'90 Leggy fuel mileage

[JBearSVT]

So after five years sitting in the dirt, I finally got my little wagon registered and have started driving it for work. After about 50 miles the check money light finally went out, and everything seems to work fine. Smokes a little when it's warmed up, but it feels like it runs good.

What I'm wondering is what I should expect from it for gas mileage, those of you who have or have had one of these, how did they do? I figure if it's wildly off I can start looking for related issues, preferably before I take it through emissions, which I have 30 days to do.

Anyway, it's a 1990 wagon with the EJ22, 5spd and AWD, 203,000 miles. Still running five year old (at least) oil and coolant. Just looking for some average/ballpark numbers, it's a 50/50 mix of city/highway driving on my commute, and I'm not really beating on it. Thanks!

[jey]

Still running five year old (at least) oil and coolant.

Are you kidding? Change the oil!

[JBearSVT]

I will. That... doesn't answer my question at all.

[deadlydave]

I will. That... doesn't answer my question at all.

With the intake silencer gone, and a K&N replacement filter, my '95 Legacy got 33-35mpg on the higway, and 28 or so around town.

With <3000 mile old oil. :smile: You might get slightly worse gas mileage on the highway b/c the 90 legacy has the aerodynamics of a brick.

[JBearSVT]

Dave, does yours have a stick? Maybe I'm just really used to the overdrive trannys and pushrod V8's in my Mustangs, but it seems to cruise with the revs really high on the highway. 75mph is like 3100rpm in 5th; in my Cobra (with 3.55's in the rear) it would be more like 2200. Even my SCCA GT with 3.73's and a Tremec TKO would do 75mph well under three grand. Just wondering how this little wagon is geared? Doesn't have any real "power" to speak of, but it'll really pop off the line like it does, which has me thinking they're geared pretty steep?

[AJM]

They are geared low, that's normal. You can't expect an ej22 to have the same torque a 302 or 281 has.

[JBearSVT]

No, I certainly don't. Which is why I was so surprised by just how peppy it is when you find the powerband. Sure surprised the Scion TC who thought she was going to box me out yesterday :grin:
This thing is like the ultimate sleeper.

[SammyDaFish]

my 90 5spd wagon got about 27 regularly with a mix of highway and stop and go (semi rural area) ... after I turbocharged the NA motor it went up to something just over 30 :)


oddly enough my 95 wagon is only rockin like 25-26 mpg. I might throw in a new o2 sensor to help it out, kinda disappointed it doesn't do as well. EPA rating for the 95 is 22/28 city/highway

EPA rating for the 90 is only 20/26, though I think most people probably get better than that, as seen here.

[JBearSVT]

Cool, thanks. Now I want a turbo even more :grin:

[AJM]

No, I certainly don't. Which is why I was so surprised by just how peppy it is when you find the powerband. Sure surprised the Scion TC who thought she was going to box me out yesterday :grin:
This thing is like the ultimate sleeper.

Well, for a 4cyl 2.2's do have a good torque curve that gives you most of the torque at 2000 rpms...

[JBearSVT]

Results are in: tank #1, 20.3mpg

That was with @ 1/4 tank 5yr old fuel, 3/4 new 89oct. Filled it with 87 this morning.

Wonder what it would do with a full tune up/oil change/belts & hoses/fuel filter/etc? I'll probably get all that done after new years.

[deadlydave]

My '95 was an auto. 'tis gone now, somewhere...