Skysm182 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Hi everyone, I have a 91 loyale wagon 4x4 manual spfi. Today I filled up my tank (put in 12.5 gallons to top it off), I went 228 miles from when I last filled up. That puts me at 18 mpg. what can I do to get better mpg? More Info: -My car runs great for being 20 years old. -My muffler has an exhaust leak. -I don't drive it like I stole it, I am very conservative at where I shift it. I live about a mile from my work and mostly only drive it too and from work and home. -The steering is a little bit off(slightly veers to the left when I take my hands of the wheel). -The tires(175/80R13) are about 4 months old from when the previous owner put them on before he sold it to me. He left one of the old tires on a rim in the back compartment and it looks like it has unusual wear on the outside tread. Thanks in advance to the responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I get that in town with my turbo GL and I thought it was bad for that thing!! Im thinking something is wrong with yours but Im not sure. All I have is mine to judge agaisnt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Get a job furthur from home. You are never going to get good mileage driving only 1 mile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ride a bicycle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 shift at 3000 rpms when driving conservatively, and cruise between 2000, and 2500 rpm. shifting too soon and bogging the engine at rpms under 2000 is actually inefficient, due to the short stroke of the engine. its the kind of thing you would get better fuel economy at 70 mph than 60 mph. engine temp sensor could be weak the exhaust leak will affect low speed/rpm performance, and cut fuel economy, and make the car work kharder to get moving steering issue is most likely a wheel bearing. you can jack up the car and wiggle the wheel all you want, but if you feel no play, that is usually true with a bad wheel bearing, due to their design. Changing the wheel bearing is no more work than replacing the axle. The bad bearing can affect mileage having a rolling resistance spare tire goes under the hood.(im sure you know that) a full size does fit. There is actually a captive nut in the back to screw down the spare tire retainer if you wish to keep it in the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferox Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 What elevation do you live at? How long do you let your car warm up? Have you Seafoamed your fuel system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skysm182 Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 (edited) Ride a bicycle? Did that from oct of 06 til march of 07 so i could save enough money to buy my other car (mustang), I have had my fun riding a bike in the snow during the winter months. shift at 3000 rpms when driving conservatively, and cruise between 2000, and 2500 rpm. shifting too soon and bogging the engine at rpms under 2000 is actually inefficient, due to the short stroke of the engine. its the kind of thing you would get better fuel economy at 70 mph than 60 mph. engine temp sensor could be weak the exhaust leak will affect low speed/rpm performance, and cut fuel economy, and make the car work kharder to get moving steering issue is most likely a wheel bearing. you can jack up the car and wiggle the wheel all you want, but if you feel no play, that is usually true with a bad wheel bearing, due to their design. Changing the wheel bearing is no more work than replacing the axle. The bad bearing can affect mileage having a rolling resistance spare tire goes under the hood.(im sure you know that) a full size does fit. There is actually a captive nut in the back to screw down the spare tire retainer if you wish to keep it in the back I shift between 2500 and 3000 so I usually don't bog it down. Should I look at replacing the engine temp sensor and get a new exhaust put on? All the wheel bearings are new as I had to have those replaced when I bought the car so it would pass safey and IM What elevation do you live at? How long do you let your car warm up? Have you Seafoamed your fuel system? I live in northern utah so elevation is around 4,350 ft. I don't let my car warm up unless there is snow on it, which I warm it up briefly while I scrape it off. I have used seafoam in the fuel tank and the crank case but I can't figure out which pcv hose to use it through. Thanks for your replies. if there are any other suggestions, feel free to ask. Edited February 26, 2011 by Skysm182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 somebody is stealing your gas when its parked? maybe not Get a lock gas cap, cause when gas hits 4 bucks a gallon, thugs will be stealing it then, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skysm182 Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 somebody is stealing your gas when its parked? maybe not Get a lock gas cap, cause when gas hits 4 bucks a gallon, thugs will be stealing it then, I'm the person stealing their gas. jk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowmastered87GL Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Loyales have a locking gas door relased from inside... so I doubt its that. I think that the car never has a chance to reach normal operating temperature has a lot to do with your poor mileage. May be other factors, but in the spring try taking it on a short road trip... if you cant get like 25MPG than I bet there are some other factors going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Engine isn't reaching operating temp with a 1 mile commute. It's running in open-loop mode with no feedback from the O2 sensor and the CTS is reporting cold operating so it's enriching the mixture to allow it to run (ECU's version of a choke). 18 MPG is about what I would expect for that type of driving conditions. Get a Moped. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 maybe a block heater can help with the short run times. I agree with getting a moped. That is a whole nother world of fun outside of subarus. Mopeds are quite capable, with the right mods. I know some die hard folks with 60 mph mopeds with crazy expansion pipes and modified variators. mopeds used to be embarassing to ride, but now they are hip. But even with a hip moped, you run the risk of embarassment by being labeled a hipster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idasho Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Dude its a mile. Get a good pair of walking shoes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I built this two summers ago for my 6 mile ride to work. 150mpg FTW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idasho Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Double free-wheel? Where did you get the hub for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Just a normal wheel. The chain from the engine goes into the other side of the back wheel. Just a sprocket bolted on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idasho Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 bolted to the hub? So it doesnt freewheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 bolted to the hub? So it doesnt freewheel? The chain to the pedals works just the same as a normal bike. Which, is basically what it is. The chain to the engine always turns if the bike is moving. I've since blown that engine and am working on a new one, but I got a good 4k miles or so out of it before I killed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricearu Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have a chinese moped, cost me like 800 new. then i bought a house in the boonies where the County roads are all 55mph... my moped has 56 miles on it and with variator sliders, it runs 45mph :banana: nowadays, i just ride it to the mailbox it's for sale. I need a 150cc to ride to town Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadberry Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) Man, Am I the only one that thinks that old blue subaru looks waaay better than that green GT..? that poor lil mustang... cheers gadberry Edited March 1, 2011 by gadberry oops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skysm182 Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 Man, Am I the only one that thinks that old blue subaru looks waaay better than that green GT..? that poor lil mustang... cheers gadberry lol, the loyale doesn't look the same now as it does in the picture (that was the photo the previous owner had when the ad was on ksl and he didn't sell me the roof rack or the front fog lights). for updated pics see my thread in the meet and greet section http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=120712 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviBrutal Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I also only get around $230MPG in my 87 GL-10 but I did a lot of routine maintenance so hopefully I get better and I try to stay out of boost. Also where did you get those wheels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skysm182 Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 I also only get around $230MPG in my 87 GL-10 but I did a lot of routine maintenance so hopefully I get better and I try to stay out of boost. Also where did you get those wheels? They were already on the car when I bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviBrutal Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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