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Subaru Forester MPG-Real World Numbers

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

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


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#133 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [jim314] by ateixeira
Sep 18, 2008 (10:29 am)
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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)
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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)
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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.
#136 of 174
Re: Subaru Conversion to FWD [aatherton] by ateixeira
Oct 02, 2008 (11:07 am)
Reply

Replying to: aatherton (Sep 27, 2008 3:48 pm)

On page 9-3 the 2008 Owners Manual says the spare only goes on the rear
 
That's what I said.
 
The donut, i.e. the temp spare, goes on the rear axle.
 
The manual agrees with me.
#137 of 174
mpg update by johnv STAFF
Dec 12, 2008 (1:36 pm)
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2008 Forester XS. From the Bay Area to Eureka and back. Heading up was 26 and back 27.3 mpg. 6400 total miles on the car.
 
The best I've seen was 29.2 -- that was probably coasting down from the Sierras.
#138 of 174
Re: mpg update [johnv] by ateixeira
Dec 23, 2008 (8:49 am)
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Replying to: johnv (Dec 12, 2008 1:36 pm)

Good numbers. You must have had more downhill driving on your way back.
#139 of 174
09 limited MPG questions by milzo
Dec 25, 2008 (6:29 pm)
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Just picked up my 09 2.5x limited 2 days ago. Drove it from cleveland to toledo, for christmas, which is about 100 miles. My trip is 90% highway. On the way there we averaged 21mpg 75mph and 3000rpm with a strong head wind. On the way back we average 23.4 mpg 72mph and 2700rpm with no wind. The car now has 240 miles. I am diassapointed with these numbers. I've heard that the mileage isn't that great when they are brand new and it gets better after break in. Is that true? Also my car doesn't coast as much as I am used to. It seems when you let off the gas that it immediately starts to slow down. I assume that's due to the 4AT and high rpm's at cruising speed. What's the story, will it get better??? .
#140 of 174
Re: 09 limited MPG questions [milzo] by jim314
Dec 25, 2008 (6:43 pm)
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Replying to: milzo (Dec 25, 2008 6:29 pm)

Winter mpg is significantly lower than summer. Also, if you are going to match the high mpg reported by some people you will have to slow down to 65-70 mph and drive for efficiency. This means leaving a large enough gap between your vehicle and the one ahead so that most of the time when they brake all you have to do is let off on the gas. Drive smooth and as slow as you can stand without impeding traffic behind you. SUV aerodynamics penalize driving over 70 mph.
#141 of 174
Re: 09 limited MPG questions [milzo] by tinycadon
Dec 25, 2008 (6:51 pm)
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Replying to: milzo (Dec 25, 2008 6:29 pm)

Just completed a 400mi trip in my XT and got 25.4mpg. I kept the car between 65-70 with a couple of traffic snarls and a couple of times flooring it to get around some slower traffic. I did up my tire pressure to 35psi before my trip so that might have added to the mpgs, but I do have to say that is pretty weak mpgs for the regular 4 banger, when I 1st bought my XT back in May I went on a 400mi trip right off the bat and got 23.8 and 24.7 on the way back. Check out your tire pressure and up it to 35psi if it's lower.
#142 of 174
Re: 09 limited MPG questions [milzo] by ateixeira
Dec 29, 2008 (11:19 am)
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Replying to: milzo (Dec 25, 2008 6:29 pm)

My '98 improved steadily until around 15k miles, when it peaked.
 
Our '09 is also improving, though that trend stopped once the bitter cold arrived. We're still mid-high 20s, though.

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