Retarded Gas mileage...

[PhoenixDownVII]

Meh.

I don't drive the subaru much (serves as an extra car for snow and haulin' big loads) but I still don't appreciate the mileage I'm getting...

It's a 96 L Wagon. 2.2L.

Has an aftermarket intake, new plugs & wires, and is otherwise healthy.

My driving "style" usually nets me the higher HWY rating for every car I've owned (10+ cars at this point)...and for this Subaru I believe that's 27mpg.

So with the winter gas gone, the snow tires replaced with all seasons...and the warm weather....

...I'm getting 22mpg.


I had a CEL for primary 02 sensor go on but then turn off on its own in less than a day....odd.

Even though it went off, is this a symptom of the 02 sensor still being bad? Would it cause a 5mpg+- difference? I definitely should be hitting the 27mpg at this point...

If I should replace it, who should I go with? OEM or NAPA?

:)
thanks!

[Sarra]

Yeah, get that O2 replaced. But, it might not help overall if NY just switched to E10 gasoline. My gas milage has sucked since Oregon switched over to E10 only.

[decke48]

i'd say the o2 being lazy. i would go with a ngk or denso plug&play

[saturn]

check your catalytic converters. mine were clogged and making the car run like crap. the O2 sensor code was coming up but it was just a result of the cats being clogged.

[Huffer]

check tire pressures too.

[PhoenixDownVII]

I'm going to up the tire pressure a bit but at "normal" pressure I still should be getting better mileage.

I suspect the O2 replacement may do it, it's just another $100+ after doing the brakes, the thermostat, and other random crap.

How do I check the cats? ...I mean...I can't...stuff my head in there...

Do I have to take them off to inspect? That's a bit of a pain lol...

[filter27e]

I'm in the same boat for fuel economy, I used to get 23mph mixed driving, 25 if I tried real hard, and 21 if I tried real hard not to.... with no ac on the highway and driving smart I could do 28 mpg. Now, I'm getting 20mpg with every tank of mixed driving no matter what I do. My CEL came on for a knock sensor and I was excited because I figured I'd replace it and be able to get back to 25 mpg or so and nothing happened when I did.... I was leaning towards o2 sensors next, since the car has 123k on it and they're probably shot by now.