better mpg's

[ryanmiller]

i was reading about the new outbacks and how they have the folding roof rack cross bars to reduce drag and increase mpg's. could i take the cross bars off of my roof rack for a lower drag? would this really increase my mpg's. what else can i do to get better mpg's out of my car. i know i could lower it, but that is out of the question here in wisconsin. i do need to get around in the winter time. i am upgrading to a k&n filter and a hybrid air intake using the "ebay" intake. would using a light weight crank pulley help me get better mileage?

[mike-tracy]

You could put smaller wheels and lower resistance tires on.
- Cross bars definitely make a difference. I noticed about .5mpg increase by taking them off - over a Seattle-Idaho drive I made several times.
- Lighter weight oil - 0w30 synthetic (this is controversial because it *may* cause more engine wear in the long run).
- Use your brakes as little as possible.
- Hypermile behind trucks/rv's on long trips
- Stay in top gear as much as possible, and learn to drive as smoothly as possible
- Use the cruise control on flats, but drive with your foot, smoothly, on hills

[ryanmiller]

i drive from madison to eau claire a lot to see my daughter. i may start hypermiling behind the trucks. i am already using 0w30 mobil 1 synthetic.

[02_Legacy]

You could put smaller wheels and lower resistance tires on.
Don't put tires that have a smaller diameter on becuause that will rise your revs on the highway and lower your milage. I believe what Mike is saying is put narrower tires on.
Also check your tire pressure and possibly raise it to 35psi or so. An alignment may help a little too.

[Grafton]

^ correct narrower tires have less rolling resistance

[nomad666666]

buy a yaris

[anothernord]

Side mirror delete
Lower grille block
Fog light covers
Narrower tires
Weight reduction (smaller battery, lose the spare, A/C delete)

Anything aero comes into play above 45 MPH. Anything benefits under that general speed are going to be had by driving habits, and weight reduction.

[Matty2Hotty]

If you have a spoiler... Take it off. Creates drag and your wanting less. Proven already on other forums.

If you have a hood scoop... Get rid of it plex cover plate, reverse scoop it, or non scooped hood.

[jey]

You'd have to be dangerously close to semi's and RVs to really see any positive effect on drag - they tested this in Mythbusters. Hypermile is the way to go - do a lot of coasting, look far ahead to make sure you hit all the green lights, take turns really fast so you don't loose speed, etc.

[StatGSR]

fuel mileage isn't subarus strong suit. period

[Huffer]

An underbody diffuser would be good, as well as lowering ride height a little. The more air that goes under, increases lift which increases drag. You can't go too low, because then you have to fight more to get the car up to speed. Streamlining the body always helps but the Outback has all that lower body armor which defeats it.

Really, it's all about driving smoothly and matching your gear to the speed and upcoming roads. Hitting a hill in 5th without any speed to coast over it is going to waste as much gas as hitting the hill in 3rd and reving the crap out of the engine.

[Matty2Hotty]

People also see a 2mpg increase with a light weight crank pulley.

[Huffer]

People also see a 2mpg increase with a light weight crank pulley.

Since when?

[Matty2Hotty]

Since I and a handful of others on nasioc and rs forum have experienced the same thing. the rotational mass is cut in half in higher gears, email Perrin or Cobb and ask if wanted. I spent like 2 days reading before I bought a Perrin one, I saw a difference driving from Oregon and back... Usually would be at 1/4 and was left at 1/2 after the install... This one done 3 different trips back and forth each way before the install and then 3 trips after the install and conditions were the same. So does it help gas milage? I would say yes, unless my tank got 1/4 tank larger by some Subi Fairy.

[ryanmiller]

that makes me want mine back. the guy who put the engine in my outback didn't give me any of the parts back. which angers me, as i had new plugs, wires, knock sensor and perrin lightweight crank pulley on the old engine.

[nomad666666]

http://automobiles.honda.com/shop/insig ... 4042012:s# (http://automobiles.honda.com/shop/insight.aspx?ef_id=lghNRgVrAAAAQcg:20110224042012:s#)

or keep it in the family

http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/

[ouch1011]

Real world physics disagree with the idea of a lw crank pulley increasing your highway mileage. It may be easier to accelerate a lw crank pulley, but it takes basically the same amount of energy to maintain its speed.

[98outbackpdx]

i just got a 26 mpg on my last tank in my 98 outback with 2 people in the car, 4 cinder blocks in the back for weight, and not using the CC, driving with my shoes off, when i drive with my shoes off i can feel the pedal better and so i am not using my lead boots. i run 89 octane or "plus" i can notice a difference in fuel economy between regular and plus. also where you get your gas matters. if i get my gas here in The Dalles or the Columbia River Gorge, i get terrible fuel economy. i get it in Portland, i can get 25 or so driving around the Portland metro area for the day.

[Wiscon_Mark]

buy a yaris

For how underpowered and small those cars are, they don't really get that great of a fuel economy rating.

I'd much rather have an Echo. Better mileage, bigger interior, more power.



Real world physics disagree with the idea of a lw crank pulley increasing your highway mileage. It may be easier to accelerate a lw crank pulley, but it takes basically the same amount of energy to maintain its speed.


Agreed. I think you'd see an increase in performance/economy (depending how you drive) around town where you're always accelerating, but not really on the highway.

And fuel gauges are a terrible way to estimate fuel economy. Hard numbers are the only way to really do it. Depending on the outside temperature, my fuel gauge will vary by nearly a 1/4 tank at the exact same fill level.

[Benfolio]

Don't lift it and put a silly roof basket up there with a spare tire/wheel in it.

[Grafton]

driving style effects my mpg the most, If i just "cruse" around I can milk 22 out around town If I have fun I'll get 19

[loganmossmusic]

I average 18 - 19 when I drive about three quarters city and 1/4 55mph freeway. I have a 2.2 and figure I would do better. I just put in an air filter to replace one that has been in there for god knows how long. Its been in there the whole time I have owned it, which is about 1.5 years. I am really hoping that will help to improve my mileage.

[anothernord]

I got 27 with the turbo going up into the mountains.

But this isn't a gas mileage thread. Lets get back on topic.

Like others have said, the best way to improve your gas mileage is to change your driving habits. 55 is just about the ideal speed for gas mileage, so try to stay a little slower on the highway. Instead of going 80, set the cruise at 68 and sit back in the right lane. As far as the crank pulley MPG increase, that would only apply for city driving, or any time there an increase in the engine's speed.

[Navi271]

^ correct narrower tires have less rolling resistance
I second this.
Took off my 16" winter wheels/tires recently and now have my old 14" steelies with all seasons on the car. It takes much less power to keep the car going at a certain speed. I can obviously notice it and it shows on my scangauge too.

Also snow tires add even more to the resistance/friction on the road. So if you have them, switch them out as soon as it gets nice out.

[rougeben83]

get rid of any unnecessary weight in your car. spare tire, jack, tools, trunk mat/cover, etc.

[hansvonaxion]

get rid of any unnecessary weight in your car.

"Sorry honey, it's just not working out. It's not you, it's the gas mileage."