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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 21 of 23

#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.

#197 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester & crossbars [ateixeira] by xwesx

Jan 19, 2011 (9:45 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 19, 2011 9:38 am)
Hahahahahaha; engine block heater. I guarantee that Rusty's car has that plus at least a battery heater and oil pan heater.... Those things really aren't optional here.
 
Okay, so the battery heater is, but not for a stock (weak) Subaru battery.

#198 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester & crossbars [xwesx] by ateixeira

Jan 19, 2011 (9:50 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 19, 2011 9:45 am)
To me 60 degrees is cold! I'm from Brazil, man!
 
A Canadian buddy told me he saw negative 20s this past week. Brr.

#199 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester & crossbars [ateixeira] by xwesx

Jan 19, 2011 (2:44 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 19, 2011 9:50 am)
I hear ya! It is -25F in Fairbanks right now, which is up from yesterday!

#200 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester by rustythepuppy

Jan 21, 2011 (3:03 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 19, 2011 2:44 pm)
i am going to start saving my receipts now and logging my miles .. i just filled up again with 13.9 gallons and i logged 201.1 miles. i was 220miles previously for 14.4 gals. its been cold, but i have tried to not be excessive with my autostart.
 
only 18 below today ....
 
my breaks suck. i cannot rely on them if i need to stop quickly. a guy ran me off the road two days ago so i could have let him hit me, or i could have gone off the road and hit a HUGE, dense snow hill in front of beaver sports. i chose the latter. i busted up my front end.

#201 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester [rustythepuppy] by xwesx

Jan 21, 2011 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: rustythepuppy (Jan 21, 2011 3:03 pm)
Do you still have the stock tires on the car? If so, that's the problem right there. I have a set of Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice on mine for winter driving and I have to work to get it to break loose. Even during the "Icepocalypse," I was getting out to drive as much as possible because that car handled it so well. That, and I love inclement driving (which was made so much better by the abandoned roads!).
 
Sorry to hear about the car; doesn't it seem to happen more often that stuff like that occurs just after you buy a new vehicle?!
 
I was literally run off the road once (intentionally) several years ago on Chena Pump. I managed to avoid the other car but mine ended up being a total loss, which came out of my pocket even though I was able to identify and locate the other driver/vehicle. I won't make that mistake again. If another car would otherwise contact me, I'll take the contact before I take the ditch just to have physical evidence that the other car was present.

#202 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester [xwesx] by rustythepuppy

Jan 22, 2011 (7:34 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 21, 2011 6:30 pm)
stock yokohama's. they are horrible. what/where do you recommend for winter tires here in fairbanks?

#203 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester [rustythepuppy] by paisan

Jan 23, 2011 (1:52 pm)

Replying to: rustythepuppy (Jan 22, 2011 7:34 pm)
Also of note, on the MPG, it takes almost 8-10k miles for subaru engines to really get up to their optimal MPG. Another factor is that the diffy fluid is going to be much thicker at cold temps, this will put more drag on the system, lower MPGs.
 
-mike

#204 of 216 Re: mpg 11 forester [rustythepuppy] by xwesx

Jan 24, 2011 (1:02 am)

Replying to: rustythepuppy (Jan 22, 2011 7:34 pm)
It's tough to get anything other than Blizzaks locally!
 
I purchased the Goodyear UGI through Sam's Club back in Sept 09. They had to be special ordered, and I am not sure you can do that any longer, but I will recommend those as the best. I have driven cars with Blizzaks and have Continental ExtremeWinterContact on my daily driver, but neither can best the Goodyear (in my opinion) and Blizzaks wear very fast.
 
I picked up the Continentals from Seekins Ford in Sept 10. Again, those were special orders, but they didn't charge me shipping and I was able to get them at a 4 for 3 deal, so I ended up paying for the cost of four ($90 each) after factoring in the mount/balance, etc. As far as their normal selection of winter tires, they have Blizzaks and Michelin X-Ice. I have heard that the X-Ice is a great tire, but it is the most expensive of the bunch (other than Nokian).
 
I have had good service from Alyeska Tire (on Peger between Mitchell Expy and Van Horn) in the past. I am not sure of what all they carry; I know they have Hankook (I have no experience with that brand).
 
If you want to mount them on a separate set of rims, you can save some cost on the tires by getting 16" rims for the winter tires. I would skip the TPMS sensors in the rims unless you find that "feature" useful. 225/60R16 is an exact match for the stock 225/55R17 (off by 0.4%).
 
You know, if you haven't used winter tires before and want to try them out, you're welcome to take a spin in my Forester. You'll be amazed at the difference - guaranteed!

Messages Page 21 of 23

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