wqbang

But how do you explain the 18 in the city with one passanger and an infant?

TheBrian, Thanks for the offer on the speedo. If I decide to replace it I will shoot you an email and take it off your hands. To answer the other questions... Tires are newish Bridgstones all inflated to 36 psi. 600 mile trip was at 75 MPH, including 2 trips over Snoqualmie pass. 4 passengers plus luggage. No winter driving conditions (cool, dry and 35 degrees). My next steps will be: 1. Check my speedo using GPS. 2. Get a printout of the current OBDII at Schucks. 3. Replace O2 sensor 4. Complete ATF flush (needs anyway to prevent the dreaded torque bind). The reason a motorvac is not on my list is because I just had the injectors professionally cleaned. I will report back after these. Thanks everyone!

Air cleaner is new. I recently took a 600 mile round trip resulting in 24 mpg average.

My BEST mpg city is 19, worst is 18. My best mpg highway is 24. This is significantly off from the EPA estimates by about 20%. This is calculated using the method of filling up and dividing by miles driven since last fillup. I don't believe my speedo is off, it is simply fluttering occasionally below 20 mph. I will check my speedo using my GPS. Check engine light is not on currently. I can try synthetic oil, but I am not sure that will make a big difference, only marginal. I am familiar with synthetics and understand that the lubricating quallties are significantly better but not enough to deliver a 20% improvement im fuel mileage. Thanks everyone!

I have cleaned the MAF with Electrical contact cleaner with no canges detected. I do notice that the exhaust when idling smells like fuel.... However, it had no trouble passing emissions. O2 sensor?

Check engine light came on and had my mechanic look at it. Short term fuel trim was 10%. They recommended a tuneup and injector cleaning. Car runs great, but still gets poor fuel mileage. I normally try to do most of my own work (but I am just a mechanically inclined novice)... but time has been at a premium lately. BTW, I have only owned the car for 3-4 weeks.

It is a 2.2L. I have updated my original post.

Hey folks, A new Subaru owner here. Love my legacy so far other than poor fuel mileage! I have read several threads here already addressing p[oor fuel mileage and I am trying to develop a plan of attack here to isolate the issue in my particular vehicle. Details: - 1996 Legacy Brighton AWD - 2.2L - 95K miles - 4EAT tranny - Tires are new and in grat condition all at 36psi. - No evidence of torque bind, but plan on a complete ATF flush in the near future. - Fuel is 87 octane with 10% ethanol as mandated by the State of Washington suring winter or something.... whatever. - The speedometer needle flutters during acceleration below 20mpg. I not sure this is even related to the MPG issue and is a minor inconvenience. - Recent plugs, wires, fuel filter and professional injector cleaning. - Observed MPG is 18 city/ 24 hwy. EPA estimates for this car is 23 city /29 hwy The suggestions I have heard so far is clean/replace the MAF, clean/replace forward O2 sensor, replace the engine temp sensor, replace PCV valve. I may run by Schucks today and pull the OBDII data and can post it here. I plan to attempt cleaning the MAF by spraying electrical contact cleaner and replacing the PCV valve first. What are your recomended troubleshooting steps, and do you think the speedo issue could be releated in some way? Thanks! wqbang Auburn, WA