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Scion Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers

507 messages,  Last post on Nov 17, 2011 at 6:49 PM

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What is this discussion about? Scion tC, Scion xB, Scion xA, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 51 of 52

#492 of 507 Re: EPA and MPG inaccuracy [joseph07] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Nov 19, 2009 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: joseph07 (Nov 19, 2009 12:28 pm)
I have no idea why the Subaru should exceed EPA estimates by nearly 100%. I guess driving it a certain way could do that---I dunno what to say. Subarus are notorious gas hogs for their engine size, as a rule--especially the 3.0. So what I'm saying is that don't judge your Scion by this rather miraculous result. It's some kind of anomaly.
 
Regarding the Scion--one thing to keep in mind is that these little cars are geared (in the transaxle gearing) for acceleration, not for top speed. They are, in other words, not a "long-legged" car. This is why the 65mph + penalty kicks in.

#493 of 507 Re: EPA and MPG inaccuracy [joseph07] by crazedcommuter

Nov 24, 2009 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: joseph07 (Nov 19, 2009 12:28 pm)
I have an 05 XB with automatic. Is your XA auto or manual? The stick shift has a higher 5th gear RPM than the auto so it gets less mpg.
 
Are the tires the stock 15" or are they upgraded to 16. 17, or 18"? Tire pressure at 35psi? Oversize rims and tires rob the Scion of mpg. I also get less MPG with the tire pressure set at the door sticker of 29psi. Oversize tires will make you lose mpg substantially as well as some oversize aftermarket exhausts. Some posters have complained that CAIs have robbed them of 8-10 mpg.
 My mpg drops from 32 to 28 when the stock 15" tires are rotated at the tire shop and they set the pressure back to 29psi.
 
Have the plugs been changed with platinum tipped plugs as specified by Scion? I change the air filter every 10k miles and the oil is 5w-30 full synthetic.
 I have 101,000 on mine and it still gets 32-33 mpg and average about 330 miles per tank. I run it regularly from DC to NJ and back at speeds up to 80.
 
I hope some of this helped.

#494 of 507 Re: EPA and MPG inaccuracy [crazedcommuter] by joseph07

Nov 26, 2009 (2:58 am)

Replying to: crazedcommuter (Nov 24, 2009 9:28 pm)
My 06 xA is automatic and came with 15" tires. Last time I tested for tire pressure was about two weeks ago and made sure these were at about 32psi each. Perhaps this have something to do with it.
  
Regarding the plugs, I have no idea whether these are platinum or any other material. I just know that when I bought it last month I expected the auto dealer to perform a 26 points inspection (whatever this means) and assumed they would change oil and plugs or anything that is considered essential for good performance after some months being parked.
 
It currently has 37150 and as I said before, not in this opportunity, for instance, I put $30.02/10.5 gal on November 19 and combined it with a fuel system cleaner I got from AutoZone. That day I got 50 miles for 1 gal according to the gas meter, but the day after began to decrease progressively. As for today, it shows 198 mi for about 7.5 out of 10 gal consumed.
 
Another thing I've noticed is that the gas meter fluctuates a lot, even when I turn the car on the same day. The other day saw it marked 5 gal (I assume each line represents one gal since it hast 10 in total) during the night, and when I turned on the next morning it had dropped to 4.5 gal or less.
 
To make it easier, I already know the car has some kind of filtration, although the guys from Toyota service told me there is no gas leaking. It might be the tank cap or something like that, but I am thinking of taking it to another shop for another check up.
 
Thank you for your comment.

#495 of 507 No V6 in a 2005 Legacy Re: mpg [joseph07] by moparbad

Jan 07, 2010 (9:18 pm)

Replying to: joseph07 (Nov 19, 2009 12:52 am)
Subaru did not sell Legacy with 6 cylinder engine for 2005 model year.
Outback was sold with a 6 cylinder. It will NOT achieve 33 mpg.
Nope, not credible.
 
For the xA, I suggest logging the fuel in gallons pumped and miles at each fill up for the next 5 fill ups, then determining the average mileage.

#496 of 507 xB mileage by big_guy

Jul 29, 2010 (9:52 am)

I've got an '05 xB and have averaged 32 mpg for the entire time I have owned it (purchase is back in '06). Very pleased with the mpg. It does suffer a mileage penalty with higher speeds. I try to keep highway speeds to 65 mpg as much as possible, lower if I can get away with it. I took a trip where I kept the speeds between 55 and 60 and got about 38 mpg on the highway.
 
The xA should get better mpg than the xB. There is an online mileage tracking site that I have been using and there is an xA owner from Dubois Wyoming that is averaging close to 40 mpg in his car.

#497 of 507 Re: xB mileage [big_guy] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Jul 29, 2010 (11:18 am)

Replying to: big_guy (Jul 29, 2010 9:52 am)
I'd be leery of any anecdotal evidence claiming a 40 mpg "average"----yes, you might get it now and then, but you'd have to be a pretty careful, perhaps fanatic, driver to get 40 mpg average in "normal" driving on an xA.
 
It is my understanding that the automatic cars are geared better for economy--so I'd say, ironically, that automatic xAs have a better shot at good MPG than the 5-speeds.

#498 of 507 Re: xB mileage [Mr_Shiftright] by big_guy

Aug 03, 2010 (1:53 pm)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (Jul 29, 2010 11:18 am)
Anecdotal? This is the vehicle in question '04 xA Economy
 
This is the data from my xB '05 xB Economy

#499 of 507 Re: xB mileage [big_guy] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Aug 03, 2010 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: big_guy (Aug 03, 2010 1:53 pm)
very nice records, well done, but still anecdotal because we haven't tested your car's odometer for accuracy, nor measured the amount of fuel prior to putting it in the tank, nor driving conditions or techniques etc. Anecdotal doesn't imply a criticism, it just means "not subjected to rigorous scientific testing".
 
Also, you can't claim to be an impartial tester, even if you ARE impartial.
 
Nonetheless, impressive #s for an xA

Messages Page 51 of 52

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