt to fill in your space. I think drivers of automatics would benefit on their mileage by adopting this practice as well. Not as much braking and they wouldn't need to tip into the throttle as much to overcome the torque converter stall speed to get moving again.
I have a 2L STi with a vf48 and injector dynamics 850cc fuel injectors, it makes fuel disappear very quickly. I just removed the 850cc injectors and went to dark blue STi 565cc injectors. I’m also installing a vf35 and lower the boost to 18psi hoping to cut down on fuel consumption.
@@dougrodriguez4977 im looking into some 1100cc side feeds, how bad was your mileage? Im on an fp blue with a 255lph fuel pump and averaging 13.5-14mpg on a 2006 with 156k miles
Keep in mind my STi engine is 2L, not 2.5L like yours. I never calculated MPG’s, didn’t really matter when fuel much cheaper. Now fuel prices are much higher, it got my attention. I could not justify owning a 2.5L STi with a big turbo and fuel injectors. Best of luck to you.
Ever since I started paying attention to the MPG gauge, I've noticed a world of a difference in fuel economy on my Outback. Thanks for the great tips, Mr Subaru!
Cruise control is the name of the game. Used it whenever had a relatively stop sign/light free stretch of road and went from 27 to 38 mpg in my crosstrek hybrid
2015 Outback…From what I have observed, everyone complains about high gas prices but nobody….nobody…is driving for better fuel economy. Great channel! Thanks for the tips!
I just made a trip from Bend to Portland, and managed just under 38 mpg in my crosstrek. Driving under 60 had the most impact, and slowing down going up the mountain passes helped the most
I have a 6-spd manual 2020 Crosstrek. I have manually calculated fuel economy just about every refueling, I have kept tire pressures, engine oil levels (Subaru branded 0-20), and coolant levels at optimal, and only used 87 fuel from Chevron - My Crosstrek has gotten 40-mpgs on a few long distance commutes. I like to use the mpg gauge to also keep track of engine load during cruise-controlling, especially in hilly terrains, and during hill-climbings. Fast take offs can easily bring the mpgs down to about 22, and can likely increase engine and component wear. Also, steady (not pumping) throttle operation can help with fuel economy - a little extra thinking ahead can make a big difference in fuel economy. But most importantly let us be kind to one another - courteous driving habits can not only make driving experience easier and safer, courteous driving can improve traffic flow and increase mpgs. 🤗
Wheel alignment and balancing also makes a huge difference, as well as tire pressure that you mention here. It's also a good idea to check computer configuration from time to time, since it can get a bit "corrupt". Recently it was done on my Forester and MPG increased by 2, plus 1 more with alignment and balancing...
Agreed that wheel alignment should have been mentioned in the same breath as tire pressure. Misaligned wheels can have a dramatic impact on fuel efficiency.
I try to drive as smoothly as possible. People were surprised what mileage I was getting from a Grand Cherokee we used to own. Now in an e-boxer Forester, I get decent mileage as well. It is comparable to what my mom gets in her twenty years old Corolla :) Smooth driving also saves your tires and breaks.
One thing I learned many decades ago when I had a VW Bug.......there's a thing called "balancing speed" which simply means that you accelerate firmly but gently to just above the desired speed and then back off gently until you can maintain that speed with minimum pressure on the gas pedal. You can see the difference these days with that mpg gauge, but back in the day it was just seat of the pants feel. It works. And don't let me get started on the backstory to the ethanol "mandates"; inefficiency and excess engine wear cost us all more in the long run, and we'd all do better by eating more corn. Lol. I actually get better mileage and lower overall expense (and better performance from that boxer 4) with the top octane fuel, despite the astronomical prices.
Had one as a loaner. You are lucky to hit 20 mpg. My Impreza averages 26 mpg. Averaging 37 means you are getting 44 mpg highway, which I doubt you are getting.
One thing to keep in mind is your battery health, don't forget the alternator spins 3 to 4 times faster than the crank pulley, which if you have a weak battery will increase the drag of the engine itself. you'd be surprised on if you disconnect the regulator while the engine is running while the battery is weak how much difference of engine speed there is when it is under load of charging the battery. In other words electrical load plays a role to fuel economy here too. So a good battery thats strong and healthy is important too.
I have a 2019 Forester that I am very impressed with. I am getting in the winter 32 average MPG, and in the summer 36MPG, I did just change my spark bolts, and that did help get me to the 36MPG. Maintenance and air filter will save you. I am at 109,000 miles on it.
2019 Legacy FB25B, CVT; I'm averaging about 35.5-.6 combined right now; at my previous job with mainly highway driving and no stop and go at traffic lights, I was getting 38.2mpg last summer. 87 octane primarily, nothing lower. Do your maintenance, don't abuse your engine, and I don't try to drive it like it's a performance car. I'm getting bout 580-600+ miles per tank right now, but that's swinging so much because we're going from 80 degree days to 50 degree days in the space of 72 hours here in Wisconsin right now. Average with steady warm weather is about 620 miles per tank.
It’s all about your perspective. I came from a Honda Element and Older F-150 so the Forester gets great gas mileage for me. I’ve noticed than above 70 the gas economy really goes down.
Perspective indeed. When you live around people who drive big trucks and full size SUVs to the supermarket, they even marvel at a 20y/o outback getting 25 on the highway.
Yep Robert they increase the ethanol to about 15% nationwide I believe I measured it out here in California and it’s as high as 17% at certain stations Chevron seems to have the lowest ethanol variant and maybe that’s why I get better gas mileage all the time at Chevron versus Arco or Shell, just a month ago I was helping my dad with his chainsaw cutting wood he lives up in the hills and we let the two cycle sit for over a month and when I came back after that month to help him again we couldn’t even light off his Sthil, The only thing I can think of is the octane decreased rapidly, I talked to my uncle he’s a engineer at Valero and he was saying that when you let the car sit every week you let the car sit you lose octane rating by one point ! WTF our fuel is so shitty now!
Yes Sir! Small engines suffer from ethanol.. I have zero problems with the canned specialty gas from home depot, lowes.. if you use alot of fuel in small engines, it's too expensive....my two cents...
Dems keep preaching “ green new deal” but it’s actually dirtier (24%) to plant and refine corn into ethanol and burn it in your engine than to drill and use regular gasoline. Especially in the summertime, ethanol creates more smog that’s why the summer time EPA limit for ethanol was 10%, but Biden wanted to override that for E15 which in the end will reduce your mpg. All their policy changes seem a more expensive way to pollute more. Older engines (pre 1999) are not designed for E15. No telling how much faster the engine life will decrease by using E15?
I have a 2016 Subaru crosstrek. I drive a lot on the highway for work. I go 65mph with cruise control. Also I use the ac with recirculating mode on. I get 40mpgs.
Excellent video! I manage to squeeze 30 miles per gallon out of my Forester XT 5 speed manual. I drive like a grandma, and go only 65mph on the highway. I even have a yakima roof box! I think it's pretty good!
@@philtwowheels 30 MPG is about 8,0 L/100 km. and it is about the maximum I can get from my 09 XT 4AT with 340 k kms on the clock. to get that on the highway means not more than 65 MPH. once you are above that speed the consumption increases fast....
Of note regarding the AC. It is more fuel efficient at higher speeds to run the AC with the windows all the way up, than no AC with windows down. The particular speed at which this crossover happens depends on the conditions and the aerodynamics of your vehicle; but 40mph is probably a good bet.
I got a $45 dollar ODB2 scanner/monitor off of ebay. It tells you temps, duration of drives, speed, throttle position, and most importantly, km/L. Driving by trying to get the highest Km/L (while doing just shy of the speed limit), I went from 28.6 mpg to 30.6 mpg at the pump, with my 2018 Forester, base model, 2.5L NA, 6MT, 54k miles. Cleveland Ohio, 60 miles round trip to work Mon-Fri, highway 70% of the route, slightly hilly terrain. 7% better MPG means gas is 7% cheaper. Even 28.6mpg is on the far right side of the EPA MPG bell curve. Power when I need it, fuel sipper when I don't.
Great all around tips. The newer Subarus like my 2017 have the computer screen mileage versus throttle display which I need to re-train from again. I also returned to 0-20 oil for all except the hottest season, as I find the mileage difference versus 5-30 is very little if it is really hot outside.
I have to totally agree. Since February our Model 3 has been out of service and wife and I are back in our 2016 Outback and we get about 600 miles per tank but, I use cruise control and drive the speed limit.
The cruise control is not actually the ideal for saving gas, which comes as a shock to many people. This is because the engine is most efficient (Break Specific Fuel Efficiency) are 2700-3500 rpm, and moderate load/torque. In otherwords, when the engine doesn't have to make much power, it wont, but it's also a lot less efficient than when it's asked to make close to it's maximum amount of power. As such, the most fuel efficient way to drive a Subaru is to get as quickly as you can from 1st gear to whatever your top gear is, without going above 3200rpm, and always be either accelerating (moderate load) or coasting, ideally with the engine off. This flips the fuel efficient driving paradigm on it's head, because keeping the rpm low and consistent is something you'd never want to do driving this way. You want to quickly get up to speed, then coast/engine off, until you need another burst of speed. This is called "pulse and burn" hypermiling, and can see an increase in efficiency over 50%.
For those models that come with it, learn to drive by the "% throttle" gauge, more than the speedometer. The SLIGHTEST raising of your foot off of the gas pedal can make sizeable differences in overall fuel efficiency.
@@lateral1385 Well, I'd argue most drivers are poorly trained, and very few people care how the car even works. "By feel" works for those who know what to sense for. I've seen my MPG go up about 7% by "throttle balancing". It took me over a decade to learn this was a thing.
In the case of my 17 STI, I've noticed I'm more efficient because I coast alot. Row through all the gears quick and coast a 1/4 mile. But I honestly believe if you're just driving 10-15 minutes there's not much you can do for efficiency. Especially during the winter. Id use the same amount of gas letting my car fully warm as I would just leaving for work and not hitting boost till stiff was warm, and 9 times outa 10 the car wasn't fully warmed by the time I got there. I think during the winter I average like 16 but now it's warm and im doing like 22🤣 Who cares when I hear the pshhhhhh
@@sweetcheeks629 My 23 Outback seems to like those speeds also. I noticed on highway it likes to cruise around 70 and return about 30.4 mpg avg. Seems to drop significantly after 75. I also noticed Cruise control less efficient running about 2-300 rpm faster to maintain same speed when active.
Really enjoying my 23.4mpg in my Wilderness Forester...why god why are there 13 stop lights between me and my grocery store 3 miles away, in a small town.
I have a ‘21 Ctrek and last full tank I got 450mls. I never go above 60 and ease into every take off. I use the blended gas in Iowa. If I can say one thing: I’m not blowing my money on fuel, so keeping more in my pocket. I learned to drive a tanker try so one learns to drive smoothly and this has helped me retrain my driving habits. Anticipation is also a big factor in one’s driving skills.
I totally agree about crappy gas quality in the US. My dad always used a fuel additive in our vehicles when I was a kid, a habit I've adopted as an adult. It actually does seem to help quite a bit in my 2017 Impreza sport 5 speed. I put a few ounces of Lucas fuel treatment in with every fill up. I also use Motul Eco-Lite 0w20 100% synthetic engine oil and that also helps with fuel efficiency. My Impreza runs great and averages 32 mpg with about 75% highway driving, manually calculated, and I drive it pretty hard...full throttle passing 2-3 times a day. I also run my tires at 35 PSI, which is perfectly safe and reduces rolling resistance.
Driving a Chrysler 300S with a 5.7L hemi, throttle body and exhaust system upgrades, I get about 23 MPG on the highway, 16 around time. Picked up a 17 Forester to use as a daily driver. Gets 27 MPG around town so I’m happy with that
I deleted the carbon filter in the air filter housing. Then I did the re-learn procedure. I gained almost 1 mpg on my 2.0 NA Impreza Hatch 5MT. I did it on my wife's 2.5 Outback CVT without telling her anything as a blind study and her car gained 1.1 mpg. Every little bit helps. 😬
@@Rio97621 Pop open your air filter box. Remove your air filter. You'll see that there is still another filter in the air box. Remove that also, which may require trimming some plastic tabs. Re install your air filter and close up your air filter box. Then have you Subaru re-learn the idle air mix. Just search for Subaru idle re-learn. Plenty of videos. It'll make your car realize it can inhale more freely. It's how these cars come in Australia for example. That carbon filter is a US thing. Enjoy your extra mpg or so. 😬
A couple of guys are saying that removing the charcoal filter (in the air intake box of a Crosstrek) not only adds to performance, but dramatically increases fuel economy. ...Air flow and all. It's job is allegedly to keep any gasoline fumes from escaping back to atmosphere when the engine is turned off. That filter is built onto the air box, on the MAF side of things. It can be cut off, but replacing it requires either buying a new half of airbox (if Subaru sells just one half- they don't sell just the mount for the sun visors for when they start falling off while driving), or perhaps gluing it back in place with silicone adhesive or similar. One thing about removing it is that it voids a new car warranty, if that's your situation. Another issue about removing it might be that it's another filter before air gets into the engine. For us, there are seven miles of dusty dirt/rock mountain roads before pavement. I change the air filter every other oil change, not 15-30,000 miles as recommended. The replaceable air filter is pretty dirty by that time, due to driving conditions. The charcoal filter surface is pretty gray at this point (155,000 miles) instead of white. I vacuum it out with a shop vac, and I can see some light through it when the MAF sensor is out for cleaning. It gets small leaves in it's face, so I know other stuff is getting past the main air filter. In our extreme situation, I haven't removed the charcoal filter, only because it adds another coarse level of protection..... but if removing it could improve economy for others, it might be something to consider. ...with 155k miles and running winter tires all year, we still get 32+ mpg most of the time. Compared to new cars, that's not super great. My Tacoma gets 17-18mpg, so getting over 30 is great.
I wish there were as many (independent) Subaru mechanics like you out there as there are Honda and Toyota. It would make it so much easier after your new Subaru goes off warranty. If you're ever in Hampton Roads Virginia you can work on my 2022 wilderness forester for your channel.
Ethanol-free gas is worth it if you value quicker cold engine starts, smoother idle and an increase level of torque. In my area, the octane is either 89 (Wawa ethanol-free) or a local chain (Orion) there's is 90 octane. Big price difference though over regular e10.
Here in Montana area the speed limit is 80.... I have started driving 65 and my mileage is now fantastic. Yes... I don't like that longer drive but I do save money.
Pretty common sense stuff. The Crossbars have been sitting in the garage since I bought the Crosstrek. Let me snicker with the RS-R lowering springs I put on the Crosstrek last year. Dropped 1.2 inches makes it look more like a normal car than an Impreza on stilts.
Here in Iowa we have 88 with ethanol and I know that ethanol is not good for your vehicle but I have to put it in because it's the cheapest price at the pump. Our gas is only $3.80 a gallon because of ethanol. If I want regular and mid grade then I'm looking into the high $4. So I got some Royal Purple gas treatment for Ethanol Gas users and stuck it in there. I think you put it in every 10,000 miles but it has made a difference. Cute snap on socks!!😂😂 Thank you for all you do!!
I’ve found that my 2014 Subaru Outback will coast faster and a lot further when I shift into neutral. I do this if I see a red light up in the distance on roads with higher speed limits. I also sometimes use neutral when going down hills that aren’t a very steep grade, unless you’re trying to speed up then neutral will allow the Subaru to gain speed going down steep hills. If this is bad for my car then someone let me know, but I’d assume not because I have 167,000 miles on my 2014 Outback.
Lots of good basic sense here. I average 28mpg in my 21 Crosstrek sport, in mixed driving. All things considered that is more than reasonable in my opinion for a high clearance AWD wagon. And that is with the loathsome auto start/stop feature turned OFF haha. I employ many of the tips you offer here. Anticipate and coast, especially. You'd be surprised how far the vehicles momentum will take you with no throttle input especially if you read the terrain a bit. Edit: I would add... I have the crossbars installed on my roof rails, and I do not plan on removing them 😆 still getting 28.2 though
Ya know my 08 OB got on average 27/28 MPG up until a few months ago. Now I get 25/26 MPG. I couldn’t figure out why. The fuel tip has me thinking that it isn’t just me or my car. Thanks for the always informative videos.
Mr Subaru 1967, Got my first Gedore "Red" item today #R40170027 Bit ratchet. It is their auto locking flex1/4 square drive ratchet converted to a 1/4 bit ratchet. Been playing with it today and the 72 tooth action seem very good, the Head is a full size head. For now $38 it seems a great buy.
We traveled from Minnesota to Utah. There were times when 87 octane was not available. We had a choice of 85 or over 90. I realize that 85 will work in high elevations but, when you are on a trip you are not necessarily staying in high elevations and I don't like engine knock. Like you we did get some tanks with higher mileage with our Crosstrek.
17 Forester 2.5i Premium with roofrack for rideshare got 25-27MPG with 93 octane. Air pressure followed sticker. I just replaced my CVT and catalytic converter. Today hit 180K miles.
@@MrSubaru1387 i feel it’s easier for my gas pedal. I don’t have to put more pressure on my gas pedal. I’m not really sure about saving 1-2 MPG from 87 octane.
Regarding Coasting like down hill. Dont put it in nuetral tho then will use more fuel when left in gear and coasting down hill with foot off the gas injectors are almost shutdown only enough to keep engine from stalling. In nuetral it pumping now idle fuel flow (which is really bugger all Idling for 10 mins you can drive about 150-200ft on that fuel used)
Good tips! I've actually been running higher ethanol fuel in my Crosstrek. E15 is typically 30 cents less per gallon, and mileage only drops by 1-2 MPG. This may be related to what mrsubura1387 was saying about E10 containing more than 10% ethanol.
Legacy wagon is incredible on gas and fun. if you don't gas it when you don't need to. Blown away by how good the mpg is on this car. This is good advice. I will share this . Thank you.. Maybe they'll listen to you.
Old Subaru's used to have a switch in the engine compartment that allowed you to select 2 wheel drive or AWD modes. I Wonder why they stopped doing that? Makes sense as in the summer if you are mostly on paved roads 2 wheel drive would be okay and the vehicle would use less fuel.
Mr, Subaru big fan man, lots of useful info, I have a 2014 impreza hatchback, 5 spd manual, it has a very intermittent sputtering problem when I do a cold start up. there's no power loss whatsoever, very small puff of white smoke out the tail pipe, when it sputters, very intermittently. oil looks fine, with no loss, coolant looks fine with no loss.
I practice most of your recommendations. In my 2022 Ascent, I get between 28mpg and 30 mpg on the highway. And around 21-24 mpg depending on the percentage of either while city/highway combo driving
imagine what it would get if the EU didn't demand exhaust gas got pumped back into the engine's fresh air intake, and/or you didn't need to burn additional fuel to clean the particulate filter, because you used a cleaner burning fuel (diesel/LPG) to begin with. I really want to modify an EE20 to do this, but unfortunately i recently got scammed and lost all my money haha, so, yeah, i'll save up and do it in a few years or something hehe, when diesels are probably illegal
Everything said is pretty much very good except one and that is when you said opening your windows. Modern autos are designed to get maximum fuel mileage with them closed When driving and you open a window, the air flow changes causing wind resistance, thus lowering mpg. I don't know how true it is but I was verbally told that you waste more fuel with lowered windows that it takes to run the air conditioner. Also, with modern air conditioners, you it only takes about 1/2 mpg. As a side note, some low powered cars will actually turn off the air conditioner when accelerating from a light or passing.
Mr Subaru what about the older Subaru Outbacks that have the fuse under the hood for the all-wheel drive system putting a fuse in let you run just front wheel drive is that a good thing to do or not I know you get better fuel miles but is it good for the car or not
Only works on automatics. Around town I sometimes run my XT in front wheel drive to see if I can get better economy. I have read of others doing it. Putting a fuse in the FWD slot in the fusebox disconnect the drive to the rear diff. Only downside is that the Subaru then becomes a 1wd , as all of the drive is going to the front right driveshaft. Makes for interesting 1 wheel burnouts if you give it too much gas from standstill. But like I said, only on automatics.
Robot Cantina did a test of the fuel in Kansas. They found that the 87, 89, and 91 fuels were all under 6% ethanol, but the 93 octane was 22% ethanol there. So far here in Colorado, I've been pretty much steady at 16-18mpg since I bought the car. I buy non-ethanol most of the time though. The non-ethanol costs about 20-30 cents per gallon more here than regular 87 octane.
I don't believe that one because they only pushed 87 and 93 octane gas through the pipe in Central PA over 25 years ago. Everything is derived from them.
Wife's Forester , since new in 2012 has demanded Super gasoline or the car does significant "pinging" detonation under load. Even new it was pretty significant. Now with over 200k the car still runs well... but running Super is ... expensive to say the least presently
@@lateral1385 yup! I got in wife's car other day and it was on EMPTY.. I was filling it up and the pump was going sooo slow , I sat back in the car... then the pump clicked . I got out and noticed it showed 12 gallons.. and only $6.30! They had mis priced Super @ $.55 rather them $5.55! I had to tell them because I really didn't think it fair the manager have to deal with that. Cheapest fuel I have ever bought! ✌️
Thank you for the eco tips. Adding reddex fuel system cleaner can help keep injectors clean, which helps maintain a finer mist of fuel delivery and thus power and mpg. But my Subaru XV (Crosstrek), is a 2.0 turbo intercooler diesel in Scotland. I get 30 mpg towing a small caravan, and usually over 50 mpg highway and 37 to 47 mpg urban. It's ULEZ compliant and Euro 6 without any additives.
And remember....NEVER shift to neutral and coast in a CVT. I got 500 miles on my last tank in my 2015 Outback. First time I ran the tank that far down. OUCH, that was a $72 fill-up. I get the best economy when I stay OFF the interstate. Lots of 2-lane highway options here in MD. Keeping the speed at 50-60mph gets the best economy. Also, having deep tread tires help. I still have 7/32 on mine. The shallower the tread...the more rolling resistance.
2010 OB (2.5 CVT) here in California. Should I keep my octane at 87? Curious what stations increase their ethanol levels the most, sticking to “Top Tier” certified is probably safest bet I would imagine? Thanks for this vid, MrSubie 🤙
All good suggestions! I’ll have to remove the roof bars and see if it makes a difference. Also, I noticed more spark knock with the regular grade unleaded recently. I switched to mid grade and the pinging went away as well as have gotten better performance and fuel economy!
Over $5 a gallon here in PA. 2018 Crosstrek Limited. 28-32 mpg. Sadly I tow a motorcycle trailer slot which will drop to about 22. Still better than 12 out of a large suv. I run non ethanol in our carbureted bikes. 91 octane is $6.25 a gallon ! Don’t know if that would offset the mpg loss with running ethanol gas
The only thing I forgot when I bought my Tribeca is the bloody spare wheel, that wheelbarrow spare is utterly ridiculous here in Australia, so, I have to take a bloody Subaru spare with me in the back for long distance - weight - and we do have the odd kilometre between towns. The first thing I did when I bought the vehicle was to remove those 'surf racks' on the roof. Most other things you mentioned is what I have been doing. Also, I upped the oil as well, the vehicle has done over 150 thousand km's, so I figure as the engine wears over time, it was time to up the oil a little, but, I do believe the oil has increased fuel consumption a little. But, I NEVER use that Ethanol crap. I had researched that and found it was not that good for the motor, after listening to you I was correct.
I cruise in neutral a quarter of a mile before I get to the stop light, all I gotta do is put it in neutral and the blinkers on so people know I'm driving slow for a reason. This is a significant save in gas, I can see it on my cobb accessport. 24mpg when I'm conservative on the gas pedal and 120mpg cruising in neutral.
I noticed my 2012 Outback has a sweet spot for takeoff of around 1700-1900rpms and cruising around 2200-3000rpms. Hitting the gas hard revs the engine and wears the CVT.
Considering a new Forester Wilderness… but the reduced MPG is making me take a long hard look and re-evaluate. Wished Subaru would improve and incorporate hybrid systems into more of their vehicles. Non-ethanol gas is a big difficult to find around town. I only saw one gas station near me that had it.
subaru actually does have hybrid models for about half the line up. we just dont have it here in the US probably because everyone wants a V20 engine producing 3000HP or something like that
Agreed on subaru fuel mileage. That's why i drive my 40 mpg VW passat the majority of the time for back and forth to work. But i absolutely love my subby forester.
Another thing I realized recently, was that in trying to reduce my AC use, I was opening up all 4 windows and my moon roof. And I love driving around like this. Yes, it is not as cold as the air conditioner, but the refreshing feeling of all that wind is competing, even on a very hot day. But I found that my MPG was suffering and I didn't know why. I had a moment of clarity and realized that all the times during which I was driving my car around fully open, my MPG was a few points lower. Especially on surface street driving where I mostly do it, since driving with windows open on the freeway gets sketchy sometimes. But when the windows are shut, even tho I need to use the AC more on hot days, my mileage can actually be a bit better. And I believe this all has to do with drag. Just like ground clearance. If you have open windows and moon roof, all those openings are creating air currents that work like airbrakes to the air in front of you trying to get past your car. All the wind that is coming INTO your car has to get OUT. and that pleasing pressure that you feel on your body, IS PRESSURE, and it is also resisting your car moving thru the air. So it is BEST to have your windows rolled down, and AC off at LOWER speeds where you can actually maximize the benefits without as many penalties. Once you get up above a certain speed, like above 25 mph, you are better off closing at least some if not all of your windows, and of course if all of them, or enough of them, you are going to need that AC to be on again, but it will be worth it in the way you cut thru the air more efficiently, which all things being equal makes much more of a difference to MPG at higher speeds than the drag to your motor caused by the AC pump. Databyter
One of the best ways to save gas is by not accelerating fast/hard. I try to tell my family this but it seems they forget instantly. I watch so many people speed off the line and watch them waste so much gas
I’ve had my car gone over by Subaru mechanics, local mechanic, and on my way to an actual trustworthy Subaru owner, mechanic. Not even..100,000 yet and have dumped over $4000 in suspension. If you folks buy a crosstrek for climbing anything, you better be prepared to replace all your bushings, brakes, rims … I can go on forever. I did nothing but drove on Ohio roads. If it can’t handle potholes, how well will it be a climber. Also rust protection is a joke. I’ve had mine rust protected from the start. Bullshit
Today I bought my 4th Sub. ‘03 LLB, have all maintenance records from PO, still a little worried. 256k, anyway we can get in touch, I’m in NE TN, probably 3 hours from you, wouldn’t mind bringing down, or getting a consult on how to hit 400k. Rebuilt tranny, less than 12mo old🤘🏻
all good advice here on Long Island most drive like gas is $2 a gallon. I use Kirkland 0-20 synthetic, 87 octane , Costco. I get 34-36 mpg in my 48 mile trip to work. 55-60 mph first 20 miles then its dodge ball driving 60-70 depending where I can hide. the return trip at 230 pm is slower due to congestion so32-34 mpg. 1500-2000 rpm range. sweet spot
What dealership options should I consider when purchasing a new Crosstrek Sport? I'm in MN. Should I get the environmental protection? Is the $3200 for an extended bumper2bumper warranty from 3yr 36k to 10yr 150k worth that expense? Is there a video on this topic?
Pull a bit over 29 highway, 25 combined EZ30 5eat, never use I mode. WiWilling to bet $100, full tank 93 100% gas or $50 and my choice of hideous rear window bumper sticker that says, I LOVE AAA.
What's been helping me is avoiding driving when I can help it. I live in a semi urban environment so I can usually walk to a few locations. Another thing: use the recommended octane rating. Where I live they sell 85 octane but I put 87 so that I get better engine economy. I easily get 350 miles before I fill up (with a 1/6 tank left) and that makes it so that I only have to fill my tank about once a month
I have a 2022 Outback and I've been averaging 35 mpg. I've found that I get the best mpg at 61 mph. On the interstate, I still get around 32 mpg at 72 mph. Also, weather plays a big part in mpg. Cold and windy weather will really lower the mpg. I also get noticeably better mpg when I use a non-ethanol-containing blend of gasoline. I've found that 87 octane non-ethanol gas gets me better mpg that 91 octane non-ethanol gas. They keep adding more ethanol to our gas because the government pays blenders 45 cents per gallon of pure ethanol they blend with gasoline. Thats a good incentive for them to keep sneaking in more ethanol to our blended fuels. It costs more for non-ethanol fuel, but I get at least 5 mpg more with it.
I got 400 miles to a tank in my 02 NA Bugeye with the ej25 Lot of sensible acceleration and coasting, only going 67mph max or less if I could. Drafting as possible. Was a really good tank! Haha
I would most certainly use non-ethanol fuel in both my Subaru and Volvo if I could buy it. But here in the NJ, the corrupt state of NJ, it is not available anywhere except airports. They will not sell it to anybody with a automobile.But anybody can get it in Florida and Pennsylvania if you are willing to search it out.I would pay even more for it! And for small engines, this ethanol gas horrible .
Lol I sold my 79' international scout & love my new 21' cross treck sport, removed my cross bars, waiting for 8k should I run my 75/140 synthetic gear oil in the diffs, I tow a 14' aluminum boat most every weekend.
The name of the game is "conservation of momentum". See a red light in the distance? Take your foot off the gas. SLOW to a stop, try not to COME to a stop. Also, your MPG/pocket cash is worth more than the person's attitude behind you. 👍
Blows my mind how 80% of drivers have zero concept of this. Accelerate to the stop light burn up your brakes, then accelerate out of the stoplight.
@@iriezorroloco Great way to burn through brakes and gas. 👍
Yeah. I used to ride a couple miles through several stoplights to get to a creek parkway path. So I would soft pedal to the next light and anticipate the green, where I would ride past all of the vehicles that went by me. Some of the drivers were clearly upset as they would gas it to catch up and pass, just to stop at the next red, where I would repeat the procedure for a few blocks.
Some people never learn.
Yepers... I love my manual for this reason, just take it outta gear roll at red lights and down hills. Dont ride the damn clutch from stop to go
@@mkloudsql3285 Manuals rule! Increasingly hard to find and can be odd coexisting with other drivers. Take stop and go traffic as an example. I prefer to leave a space cushion in front so I can just leave it in 1 gear and crawl, versus constantly clutching and braking. You have to be on your game as some knucklehead will attempt to fill in your space.
I think drivers of automatics would benefit on their mileage by adopting this practice as well. Not as much braking and they wouldn't need to tip into the throttle as much to overcome the torque converter stall speed to get moving again.
My STI is extremely fuel efficient.
It efficiently consumes premium gas like nobodies buisness.
I have a 2L STi with a vf48 and injector dynamics 850cc fuel injectors, it makes fuel disappear very quickly. I just removed the 850cc injectors and went to dark blue STi 565cc injectors. I’m also installing a vf35 and lower the boost to 18psi hoping to cut down on fuel consumption.
And so it goes with my forester XT too. I just can’t help it😊
@@dougrodriguez4977 im looking into some 1100cc side feeds, how bad was your mileage? Im on an fp blue with a 255lph fuel pump and averaging 13.5-14mpg on a 2006 with 156k miles
Keep in mind my STi engine is 2L, not 2.5L like yours. I never calculated MPG’s, didn’t really matter when fuel much cheaper. Now fuel prices are much higher, it got my attention. I could not justify owning a 2.5L STi with a big turbo and fuel injectors. Best of luck to you.
Ej257 not a fuel saver engine. One reason this dinosaur engine is no more or the sti for that matter.
Ever since I started paying attention to the MPG gauge, I've noticed a world of a difference in fuel economy on my Outback. Thanks for the great tips, Mr Subaru!
Cruise control is the name of the game. Used it whenever had a relatively stop sign/light free stretch of road and went from 27 to 38 mpg in my crosstrek hybrid
2015 Outback…From what I have observed, everyone complains about high gas prices but nobody….nobody…is driving for better fuel economy. Great channel! Thanks for the tips!
Are you satisfied with the gas mileage you are getting with your outback? I am soon to buy a 2015 outback 2.5L as well so I am very curious.
I just made a trip from Bend to Portland, and managed just under 38 mpg in my crosstrek. Driving under 60 had the most impact, and slowing down going up the mountain passes helped the most
I have a 6-spd manual 2020 Crosstrek. I have manually calculated fuel economy just about every refueling, I have kept tire pressures, engine oil levels (Subaru branded 0-20), and coolant levels at optimal, and only used 87 fuel from Chevron - My Crosstrek has gotten 40-mpgs on a few long distance commutes. I like to use the mpg gauge to also keep track of engine load during cruise-controlling, especially in hilly terrains, and during hill-climbings. Fast take offs can easily bring the mpgs down to about 22, and can likely increase engine and component wear. Also, steady (not pumping) throttle operation can help with fuel economy - a little extra thinking ahead can make a big difference in fuel economy. But most importantly let us be kind to one another - courteous driving habits can not only make driving experience easier and safer, courteous driving can improve traffic flow and increase mpgs. 🤗
Same here, 2018 Crosstrek manual… avg 38 mpg + w non ethanol… only use it in my motorcycle and all yard equipment.
To save fuel on very short trips, I use my Chevrolegs.
Wheel alignment and balancing also makes a huge difference, as well as tire pressure that you mention here. It's also a good idea to check computer configuration from time to time, since it can get a bit "corrupt". Recently it was done on my Forester and MPG increased by 2, plus 1 more with alignment and balancing...
What do you mean by computer configuration? Please explain.
Yeah, what do you mean by “computer configuration”?
@@EvilCerealBoX the tune either aftermarket or stock. Just like every computer it has a chance to burp and stay wrong
Agreed that wheel alignment should have been mentioned in the same breath as tire pressure. Misaligned wheels can have a dramatic impact on fuel efficiency.
I try to drive as smoothly as possible. People were surprised what mileage I was getting from a Grand Cherokee we used to own.
Now in an e-boxer Forester, I get decent mileage as well. It is comparable to what my mom gets in her twenty years old Corolla :)
Smooth driving also saves your tires and breaks.
Brakes
@@e.r.videography6209 no he meant breaks.. Ad in, them's the brakes if you are stuck behind him driving like a grandma
One thing I learned many decades ago when I had a VW Bug.......there's a thing called "balancing speed" which simply means that you accelerate firmly but gently to just above the desired speed and then back off gently until you can maintain that speed with minimum pressure on the gas pedal. You can see the difference these days with that mpg gauge, but back in the day it was just seat of the pants feel. It works. And don't let me get started on the backstory to the ethanol "mandates"; inefficiency and excess engine wear cost us all more in the long run, and we'd all do better by eating more corn. Lol. I actually get better mileage and lower overall expense (and better performance from that boxer 4) with the top octane fuel, despite the astronomical prices.
I got my best ever fuel milage in my 09 Legacy doing this. Was able to get 36 MPG that tank. Had perfect conditions with a tail wind.
Yeah sure
@@lateral1385 You must be very dense minded
@@onelove2349 Perhaps, yes.
Averaging 37mpg on my Outback 2.5. All these tips work. Keep those tires properly inflated.
That's good. What kind of journeys are you mostly doing?
Had one as a loaner. You are lucky to hit 20 mpg.
My Impreza averages 26 mpg.
Averaging 37 means you are getting 44 mpg highway, which I doubt you are getting.
That’s abnormally high. Are you going off the computer or hand jamming?
woah, I'm getting like 22 from my 2009 Forester...which sucks.
One thing to keep in mind is your battery health, don't forget the alternator spins 3 to 4 times faster than the crank pulley, which if you have a weak battery will increase the drag of the engine itself. you'd be surprised on if you disconnect the regulator while the engine is running while the battery is weak how much difference of engine speed there is when it is under load of charging the battery. In other words electrical load plays a role to fuel economy here too. So a good battery thats strong and healthy is important too.
It's a bad idea to disconnect regulator while running engine because of electronics in any
I added an incredible amount of mpg when I replaced my battery (it was very old). Went from 28 back up to 36.
The crosstrek alternator is supposed to vary how much it charges depending on the needs of the car to increase efficiency
I have a 2019 Forester that I am very impressed with. I am getting in the winter 32 average MPG, and in the summer 36MPG, I did just change my spark bolts, and that did help get me to the 36MPG. Maintenance and air filter will save you. I am at 109,000 miles on it.
2019 Legacy FB25B, CVT; I'm averaging about 35.5-.6 combined right now; at my previous job with mainly highway driving and no stop and go at traffic lights, I was getting 38.2mpg last summer. 87 octane primarily, nothing lower. Do your maintenance, don't abuse your engine, and I don't try to drive it like it's a performance car. I'm getting bout 580-600+ miles per tank right now, but that's swinging so much because we're going from 80 degree days to 50 degree days in the space of 72 hours here in Wisconsin right now. Average with steady warm weather is about 620 miles per tank.
It’s all about your perspective. I came from a Honda Element and Older F-150 so the Forester gets great gas mileage for me. I’ve noticed than above 70 the gas economy really goes down.
@@Hallowsaw ¹
Energy requirements to gain the next MPH will always exceed what was needed to reach the last MPH. Aerodynamic resistance is real.
Perspective indeed. When you live around people who drive big trucks and full size SUVs to the supermarket, they even marvel at a 20y/o outback getting 25 on the highway.
New Subaru owner,this is MASSIVE NEWS’ thanks so much for this!
Great tips Rob. Thanks. Hope you’re doing well brother.
Yep Robert they increase the ethanol to about 15% nationwide I believe I measured it out here in California and it’s as high as 17% at certain stations Chevron seems to have the lowest ethanol variant and maybe that’s why I get better gas mileage all the time at Chevron versus Arco or Shell, just a month ago I was helping my dad with his chainsaw cutting wood he lives up in the hills and we let the two cycle sit for over a month and when I came back after that month to help him again we couldn’t even light off his Sthil, The only thing I can think of is the octane decreased rapidly, I talked to my uncle he’s a engineer at Valero and he was saying that when you let the car sit every week you let the car sit you lose octane rating by one point ! WTF our fuel is so shitty now!
Ethanol is a magnet for water and humidity in the air. This is what turns your fuel to crap.
Yes Sir! Small engines suffer from ethanol.. I have zero problems with the canned specialty gas from home depot, lowes.. if you use alot of fuel in small engines, it's too expensive....my two cents...
All deliberate. Just one of a number of different angles of attack to force people out of their cars.
Dems keep preaching “ green new deal” but it’s actually dirtier (24%) to plant and refine corn into ethanol and burn it in your engine than to drill and use regular gasoline. Especially in the summertime, ethanol creates more smog that’s why the summer time EPA limit for ethanol was 10%, but Biden wanted to override that for E15 which in the end will reduce your mpg. All their policy changes seem a more expensive way to pollute more. Older engines (pre 1999) are not designed for E15. No telling how much faster the engine life will decrease by using E15?
I have a 2016 Subaru crosstrek. I drive a lot on the highway for work. I go 65mph with cruise control. Also I use the ac with recirculating mode on. I get 40mpgs.
Excellent video!
I manage to squeeze 30 miles per gallon out of my Forester XT 5 speed manual. I drive like a grandma, and go only 65mph on the highway. I even have a yakima roof box! I think it's pretty good!
Manuals are pretty good
What do you attribute this to? I'm getting about 22 MPG on my 08 FXT.
Same here around 30 miles to the gallon ( 9.6 litres to the 100 Kilometers) in my 2004 5 speed XT with nearly 280,000 kms on her!
@@philtwowheels 30 MPG is about 8,0 L/100 km. and it is about the maximum I can get from my 09 XT 4AT with 340 k kms on the clock. to get that on the highway means not more than 65 MPH. once you are above that speed the consumption increases fast....
Of note regarding the AC. It is more fuel efficient at higher speeds to run the AC with the windows all the way up, than no AC with windows down. The particular speed at which this crossover happens depends on the conditions and the aerodynamics of your vehicle; but 40mph is probably a good bet.
I got a $45 dollar ODB2 scanner/monitor off of ebay. It tells you temps, duration of drives, speed, throttle position, and most importantly, km/L. Driving by trying to get the highest Km/L (while doing just shy of the speed limit), I went from 28.6 mpg to 30.6 mpg at the pump, with my 2018 Forester, base model, 2.5L NA, 6MT, 54k miles. Cleveland Ohio, 60 miles round trip to work Mon-Fri, highway 70% of the route, slightly hilly terrain. 7% better MPG means gas is 7% cheaper. Even 28.6mpg is on the far right side of the EPA MPG bell curve. Power when I need it, fuel sipper when I don't.
Great all around tips. The newer Subarus like my 2017 have the computer screen mileage versus throttle display which I need to re-train from again. I also returned to 0-20 oil for all except the hottest season, as I find the mileage difference versus 5-30 is very little if it is really hot outside.
Love you content! I've learned alot for your videos about boxer engine's. You video about changing spark plugs helped me out alot.
I have to totally agree. Since February our Model 3 has been out of service and wife and I are back in our 2016 Outback and we get about 600 miles per tank but, I use cruise control and drive the speed limit.
The cruise control is not actually the ideal for saving gas, which comes as a shock to many people. This is because the engine is most efficient (Break Specific Fuel Efficiency) are 2700-3500 rpm, and moderate load/torque. In otherwords, when the engine doesn't have to make much power, it wont, but it's also a lot less efficient than when it's asked to make close to it's maximum amount of power. As such, the most fuel efficient way to drive a Subaru is to get as quickly as you can from 1st gear to whatever your top gear is, without going above 3200rpm, and always be either accelerating (moderate load) or coasting, ideally with the engine off. This flips the fuel efficient driving paradigm on it's head, because keeping the rpm low and consistent is something you'd never want to do driving this way. You want to quickly get up to speed, then coast/engine off, until you need another burst of speed. This is called "pulse and burn" hypermiling, and can see an increase in efficiency over 50%.
For those models that come with it, learn to drive by the "% throttle" gauge, more than the speedometer. The SLIGHTEST raising of your foot off of the gas pedal can make sizeable differences in overall fuel efficiency.
Or just by feel
@@lateral1385 Well, I'd argue most drivers are poorly trained, and very few people care how the car even works. "By feel" works for those who know what to sense for. I've seen my MPG go up about 7% by "throttle balancing". It took me over a decade to learn this was a thing.
In the case of my 17 STI, I've noticed I'm more efficient because I coast alot. Row through all the gears quick and coast a 1/4 mile. But I honestly believe if you're just driving 10-15 minutes there's not much you can do for efficiency. Especially during the winter. Id use the same amount of gas letting my car fully warm as I would just leaving for work and not hitting boost till stiff was warm, and 9 times outa 10 the car wasn't fully warmed by the time I got there. I think during the winter I average like 16 but now it's warm and im doing like 22🤣
Who cares when I hear the pshhhhhh
I got 33mpg on my 21 Forester over a 700 mile trip. I always use Shell unleaded regular.
I have a 2015 Forester and we get an estimated 33 mpg on our trips, and that is driving country roads averaging 50-55 mph.
@@sweetcheeks629 My 23 Outback seems to like those speeds also. I noticed on highway it likes to cruise around 70 and return about 30.4 mpg avg. Seems to drop significantly after 75. I also noticed Cruise control less efficient running about 2-300 rpm faster to maintain same speed when active.
Really enjoying my 23.4mpg in my Wilderness Forester...why god why are there 13 stop lights between me and my grocery store 3 miles away, in a small town.
High 20s, low 30s? I wish. I have a 2001 OB, 2.5 auto and regularly get 19-21, sometimes 23 highway.
I have a ‘21 Ctrek and last full tank I got 450mls. I never go above 60 and ease into every take off. I use the blended gas in Iowa. If I can say one thing: I’m not blowing my money on fuel, so keeping more in my pocket. I learned to drive a tanker try so one learns to drive smoothly and this has helped me retrain my driving habits. Anticipation is also a big factor in one’s driving skills.
You are spot on. If people will listen it will save them money.
I totally agree about crappy gas quality in the US. My dad always used a fuel additive in our vehicles when I was a kid, a habit I've adopted as an adult. It actually does seem to help quite a bit in my 2017 Impreza sport 5 speed. I put a few ounces of Lucas fuel treatment in with every fill up. I also use Motul Eco-Lite 0w20 100% synthetic engine oil and that also helps with fuel efficiency. My Impreza runs great and averages 32 mpg with about 75% highway driving, manually calculated, and I drive it pretty hard...full throttle passing 2-3 times a day. I also run my tires at 35 PSI, which is perfectly safe and reduces rolling resistance.
Driving a Chrysler 300S with a 5.7L hemi, throttle body and exhaust system upgrades, I get about 23 MPG on the highway, 16 around time. Picked up a 17 Forester to use as a daily driver. Gets 27 MPG around town so I’m happy with that
Me excited by this video but also driving an STI in S# everywhere
My 96 Legacy Outback is getting about 30mpg. So far, not too bad with prices as they are.
Getting 30.3 in my 4 cyl 2010 outback.
I deleted the carbon filter in the air filter housing. Then I did the re-learn procedure. I gained almost 1 mpg on my 2.0 NA Impreza Hatch 5MT. I did it on my wife's 2.5 Outback CVT without telling her anything as a blind study and her car gained 1.1 mpg. Every little bit helps. 😬
Tell me more...
@@Rio97621 Pop open your air filter box. Remove your air filter. You'll see that there is still another filter in the air box. Remove that also, which may require trimming some plastic tabs. Re install your air filter and close up your air filter box. Then have you Subaru re-learn the idle air mix. Just search for Subaru idle re-learn. Plenty of videos. It'll make your car realize it can inhale more freely. It's how these cars come in Australia for example. That carbon filter is a US thing. Enjoy your extra mpg or so. 😬
A couple of guys are saying that removing the charcoal filter (in the air intake box of a Crosstrek) not only adds to performance, but dramatically increases fuel economy. ...Air flow and all. It's job is allegedly to keep any gasoline fumes from escaping back to atmosphere when the engine is turned off. That filter is built onto the air box, on the MAF side of things. It can be cut off, but replacing it requires either buying a new half of airbox (if Subaru sells just one half- they don't sell just the mount for the sun visors for when they start falling off while driving), or perhaps gluing it back in place with silicone adhesive or similar. One thing about removing it is that it voids a new car warranty, if that's your situation. Another issue about removing it might be that it's another filter before air gets into the engine. For us, there are seven miles of dusty dirt/rock mountain roads before pavement. I change the air filter every other oil change, not 15-30,000 miles as recommended. The replaceable air filter is pretty dirty by that time, due to driving conditions. The charcoal filter surface is pretty gray at this point (155,000 miles) instead of white. I vacuum it out with a shop vac, and I can see some light through it when the MAF sensor is out for cleaning. It gets small leaves in it's face, so I know other stuff is getting past the main air filter. In our extreme situation, I haven't removed the charcoal filter, only because it adds another coarse level of protection..... but if removing it could improve economy for others, it might be something to consider. ...with 155k miles and running winter tires all year, we still get 32+ mpg most of the time. Compared to new cars, that's not super great. My Tacoma gets 17-18mpg, so getting over 30 is great.
I wish there were as many (independent) Subaru mechanics like you out there as there are Honda and Toyota. It would make it so much easier after your new Subaru goes off warranty. If you're ever in Hampton Roads Virginia you can work on my 2022 wilderness forester for your channel.
Ethanol-free gas is worth it if you value quicker cold engine starts, smoother idle and an increase level of torque. In my area, the octane is either 89 (Wawa ethanol-free) or a local chain (Orion) there's is 90 octane. Big price difference though over regular e10.
It’s still worth it
My Subaru Outback (6Cyl. 1915 Model) is my favorite all-round car of all time. I couldn't care less about mileage.
It’s about smiles per gallon as much as miles per gallon 👍🏻🇬🇧
what do you mean 1915 model?
Here in Montana area the speed limit is 80.... I have started driving 65 and my mileage is now fantastic. Yes... I don't like that longer drive but I do save money.
Pretty common sense stuff. The Crossbars have been sitting in the garage since I bought the Crosstrek. Let me snicker with the RS-R lowering springs I put on the Crosstrek last year. Dropped 1.2 inches makes it look more like a normal car than an Impreza on stilts.
That's funny! Love it! An Impreza on stilts!!
Here in Iowa we have 88 with ethanol and I know that ethanol is not good for your vehicle but I have to put it in because it's the cheapest price at the pump. Our gas is only $3.80 a gallon because of ethanol. If I want regular and mid grade then I'm looking into the high $4. So I got some Royal Purple gas treatment for Ethanol Gas users and stuck it in there. I think you put it in every 10,000 miles but it has made a difference.
Cute snap on socks!!😂😂
Thank you for all you do!!
You loss gas mileage with ethanol. So, using ethanol, you're not saving money, and you're causing damage to your fuel system
I’ve found that my 2014 Subaru Outback will coast faster and a lot further when I shift into neutral. I do this if I see a red light up in the distance on roads with higher speed limits. I also sometimes use neutral when going down hills that aren’t a very steep grade, unless you’re trying to speed up then neutral will allow the Subaru to gain speed going down steep hills. If this is bad for my car then someone let me know, but I’d assume not because I have 167,000 miles on my 2014 Outback.
Lots of good basic sense here. I average 28mpg in my 21 Crosstrek sport, in mixed driving. All things considered that is more than reasonable in my opinion for a high clearance AWD wagon. And that is with the loathsome auto start/stop feature turned OFF haha.
I employ many of the tips you offer here. Anticipate and coast, especially. You'd be surprised how far the vehicles momentum will take you with no throttle input especially if you read the terrain a bit.
Edit: I would add... I have the crossbars installed on my roof rails, and I do not plan on removing them 😆 still getting 28.2 though
Same here around 26 to 27mpg, on road trips even going up to the snow freeway gets 33 to 34 average.
Ya know my 08 OB got on average 27/28 MPG up until a few months ago. Now I get 25/26 MPG. I couldn’t figure out why. The fuel tip has me thinking that it isn’t just me or my car. Thanks for the always informative videos.
Must be all freeway driving?
My 05 gets 30-35 on highway, but went down after a while, I changed my ATF after only a year and my MPGs went back up again
They're watering down the gas by increasing the ethanol. Which really doesn't decrease price but extends supply. Maybe they're expecting shortages.
Mr Subaru 1967, Got my first Gedore "Red" item today #R40170027 Bit ratchet. It is their auto locking flex1/4 square drive ratchet converted to a 1/4 bit ratchet. Been playing with it today and the 72 tooth action seem very good, the Head is a full size head. For now $38 it seems a great buy.
We traveled from Minnesota to Utah. There were times when 87 octane was not available. We had a choice of 85 or over 90. I realize that 85 will work in high elevations but, when you are on a trip you are not necessarily staying in high elevations and I don't like engine knock. Like you we did get some tanks with higher mileage with our Crosstrek.
17 Forester 2.5i Premium with roofrack for rideshare got 25-27MPG with 93 octane. Air pressure followed sticker. I just replaced my CVT and catalytic converter. Today hit 180K miles.
What was your cost to replace the cvt?
@@mybugatti100 $7200
Why are you running 93 octane in a 2.5i??
@@MrSubaru1387 i feel it’s easier for my gas pedal. I don’t have to put more pressure on my gas pedal. I’m not really sure about saving 1-2 MPG from 87 octane.
93 octane gas gives no benefit over 87 in you 2.5i. You're paying more at the pump for no reward.
Regarding Coasting like down hill.
Dont put it in nuetral tho then will use more fuel
when left in gear and coasting down hill with foot off the gas injectors are almost shutdown only enough to keep engine from stalling.
In nuetral it pumping now idle fuel flow (which is really bugger all Idling for 10 mins you can drive about 150-200ft on that fuel used)
I thought I was insane for thinking the gas quality has dropped like crazy.
Good tips! I've actually been running higher ethanol fuel in my Crosstrek. E15 is typically 30 cents less per gallon, and mileage only drops by 1-2 MPG. This may be related to what mrsubura1387 was saying about E10 containing more than 10% ethanol.
Non-ethanol fuel will give you better gas economy about 30 to 40 mph more per tank
Legacy wagon is incredible on gas and fun. if you don't gas it when you don't need to. Blown away by how good the mpg is on this car.
This is good advice. I will share this . Thank you..
Maybe they'll listen to you.
I would add.. use quality full synthetic oil. 👌 My 2014 Forester XT hits low 40s on a good run, really 👍
Old Subaru's used to have a switch in the engine compartment that allowed you to select 2 wheel drive or AWD modes. I Wonder why they stopped doing that? Makes sense as in the summer if you are mostly on paved roads 2 wheel drive would be okay and the vehicle would use less fuel.
Well said, all these characteristics will help within this high rises in fuel prices.
Mr, Subaru big fan man, lots of useful info, I have a 2014 impreza hatchback, 5 spd manual, it has a very intermittent sputtering problem when I do a cold start up. there's no power loss whatsoever, very small puff of white smoke out the tail pipe, when it sputters, very intermittently. oil looks fine, with no loss, coolant looks fine with no loss.
The devil queen thing is my stepdaughter btw, lol
My 2013 Crosstrek does the same thing.
I practice most of your recommendations. In my 2022 Ascent, I get between 28mpg and 30 mpg on the highway. And around 21-24 mpg depending on the percentage of either while city/highway combo driving
We have a diesel manual Forester here in the U.K. currently getting 530 miles per tank, average 40mpg up to 50 mpg when cruising. 👍🏻🇬🇧
imagine what it would get if the EU didn't demand exhaust gas got pumped back into the engine's fresh air intake, and/or you didn't need to burn additional fuel to clean the particulate filter, because you used a cleaner burning fuel (diesel/LPG) to begin with. I really want to modify an EE20 to do this, but unfortunately i recently got scammed and lost all my money haha, so, yeah, i'll save up and do it in a few years or something hehe, when diesels are probably illegal
My first car I ever bought was a '95 legacy hatchback and it used to have a fuse for the AWD, could pop the dude out and it would be RWD. I miss that
Everything said is pretty much very good except one and that is when you said opening your windows.
Modern autos are designed to get maximum fuel mileage with them closed
When driving and you open a window, the air flow changes causing wind resistance, thus lowering mpg.
I don't know how true it is but I was verbally told that you waste more fuel with lowered windows that it takes to run the air conditioner.
Also, with modern air conditioners, you it only takes about 1/2 mpg.
As a side note, some low powered cars will actually turn off the air conditioner when accelerating from a light or passing.
Always excellent info! Thank you sir!
Mr Subaru what about the older Subaru Outbacks that have the fuse under the hood for the all-wheel drive system putting a fuse in let you run just front wheel drive is that a good thing to do or not I know you get better fuel miles but is it good for the car or not
Only works on automatics. Around town I sometimes run my XT in front wheel drive to see if I can get better economy. I have read of others doing it. Putting a fuse in the FWD slot in the fusebox disconnect the drive to the rear diff. Only downside is that the Subaru then becomes a 1wd , as all of the drive is going to the front right driveshaft. Makes for interesting 1 wheel burnouts if you give it too much gas from standstill. But like I said, only on automatics.
Robot Cantina did a test of the fuel in Kansas. They found that the 87, 89, and 91 fuels were all under 6% ethanol, but the 93 octane was 22% ethanol there. So far here in Colorado, I've been pretty much steady at 16-18mpg since I bought the car. I buy non-ethanol most of the time though. The non-ethanol costs about 20-30 cents per gallon more here than regular 87 octane.
I don't believe that one because they only pushed 87 and 93 octane gas through the pipe in Central PA over 25 years ago. Everything is derived from them.
My 2013 crosstrek is doing the same with MPG as yours. I also notice when I drive in the mountains in thinner air my MPG goes way down.
Adding on to the more diluted fuels/gasoline try out some injector/fuel tank cleaners will also help with better mpg
Wife's Forester , since new in 2012 has demanded Super gasoline or the car does significant "pinging" detonation under load.
Even new it was pretty significant.
Now with over 200k the car still runs well... but running Super is ... expensive to say the least presently
Dropping $80 a tank 💰😅
@@lateral1385 yup! I got in wife's car other day and it was on EMPTY..
I was filling it up and the pump was going sooo slow , I sat back in the car... then the pump clicked .
I got out and noticed it showed 12 gallons.. and only $6.30!
They had mis priced Super @ $.55 rather them $5.55!
I had to tell them because I really didn't think it fair the manager have to deal with that.
Cheapest fuel I have ever bought! ✌️
Thank you for the eco tips.
Adding reddex fuel system cleaner can help keep injectors clean, which helps maintain a finer mist of fuel delivery and thus power and mpg.
But my Subaru XV (Crosstrek), is a 2.0 turbo intercooler diesel in Scotland. I get 30 mpg towing a small caravan, and usually over 50 mpg highway and 37 to 47 mpg urban.
It's ULEZ compliant and Euro 6 without any additives.
And remember....NEVER shift to neutral and coast in a CVT. I got 500 miles on my last tank in my 2015 Outback. First time I ran the tank that far down. OUCH, that was a $72 fill-up. I get the best economy when I stay OFF the interstate. Lots of 2-lane highway options here in MD. Keeping the speed at 50-60mph gets the best economy. Also, having deep tread tires help. I still have 7/32 on mine. The shallower the tread...the more rolling resistance.
2010 OB (2.5 CVT) here in California. Should I keep my octane at 87? Curious what stations increase their ethanol levels the most, sticking to “Top Tier” certified is probably safest bet I would imagine? Thanks for this vid, MrSubie 🤙
Was getting 32 33 in a 2017 forester 6mt. But now after all the off road upgrades I am currently setting at 23.4 lol
All good suggestions! I’ll have to remove the roof bars and see if it makes a difference. Also, I noticed more spark knock with the regular grade unleaded recently. I switched to mid grade and the pinging went away as well as have gotten better performance and fuel economy!
Yup, 100% agree, all good suggestions. Good to see no mention of fuel saver magnets, the science on them is unproven (and that's being kind).
Over $5 a gallon here in PA. 2018 Crosstrek Limited. 28-32 mpg. Sadly I tow a motorcycle trailer slot which will drop to about 22. Still better than 12 out of a large suv.
I run non ethanol in our carbureted bikes. 91 octane is $6.25 a gallon ! Don’t know if that would offset the mpg loss with running ethanol gas
i solved the high fuel consumption in my Sti ...sold it and bought a Golf Gti ...very fuel efficient, but just as much fun when you want to play.
Door placard is for comfort not efficient operations. Check max cold rating. I recommend 5psi under .
AWD a "hindrance" HA Yesterday it was 85, today it is snowing. In Wyoming we call that "Friday"
The only thing I forgot when I bought my Tribeca is the bloody spare wheel, that wheelbarrow spare is utterly ridiculous here in Australia, so, I have to take a bloody Subaru spare with me in the back for long distance - weight - and we do have the odd kilometre between towns. The first thing I did when I bought the vehicle was to remove those 'surf racks' on the roof. Most other things you mentioned is what I have been doing. Also, I upped the oil as well, the vehicle has done over 150 thousand km's, so I figure as the engine wears over time, it was time to up the oil a little, but, I do believe the oil has increased fuel consumption a little. But, I NEVER use that Ethanol crap. I had researched that and found it was not that good for the motor, after listening to you I was correct.
I cruise in neutral a quarter of a mile before I get to the stop light, all I gotta do is put it in neutral and the blinkers on so people know I'm driving slow for a reason.
This is a significant save in gas, I can see it on my cobb accessport.
24mpg when I'm conservative on the gas pedal and 120mpg cruising in neutral.
You are a wealth of information !!!
I noticed my 2012 Outback has a sweet spot for takeoff of around 1700-1900rpms and cruising around 2200-3000rpms. Hitting the gas hard revs the engine and wears the CVT.
Considering a new Forester Wilderness… but the reduced MPG is making me take a long hard look and re-evaluate. Wished Subaru would improve and incorporate hybrid systems into more of their vehicles. Non-ethanol gas is a big difficult to find around town. I only saw one gas station near me that had it.
subaru actually does have hybrid models for about half the line up. we just dont have it here in the US probably because everyone wants a V20 engine producing 3000HP or something like that
Having a lifted Subaru is great as long as you actually take it off-road and enjoy nature, otherwise regular Subaru is way better.
Agreed on subaru fuel mileage. That's why i drive my 40 mpg VW passat the majority of the time for back and forth to work. But i absolutely love my subby forester.
Another thing I realized recently, was that in trying to reduce my AC use, I was opening up all 4 windows and my moon roof. And I love driving around like this. Yes, it is not as cold as the air conditioner, but the refreshing feeling of all that wind is competing, even on a very hot day. But I found that my MPG was suffering and I didn't know why. I had a moment of clarity and realized that all the times during which I was driving my car around fully open, my MPG was a few points lower. Especially on surface street driving where I mostly do it, since driving with windows open on the freeway gets sketchy sometimes. But when the windows are shut, even tho I need to use the AC more on hot days, my mileage can actually be a bit better. And I believe this all has to do with drag. Just like ground clearance. If you have open windows and moon roof, all those openings are creating air currents that work like airbrakes to the air in front of you trying to get past your car. All the wind that is coming INTO your car has to get OUT. and that pleasing pressure that you feel on your body, IS PRESSURE, and it is also resisting your car moving thru the air. So it is BEST to have your windows rolled down, and AC off at LOWER speeds where you can actually maximize the benefits without as many penalties. Once you get up above a certain speed, like above 25 mph, you are better off closing at least some if not all of your windows, and of course if all of them, or enough of them, you are going to need that AC to be on again, but it will be worth it in the way you cut thru the air more efficiently, which all things being equal makes much more of a difference to MPG at higher speeds than the drag to your motor caused by the AC pump. Databyter
One of the best ways to save gas is by not accelerating fast/hard. I try to tell my family this but it seems they forget instantly. I watch so many people speed off the line and watch them waste so much gas
I have a 2013 crosstrek, no mods, 0/20 oil, and I’m down to about 22-24.
I’ve had my car gone over by Subaru mechanics, local mechanic, and on my way to an actual trustworthy Subaru owner, mechanic. Not even..100,000 yet and have dumped over $4000 in suspension. If you folks buy a crosstrek for climbing anything, you better be prepared to replace all your bushings, brakes, rims … I can go on forever. I did nothing but drove on Ohio roads. If it can’t handle potholes, how well will it be a climber. Also rust protection is a joke. I’ve had mine rust protected from the start. Bullshit
2018 Outback limited, living in MN, summer mpg about 29 combined; winter is about 25.
Today I bought my 4th Sub. ‘03 LLB, have all maintenance records from PO, still a little worried. 256k, anyway we can get in touch, I’m in NE TN, probably 3 hours from you, wouldn’t mind bringing down, or getting a consult on how to hit 400k. Rebuilt tranny, less than 12mo old🤘🏻
all good advice here on Long Island most drive like gas is $2 a gallon. I use Kirkland 0-20 synthetic, 87 octane , Costco. I get 34-36 mpg in my 48 mile trip to work. 55-60 mph first 20 miles then its dodge ball driving 60-70 depending where I can hide. the return trip at 230 pm is slower due to congestion so32-34 mpg. 1500-2000 rpm range. sweet spot
What dealership options should I consider when purchasing a new Crosstrek Sport? I'm in MN. Should I get the environmental protection? Is the $3200 for an extended bumper2bumper warranty from 3yr 36k to 10yr 150k worth that expense?
Is there a video on this topic?
Pull a bit over 29 highway, 25 combined EZ30 5eat, never use I mode. WiWilling to bet $100, full tank 93 100% gas or $50 and my choice of hideous rear window bumper sticker that says, I LOVE AAA.
What's been helping me is avoiding driving when I can help it. I live in a semi urban environment so I can usually walk to a few locations.
Another thing: use the recommended octane rating. Where I live they sell 85 octane but I put 87 so that I get better engine economy. I easily get 350 miles before I fill up (with a 1/6 tank left) and that makes it so that I only have to fill my tank about once a month
@Mr.Subaru What gas stations do you preferably go to for your cars?
I have a manual trans Crosstrek and shift below 3k rpms. Helps mpg a little.
I have a 2022 Outback and I've been averaging 35 mpg. I've found that I get the best mpg at 61 mph. On the interstate, I still get around 32 mpg at 72 mph. Also, weather plays a big part in mpg. Cold and windy weather will really lower the mpg. I also get noticeably better mpg when I use a non-ethanol-containing blend of gasoline. I've found that 87 octane non-ethanol gas gets me better mpg that 91 octane non-ethanol gas. They keep adding more ethanol to our gas because the government pays blenders 45 cents per gallon of pure ethanol they blend with gasoline. Thats a good incentive for them to keep sneaking in more ethanol to our blended fuels. It costs more for non-ethanol fuel, but I get at least 5 mpg more with it.
I got 400 miles to a tank in my 02 NA Bugeye with the ej25
Lot of sensible acceleration and coasting, only going 67mph max or less if I could. Drafting as possible. Was a really good tank! Haha
I would most certainly use non-ethanol fuel in both my Subaru and Volvo if I could buy it. But here in the NJ, the corrupt state of NJ, it is not available anywhere except airports. They will not sell it to anybody with a automobile.But anybody can get it in Florida and Pennsylvania if you are willing to search it out.I would pay even more for it! And for small engines, this ethanol gas horrible .
Lol I sold my 79' international scout & love my new 21' cross treck sport, removed my cross bars, waiting for 8k should I run my 75/140 synthetic gear oil in the diffs, I tow a 14' aluminum boat most every weekend.
I found when doing long highway drives that having car washed and waxed made car improve by a couple miles per gallon.