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Subaru Forester MPG-Real World Numbers

216 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2012 at 9:58 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

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

Messages Page 20 of 22

#187 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [samiam_68] by elizabethanne

Jan 24, 2010 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Jan 23, 2010 11:48 am)
Sam--
 
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. The Kelley Blue Book value of my Subaru is in the low 20s, so it appears that you are absolutely correct about being able to get more for it in private sale.
 
I had taken for granted that the mpg indicator on the dash would be accurate (I still can't understand why that technology isn't more refined). I am now embarking on a do-the-calculations-by-hand study. *shrug* That's the way I used to do it, so I don't see why I can't do that now.
 
I am very sorry that I didn't buy a RAV 4. Maybe next time.
 
Best to you.
E--

#188 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [elizabethanne] by samiam_68

Jan 24, 2010 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: elizabethanne (Jan 24, 2010 2:28 pm)
You're very welcome. Perhaps, when you calculate your MPG manually, you will see a higher MPG - maybe the computer is way off. Although, usually, the case is the opposite - the computer shows higher MPG than manual calculations.
 
Good luck and keep us posted!

#189 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [elizabethanne] by ateixeira

Jan 25, 2010 (8:51 am)

Replying to: elizabethanne (Jan 23, 2010 9:27 am)
I don't really agree with the dealer's list of reasons.
 
1) your mileage may vary, but that's nowhere near what our Forester gets (09 PZEV Limited automatic).
 
2) uphill you do worse, but you make it up going downhill, so the total effect should be minor
 
3) do no use premium fuel, it's tuned for 87 octane so don't waste your money
 
4) cross bars may have a small effect, you can remove them when not in use
 
5) each driver's mileage will vary, sure
 
I suspect the real reason right now is the bitter cold. I'm farther north than you but even my Miata is only getting 250 miles per tank before the low fuel light kicks on. My mileage is probably down 20% or more due to the severe cold we've had lately.
 
We get around 22-24 in the city and 27-30 on trips, but we're not going as fast as you on the highway (you said 70-75, we do 60-65 usually).
 
I'd try slowing down a bit, if that's practical, and try combining trips/errands so that the engine is already warm. During warm up your fuel efficiency is dismal.
 
Try this experiment - zero the trip odomerter on a cold morning. Drive off. It will tell you your mileage after 1 mile. I bet it's 12 mpg or so while the engine is still cold.
 
Then zero the trip odometer again, while driving on the highway. Keep your speed steady at around 55mph (safely, of course). I bet after a mile it registers 30mpg or so, if the engine is already warm.
 
So there is your minimum and maximum range - about 12 to 30. EPA is 20/26 IIRC but you can do a lot worse (with a cold engine, city driving) or a lot better (cruising on the highway but not too fast).
 
Good luck. I'm sure when the weather warms up you'll do better.
 
We usually hit our peak late spring or early fall, because we're not using A/C, but it's not really cold, either.

#190 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [ateixeira] by xwesx

Jan 25, 2010 (11:07 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 25, 2010 8:51 am)
Elizabeth, your disappointment with the mileage after 11,000 miles is understandable. I have a 4-month-old 2010 with 7500 miles and my average right now is 24, with most of its miles coming during winter months (in Fairbanks Alaska) that bring with them (truly) bitter cold and poor mileage. I have seen tanks as low as 18 mpg, but those were primarily very short trips (5-6 miles one way) with significant idling and cold temperatures (well below zero). I also navigate hills, but they are nothing major.
 
The Forester has two trip meters - A and B. Recently, my wife accidentally reset the "B" meter, which I had on running total since new. It read 24.3 mpg. My manually calc'd spreadsheet indicated 24.26 about the same time, so once the miles rack up, the trip computer is pretty much dead on. Tank by tank, it is usually optimistic. I have had a few tanks where the trip meter was lower than the calc'd economy, but I'm sure some of that has to do with circumstances (when the pump shuts off, etc).
 
Even now, during the cold months with winter blend fuel, etc., I have yet to have a month where our average fuel economy is lower than 20 mpg. Some tanks, yes, but not on average over a month. Mine is a 2010 Premium PZEV manual.
 
A couple things I have noted about my car:
 
1. It loves speeds between 40 and 50 mph and can get upwards of 40 mpg. Speeds under 35 (which requires a drop in gear) or over 50 are significantly worse (about 6-8 mpg). For city/suburban driving, try to maximize the amount of time you are in that sweet spot to make up for the start/stop cycles.
 
2. Speeds over 70 also cause a substantial drop in fuel economy. When driving it home from Seattle in September, it was giving me 28-31 mpg when driving mostly between 59 and 68 mph, but the few times I pushed it over 70 the readout would start dropping .3 mpg every couple of minutes. I did not drive a full tank over 70 so I am not sure how low it would have gone, but I was definitely taking a hit.
 
As for driving behind tractor-trailers, you may not be doing yourself any good unless you are riding right up behind them. By the time you are a safe distance behind, you are likely pushing through the turbulence created by their passing and may be hindering your fuel economy to some extent.
 
All of that said, I still think 17-18 mpg seems low unless you are making a lot of very short trips. Setting your tire pressure at 35 psi may help a little as well.

#191 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [xwesx] by ateixeira

Jan 25, 2010 (11:12 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 25, 2010 11:07 am)
I agree about the slower speeds.
 
We drive from DC to the eastern shore, and the country roads have 50mph speed limits most of the way. Those are our best tanks.
 
We can break 30 if we're trying.

#192 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [elizabethanne] by robm2

Jan 26, 2010 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: elizabethanne (Jan 23, 2010 9:27 am)
> The deciding factor that made me buy a Forester over
> a RAV 4 was the safety features
 
Then stop crying over gas mileage. You should have bought a Hybrid, if fuel economy is worth crying over.
 
> The cross bars on the roof (no bike racks or
> kayak gear on the bars) are causing wind resistance
 
You will get terrible gas mileage with the cross bars on. Take them off if you want better mileage, (partricularly on the highway ... probably gain 2 MPG just from this).
 
> My previous vehicle was a Toyota 4WD Tacoma
> TRD with a V-6 engine, big tires, the Off-Road
> package, and a lot of giddyup. It got about
> 20-22 miles per gallon
 
I seriously doubt this.
 
Regardless, you said you were averaging 20 MPG, and you were happy getting 17-18 MPG, (perhaps you meant un-happy?).
 
Let's say you drive 100000 miles. The difference between getting 17-18 MPG and 20 MPG at $4/gallon equates to $2856 extra gas. The difference between getting 17-18 MPG and 22 MPG equates to $4674 more in gas.
 
Assuming it takes you 5 years to drive that 100000 miles, selling your vehicle for an $8000 loss to save $2856 doesn't make much sense.
 
Stop worrying about fossil fuels. There is plenty to last your life time. Stop worrying about so-called "global warming". We will eventually run out of fossil fuels which will also solve that potential problem.

#193 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [robm2] by ateixeira

Jan 27, 2010 (10:03 am)

Replying to: robm2 (Jan 26, 2010 5:28 pm)
Tell us how you really feel, don't hold back.

#194 of 216 Re: MPG on '09 Forester--I'm fit to be tied [robm2] by xwesx

Jan 27, 2010 (10:38 am)

Replying to: robm2 (Jan 26, 2010 5:28 pm)
Very good point regarding the cross bars, Rob. I completely forgot to mention that factor, which is very significant on the highway. I have cross bars for mine, but only mount them (which only takes a minute or two) when they are needed.

#195 of 216 mpg 11 forester & crossbars by rustythepuppy

Jan 16, 2011 (7:46 pm)

i've put about 1000 miles on my 11 sub forester, a/t and i last filled up 14.4 gals and logged only 220 miles. my current average fuel consumption indicates an output of 12.2 mpg. its pretty disconcerting, but i think its the sub 0 temps. most of my trips are only about 7 miles long.
 
i would also like to get set up to load one pair of ski's and one bike on my rooftop. ive got the roof rails currently, so i look at cross bars, feets and ski/bike attachments. i will probably hold off on the ski's holder for now.
 
should i go with thule or subaru cross bars? the subaru bars look most aerodynamic, but would they be as sturdy and allow easy interfacing of feet/attachments with locks?
 
i am also concernced with the total load weight on the bars. my bike is kona mt bike, which is pretty heavy. the hardest part will be hoisting it up there (i dont like the fork mounts).
 
i also have the moonroof. my hope is to be able to conveniently remove as much of the rack stuff as neccesary when not in use.

#196 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester & crossbars [rustythepuppy] by ateixeira

Jan 19, 2011 (9:38 am)

Replying to: rustythepuppy (Jan 16, 2011 7:46 pm)
7 miles means short trips - it takes 2-5 miles just to warm up. So you're hardly ever reaching peak efficiency.
 
Try combining errands if possible, so that you're starting with a warm engine.
 
Another option is the Subaru OEM engine block heater. You'd use a little electricity, but it would more than pay off in fuel savings, provided you time it properly.
 
The roof rack is rated for 150 lbs, FWIW.

Messages Page 20 of 22

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