Sign In Join 



Subaru Forester MPG-Real World Numbers

174 messages,  Last post on May 13, 2009 at 4:45 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum. Your Host is kcram

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Wagon


Messages Page 14 of 18
1
...
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#126 of 174
Re: 'nother nibble [ateixeira] by outpost05
Sep 06, 2008 (6:25 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 21, 2006 10:03 am)

I've had my non-turbo Premium package 09 Forester for 10 days. I spent a week of city driving and got 21 mpg average which equaled my old Ford Explorer highway numbers.
Today I went 170 miles on freeway and got 31 mpg. I am very pleasantly surprised.
#127 of 174
Re: 'nother nibble [outpost05] by ateixeira
Sep 08, 2008 (6:52 am)
Reply

Replying to: outpost05 (Sep 06, 2008 6:25 pm)

Manual or auto?
 
CR got 2mpg better with a manual. We're happy with our auto so I can only imagine the mileage you could get with a 5MT.
#128 of 174
Re: 'nother nibble [ateixeira] by outpost05
Sep 08, 2008 (12:42 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 08, 2008 6:52 am)

The 21 mpg City and 31mpg Highway was with an auto transmission.
 
Another question about chains or cables. If you really needed them, would you put them on the front or back (or would all tires need to have them)?
#129 of 174
Re: 'nother nibble [outpost05] by ateixeira
Sep 09, 2008 (8:15 am)
Reply

Replying to: outpost05 (Sep 08, 2008 12:42 pm)

I would do all 4. The fronts steer and do most of the braking, but with AWD you want all 4 tires with the same circumference.
 
Even with FWD you would not want the rear end slipping and getting in front of you.
#130 of 174
Subaru Conversion to FWD by unclestanky
Sep 17, 2008 (12:42 pm)
Reply
I had a 97 Legacy which had a pretty neat feature. I was wondering if Subaru still has it. There was a single fuse under the hood near the firewall. If you removed the fuse, the car would operate in front wheel drive mode only. Now, gas was cheaper "back in the day", so I wasn't very diligent in monitoring my mileage, but I seem to remember a 3-4 mpg increase when it was in FWD mode. In Colorado, where I live, you really only need AWD for a few months out of the year. Does anyone have any information on if that is still available in Subaru's?
#131 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [unclestanky] by ateixeira
Sep 18, 2008 (7:31 am)
Reply

Replying to: unclestanky (Sep 17, 2008 12:42 pm)

It is, but...it's not really meant to be used full time. It's intended for times when you get flat tires, and for short-term use.
 
I really don't recommend it.
 
Think of it this way - you save $5 a month on gas (whoopee), but lose the functionality of a $1750 option.
#132 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [unclestanky] by jim314
Sep 18, 2008 (8:32 am)
Reply

Replying to: unclestanky (Sep 17, 2008 12:42 pm)

If you did that, you would have be sure to rotate the tires on a regular short schedule, otherwise the tread on the front tires would wear more than the rear and the outside diameter of the front wheels at the tread would get progressively smaller compared to the rear. This would present no problem in FWD mode, but if you reinserted the fuse and returned to AWD mode this would cause wear in the center differential or other AWD components.
 
Why would you want to go to FWD with a flat tire?
#133 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [jim314] by ateixeira
Sep 18, 2008 (10:29 am)
Reply

Replying to: jim314 (Sep 18, 2008 8:32 am)

Subaru recommends that if you get a flat, to put the donut on the rear axle and insert the FWD fuse. This is with auto-AWD only.
#134 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [ateixeira] by aatherton
Sep 27, 2008 (3:45 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 18, 2008 7:31 am)

"... (FWD) it's not really meant to be used full time. It's intended for times when you get flat tires, and for short-term use. "
Inserting the fuse in the AWD slot permanently energizes the solenoid that uncouples the power to the rear wheels. The rear drive train still turns, being dragged by the rear wheels. The solenoid is not designed for a continuous duty and will soon burn up.
#135 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [ateixeira] by aatherton
Sep 27, 2008 (3:48 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 18, 2008 10:29 am)

"Subaru recommends that if you get a flat, to put the donut on the rear axle and insert the FWD fuse. This is with auto-AWD only. "
 
On page 9-3 the 2008 Owners Manual says the spare only goes on the rear:
"The temporary spare tire must be used only on a rear wheel. If a front wheel tire gets punctured, replace the wheel with a rear wheel and install the temporary spare tire in place of the removed rear wheel."
 
As for disabling the AWD, the manual says that only applies to the 4EAT. On page 9-3 the manual says:
"All AWD AT non-turbo models without Vehicle Dynamics Control system: Before driving your vehicle with the temporary spare tire, put a spare fuse inside the FWD connector in the main fuse box located in the engine compartment and confirm that the Front Wheel Drive warning light "AWD" in the combination meter comes on. The all wheel drive capability of the vehicle has now deactivated. After re-installing the conventional tire, remove the spare fuse from the FWD connector in order to reactivate all wheel drive."
 
So, the steps called for by the Owners Manual are:
 
FLAT ON FRONT
1. Remove a rear tire.
2. Install the temporary spare in its place.
3. Remove the flat front tire.
4. Install the rear tire in its place.
5. Remove the storage tray and its contents from the spare tire well.
6. Put the flat tire in the well.
-- And for the 4EAT automatic transmission:
7. In the fusebox, install the spare fuse in the FWD slot to disable AWD.
8. A sticker on the temporary spare warns not to exceed 50 mph.
9. Don't drive too far in FWD or damage to drive train may occur.
10. After the flat tire is fixed, put all 3 tires back in their original places.
11. Remove the fuse to restore AWD.
 
FLAT ON REAR
1. Remove flat tire.
2. Install the temporary spare in its place.
3. Remove the storage tray and its contents from the spare tire well.
4. Put the flat tire in the well.
-- And for the 4EAT automatic transmission:
5. In the fusebox, install the spare fuse in the FWD slot to disable AWD.
6. A sticker on the temporary spare warns not to exceed 50 mph.
7. Don't drive too far in FWD or damage to drive train may occur.
8. After the flat tire is fixed, put the 2 tires back in their original places.
9. Remove the fuse to restore AWD.
 
You can avoid all this trouble if you just replace the compact spare with a full size spare. Take out the storage tray and the compact spare, and put in a full size spare with the storage bucket to support the floor panel. I did, and it only cost about $200. Got an almost new steel wheel and Geolandar off eBay, and ordered the bucket from the dealer.

Messages Page 14 of 18
1
...
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement