RPM for Maximum Fuel Efficiency

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Hello,

I'm new here, and a new Subaru owner. I purchased my '98 2.5 GT 8 days ago and have been looking for excuses to drive anywhere I can since.

I love the sporty side of the vehicle, but was wondering if anyone knew the optimal RPM to run the engine at for maximum fuel efficiency.

Granted, it's most logically between 2k RPM and 3.2k, but I'd love some more specific figures if anyone has them.

Thanks,

Phil

[Grafton]

2.5k to 3k is the most fuel efficient,
my leggy gets 21-23 in town depending if i get into it a lot or not, on my trip up to huffer's that was all interstate i hit 29.7 by staying just below 3k, ~65-68mph on cruse

in town the best way to save gas is simply drive in a very boring manner slow to speed up and slow breaking no hitting 60 between each red light :D

[TheAngryPidgeon]

LoL.

Yeah, I've found that driving conservatively is rather difficult. I keep finding myself way out in front of people coming off the light while shifting at 3000 RPM.

I am familiar with conservative driving techniques, but I am looking for a numerical figure of the maximum efficiency for the 2.5 liter engine. (The thing is a beast, btw. I drove an Integra prior, and I am now trying to remember what a power band is. It used to be all important in the Acura, but now... I have the get-up-and-go regardless of the engine speed. =D )

[Huffer]

shifting at 2500-3000 is best... what you need to do is minimize gear changes between stops, and change smoothly.
Unnecessary gear changes sucks gas quickly.

Max torque for these engines is around 4500rpm, but it drops off at 5500rpm...so there isn't much gain by banging off the rev limiter like a Honda.

[jey]

I believe the owner's manual disusses this too - mine says to shift at 15, 30, 40, and 45.

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Ah, that's a good point, I didn't think to check my manual, it makes entirely too much sense. =p

Thanks for the torque tip, Huffer, I hadn't really thought about it, but I was probably driving it much higher than that out of habit from the Integra. I'll have to make a note to shift around 5500 next time I'm hitting it hard.

Thanks for the info.

[99gtlimited]

HP peaks above 5500 though so you'll lose that little top end oomph shifting at 5500, but in all honesty you shouldn't need to get much higher, it's just fun every once and a while to see what you car can do.

I would get in the habit of not romping on your car too much though, it will thank you in the end by not falling apart.

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Hehe, but it's so hard not to... :smt026