mileage at higher elevations - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

Nick Koan · 2004-08-11, 04:31 PM

Filled up today, and realized that I got approximagely Sacramento winter MPG (ie A/C not blasting every time I get in the car).

So, do you guys experience better MPG at higher elevations? Does that even make sense, or is it possible that I'm driving more conservatively up here (I don't think so, but its really the only explanation I can think of)?

I didn't notice any MPG gains or loss when I was in Tahoe last winter, but I blame that on literally freezing startup temperatures.

Dean · 2004-08-12, 10:27 AM

I'd guess higher average speed per mile traveled = better milage until you get up to where wind resistance goes crazy. Tahoe has even less air, and is less flat, so probably why you didn't see much change there.

sp00ln · 2004-08-12, 10:57 AM

my MPG SUCKS! I can get close to 270-300 miles per tank. What do you guys get? 13 gallon tank btw.

sperry · 2004-08-12, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp00ln

my MPG SUCKS! I can get close to 270-300 miles per tank. What do you guys get? 13 gallon tank btw.

I'd kill for that kind of range. On the freeway, I'm lucky to get 290 miles out of my 16 gal tank. In town, I get more like 220 miles per tank. I'd guess my average mileage is around 17mpg.

ArthurS · 2004-08-12, 01:21 PM

If drive slow, and 65mph on highway, I can reach 300 per tank.

U53D · 2004-08-12, 01:21 PM

i get about 350-400 on 16 gallon tank

MikeSTI · 2004-08-12, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp00ln

my MPG SUCKS! I can get close to 270-300 miles per tank. What do you guys get? 13 gallon tank btw.

I'm about the same and when I fill up I put about 13 gallons in.........I get 23 MPG everytime I go to Sactown and back

The lowest my mileage around town has been 250 that I've seen

sp00ln · 2004-08-12, 03:16 PM

Ah... I guess Im not that bad then. Sweeet...

murphy · 2004-08-12, 03:19 PM

If I really push it I get 400 but I do drive an N/A 2.5 when it was turbo I'd get 25 miles less per 1/4 tank.
I got better gas mileage in lower elevations turbo and N/A.

JonnydaJibba · 2006-11-13, 02:25 PM

BUMP for mileage question to na 2.5 owners...

What kind of mileage do you guys get for what kind of driving? All the sources I have found to answer this question so far just confuse me.

So far my semi-educated analysis is that I get about 22mpg average. This seems normal compared to a couple sources. I believe it's because I do mostly short trip driving and I mash more than most. Is this analysis accurate or totally off base? This reference is from a post on RS25 about short trip driving. However I am posting here because I don't generally trust a lot of what gets said in the tech section over there.

cody · 2006-11-13, 02:31 PM

I don't drive a NA 2.5 but I get 20-22mpg mostly city driving. I thought the MBC would have had a negative effect on my milage, but it hasn't really seemed to.

Kevin M · 2006-11-13, 02:37 PM

22 is pretty normal for your car and kind of driving. I used to get 32 mpg or more in my RS on my courier route, but that was with me doing literally every possible thing I could to conserve fuel. "Normal" in-town only driving for me was 23-25 mpg, and 27-30 on freeway trips with a little mixed driving. I very rarely mash on it though when I'm just driving around.

Joeyy · 2006-11-13, 02:38 PM

Hey Nick, was there any kinda tail wind on the drive. If the wind is up aroud 15-20 with gusts up to 45 and it's at your tail it may have helped you out.

JonnydaJibba · 2006-11-13, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAN SUVS

22 is pretty normal for your car and kind of driving. I used to get 32 mpg or more in my RS on my courier route, but that was with me doing literally every possible thing I could to conserve fuel. "Normal" in-town only driving for me was 23-25 mpg, and 27-30 on freeway trips with a little mixed driving. I very rarely mash on it though when I'm just driving around.

That's what I thought. I just wanted it confirmed.

Also, nice uh side-sig-catch-phrase-thingy.

Also also, I'll be surprised if Nick can remember if it was windy on an August day in '04.

MPREZIV · 2006-11-13, 02:45 PM

yeah, anywhere from 21-25, in town.

JonnydaJibba · 2006-11-13, 02:48 PM

I guess I was just used to my L getting me farther before fill ups.

tysonK · 2006-11-13, 02:48 PM

back from the dead.

Kevin M · 2006-11-13, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnydaJibba

I guess I was just used to my L getting me farther before fill ups.

Actually, my OBS (same weight as an RS basically) is getting somewhat worse gas mileage than my RS in similar driving. Mainly it's been freeway, as the OBS won't make it uphill in 5th above about 4500'.

4rd gear isn't so great for economy... also I haven't finished bringing the maintenance up to date. After I do plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil change, and clean the air filter, it may pick up a bit.

13.2 gallon tank + 23mpg highway FTL.

JonnydaJibba · 2006-11-13, 03:36 PM

You got an OBS?! Deets nigga deets. Wow I'm so observant... you even listed it.

Kevin M · 2006-11-13, 03:58 PM

Uh, yeah, in my "nice uh side-sig-catch-phrase-thingy."

Nothing much just yet. Green over gray, PC'd flat black SDRs with studded Noks, Stromung dual tip, garbage intake, Stoptech brakelines and teeny tiny stock L brakes. Oh, and the Recaro SRD.

Near future, it will get HID projector conversion, RS front bumper w/Hella 500s, Supertones, front STB installed, steering rack bushings, TiC Klunk Killer, kartboy shifter bushings and rear mount. I'm also hoping to get a 1.8 gearbox and frotn LSD in by autocross season.

JonnydaJibba · 2006-11-13, 04:01 PM

I'm glad you can put that bumper to use now.

Nick Koan · 2006-11-13, 04:02 PM

Damn this is an old thread. This is from when I first moved here, and didn't have a job so I was bored off my ass, posting random shit

Man, right now I get like 16-18mpg in the winter. Being close to work has its downsides, namely that the engine never heats up to operating temperatures on my daily commute in the winter, so I'm running a cold (rich) map for like 90% of my driving

Kevin M · 2006-11-13, 04:10 PM

That might be a good reason to go catless man. They're gonna clog up eventually given your commute and such.

Nick Koan · 2006-11-13, 04:38 PM

Yeah, at the very least I want to get the uppipe cat out of there. I still haven't decided on the post-turbo cat though.

Forgotten · 2006-11-13, 05:39 PM

I would almost always manage 28 or 29mpg when I was catless, but I had a pretty light foot. Now that I'm all back to stock I can barely manage 26, but with no change in driving habits. This is about 50/50 city/hwy

2004-08-11, 04:31 PM	#1
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	mileage at higher elevations Filled up today, and realized that I got approximagely Sacramento winter MPG (ie A/C not blasting every time I get in the car). So, do you guys experience better MPG at higher elevations? Does that even make sense, or is it possible that I'm driving more conservatively up here (I don't think so, but its really the only explanation I can think of)? I didn't notice any MPG gains or loss when I was in Tahoe last winter, but I blame that on literally freezing startup temperatures. __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2004-08-12, 10:27 AM	#2
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	I'd guess higher average speed per mile traveled = better milage until you get up to where wind resistance goes crazy. Tahoe has even less air, and is less flat, so probably why you didn't see much change there. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2004-08-12, 10:57 AM	#3
sp00ln EJ205 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,196	my MPG SUCKS! I can get close to 270-300 miles per tank. What do you guys get? 13 gallon tank btw. __________________ Turbo is a decent with modification.

2004-08-12, 01:21 PM	#5
ArthurS EJ207 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,707 Car: 2011 Chevy Battle Wagon	If drive slow, and 65mph on highway, I can reach 300 per tank. __________________ Captain Murphy: I dub thee Sir Phobos, Knight of Mars, beater of ass. Be a hitter, babe.

2004-08-12, 01:21 PM	#6
U53D EJ22 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 482 Car: '05 Aspen White STI Class: n00b Im "that one kid"	i get about 350-400 on 16 gallon tank __________________ What the fuck does WTF mean?

2004-08-12, 03:16 PM	#8
sp00ln EJ205 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,196	Ah... I guess Im not that bad then. Sweeet... __________________ Turbo is a decent with modification.

2004-08-12, 03:19 PM	#9
murphy EJ22 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: RENO Posts: 484 Car: 03 evo, 06 R6	If I really push it I get 400 but I do drive an N/A 2.5 when it was turbo I'd get 25 miles less per 1/4 tank. I got better gas mileage in lower elevations turbo and N/A.

2006-11-13, 02:25 PM	#10
JonnydaJibba EJ207 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Reno/Sparks, Nevada Posts: 3,482 Car: 2000 2.5RS Class: RestNPeace Master Slurper.	BUMP for mileage question to na 2.5 owners... What kind of mileage do you guys get for what kind of driving? All the sources I have found to answer this question so far just confuse me. So far my semi-educated analysis is that I get about 22mpg average. This seems normal compared to a couple sources. I believe it's because I do mostly short trip driving and I mash more than most. Is this analysis accurate or totally off base? This reference is from a post on RS25 about short trip driving. However I am posting here because I don't generally trust a lot of what gets said in the tech section over there. __________________ "Why do chicks tell you to call and then not answer....so gay." "Cuz girls are fags I dunno"

2006-11-13, 02:31 PM	#11
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	I don't drive a NA 2.5 but I get 20-22mpg mostly city driving. I thought the MBC would have had a negative effect on my milage, but it hasn't really seemed to.

2006-11-13, 02:37 PM	#12
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	22 is pretty normal for your car and kind of driving. I used to get 32 mpg or more in my RS on my courier route, but that was with me doing literally every possible thing I could to conserve fuel. "Normal" in-town only driving for me was 23-25 mpg, and 27-30 on freeway trips with a little mixed driving. I very rarely mash on it though when I'm just driving around. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-11-13, 02:38 PM	#13
Joeyy i can has kart? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,228	Hey Nick, was there any kinda tail wind on the drive. If the wind is up aroud 15-20 with gusts up to 45 and it's at your tail it may have helped you out.

2006-11-13, 02:45 PM	#15
MPREZIV Token Real Name: Le Stig Afrique? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sitting next to a big yellow box Posts: 3,589 Car: 2001 Impreza 2.5 RS Class: 05 TDSP No, I won't work on your car. F your car*	yeah, anywhere from 21-25, in town. __________________ "...these condoms have a topical anesthetic to reduce sensitivity, so you can last longer. What a paradox. You can't feel a thing, but you can f*ck for HOURS..."

2006-11-13, 02:48 PM	#16
JonnydaJibba EJ207 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Reno/Sparks, Nevada Posts: 3,482 Car: 2000 2.5RS Class: RestNPeace Master Slurper.	I guess I was just used to my L getting me farther before fill ups. __________________ "Why do chicks tell you to call and then not answer....so gay." "Cuz girls are fags I dunno"

2006-11-13, 02:48 PM	#17
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	back from the dead. __________________ Anjali? Anjali?

2006-11-13, 03:36 PM	#19
JonnydaJibba EJ207 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Reno/Sparks, Nevada Posts: 3,482 Car: 2000 2.5RS Class: RestNPeace Master Slurper.	You got an OBS?! Deets nigga deets. Wow I'm so observant... you even listed it. __________________ "Why do chicks tell you to call and then not answer....so gay." "Cuz girls are fags I dunno"

2006-11-13, 03:58 PM	#20
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	Uh, yeah, in my "nice uh side-sig-catch-phrase-thingy." Nothing much just yet. Green over gray, PC'd flat black SDRs with studded Noks, Stromung dual tip, garbage intake, Stoptech brakelines and teeny tiny stock L brakes. Oh, and the Recaro SRD. Near future, it will get HID projector conversion, RS front bumper w/Hella 500s, Supertones, front STB installed, steering rack bushings, TiC Klunk Killer, kartboy shifter bushings and rear mount. I'm also hoping to get a 1.8 gearbox and frotn LSD in by autocross season. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-11-13, 04:01 PM	#21
JonnydaJibba EJ207 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Reno/Sparks, Nevada Posts: 3,482 Car: 2000 2.5RS Class: RestNPeace Master Slurper.	I'm glad you can put that bumper to use now. __________________ "Why do chicks tell you to call and then not answer....so gay." "Cuz girls are fags I dunno"

2006-11-13, 04:02 PM	#22
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	Damn this is an old thread. This is from when I first moved here, and didn't have a job so I was bored off my ass, posting random shit Man, right now I get like 16-18mpg in the winter. Being close to work has its downsides, namely that the engine never heats up to operating temperatures on my daily commute in the winter, so I'm running a cold (rich) map for like 90% of my driving __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2006-11-13, 04:10 PM	#23
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	That might be a good reason to go catless man. They're gonna clog up eventually given your commute and such. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-11-13, 04:38 PM	#24
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	Yeah, at the very least I want to get the uppipe cat out of there. I still haven't decided on the post-turbo cat though. __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2006-11-13, 05:39 PM	#25
Forgotten EJ22 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 348 Car: 05 STi	I would almost always manage 28 or 29mpg when I was catless, but I had a pretty light foot. Now that I'm all back to stock I can barely manage 26, but with no change in driving habits. This is about 50/50 city/hwy __________________ "I piss 200 horsepower." -MattR

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
High altitude PAX	sperry	Technical Chat	56	2006-11-10 08:53 AM
Gas mileage	dknv	Technical Chat	2	2003-08-26 02:43 PM
Justification for Higher Education and Aspiration	ArthurS	General Subaru Discussion & Club Chat	13	2003-06-05 08:53 AM