Is this bad mileage?

[lesstutrey]

I've been driving my 02 OBW, H6 VDC, for almost 2 years now. In that time, the best mileage i ever got was 23mpg. I did a test with about 5-6 tanks of each grade and none made a difference in mileage, so i still fill it with 93, even though it apparently doesn't need me too since it doesn't effect the mileage at all. I lifted it 2" and that also did not effect mileage.

 

I just think that this is pretty horrible mileage. I read other threads and they seem to be reporting minimum of 22mpg with h6's. I guess the EPA has 20mpg listed as the city mileage, which is pretty much the driving i do. I use fuel cleaner every few thousand miles, keep my tires at proper pressure and all that jazz, so just wondering if it's bad mileage, and if so what might cause it.

[nipper]

When in doubt, start with a tune-up. Plugs, filters, PCV Valve and see what happens. Plugs can have a dramatic effect. Cruising speed will affect gas mileage. Over 70 the MPG starts to dump, as with all cars.

 

How many miles on the car?

 

You are supposed to get 16/24 so you really are not that far off. Check tire pressures too.

[bheinen74]

try new air filter, they need replaced every 8k around here (bugs/dust/pollen/tree spinners/corn shaft/etc)

[nipper]

I've been driving my 02 OBW, H6 VDC, for almost 2 years now. In that time, the best mileage i ever got was 23mpg. I did a test with about 5-6 tanks of each grade and none made a difference in mileage, so i still fill it with 93, even though it apparently doesn't need me too since it doesn't effect the mileage at all. I lifted it 2" and that also did not effect mileage.

 

I just think that this is pretty horrible mileage. I read other threads and they seem to be reporting minimum of 22mpg with h6's. I guess the EPA has 20mpg listed as the city mileage, which is pretty much the driving i do. I use fuel cleaner every few thousand miles, keep my tires at proper pressure and all that jazz, so just wondering if it's bad mileage, and if so what might cause it.

 

EPA is 17/24 20 combined. You are getting the numbers you are supposed to. These are big heavy cars and they are best in class MPG, thats in class meaning AWD car.

[idosubaru]

city mileage, which is pretty much the driving i do.

that's the problem. like nip said, unfortunately that sounds about right. but if it's mostly city driving you're probably not putting many miles on either, hopefully?

 

in my 02 H6 (got an 03 H6 sedan too) i can get 26...even a little better on a good day, driving back roads at 60mph on a frequent family visit we do. but i can't touch that mileage anywhere else. start city daily driving or 70-80mph and mileage drops very quickly. i'll get 23 or worse on highway trips if we're doing 80 sometimes.

 

seems like most subaru 6 cylinders, *can* get good gas mileage (for being 6 cylinder and 4WD), but they drop quicker than a 4 as soon as you deviate from the sweet spot. start traveling higher speeds (70+ mpg) or in town driving and they drop quicker than 4 cylinders, at least for me they have. the 80's era XT6's and 90's SVX's can get 30 mpg...even close to that in the auto's.

 

the newer H6's seem to do much worse at 70-80 than the older models - but makes sense, they sit higher, weigh more, worse aerodynamics, and have roof racks...and they're all automatics. hardly have a positive going for them in the mileage department.

 

when people come from big SUV's and trucks to subaru's they say "WOW, a nice 6 cylider, 4 wheel drive, decent ground clearance, automatic, roof racks" and you're getting 23 mpg, man that's awesome!"

 

when people come from a FWD commuter to Subaru's they say "wow, i got 30's in my 6 cylinder hyundai."

 

you have one of the worst gas mileage subaru models ever made. it's just not really in the cards for that model. i was thinking about this recently - i have a 99 SUS and an 03 H6 outback Sedan - would be nice to have the SUS gas mileage but the OB sedan is a sweet ride.

Edited August 1, 2011 by grossgary

[lesstutrey]

Yeah, it's only got 84k miles. Just wanted to see if it was bad or average. My old Acura legend, 3.2 V6 FWD got worse mileage so i'm not really that concerned. Especially with the 10" clearance after the lift. I dunno if it's true but primitive told me the front skid plate helps mileage, and it makes sense since there is less crap for air to catch on the bottom. I plan on getting some at some point, so i guess i'll see if that helps. However i get this feeling if i lift it more, which i honestly don't plan on, but might go to 4" lift, that the primitive plates won't fit right as i drop the subframe. But honestly i think i'll get something more serious for off-roading, like a wrangler, pathfinder, 4runner, international scout, 70's era GM truck. Something with a frame and just plain shocks, with better attack and departure angles and an engine i can play with.

 

So i'm getting decent mileage no matter what fuel grade i'm running, does it really make sense to keep putting premium in? I know it's only recommended, not required, and i did not notice performance differences. Has anyone actually used a knock sensor on an H6 and found out if their car was knocking using lower grade gases and notice engine retardation from the VVT, cause i never noticed engine retardation running with 85, 89, 87, 90. I'm probably gonna get conflicting answers to this octane question.

[idosubaru]

never noticed a difference in mine, i run 87 almost exclusively.

[nipper]

Yeah, it's only got 84k miles. Just wanted to see if it was bad or average. My old Acura legend, 3.2 V6 FWD got worse mileage so i'm not really that concerned. Especially with the 10" clearance after the lift. I dunno if it's true but primitive told me the front skid plate helps mileage, and it makes sense since there is less crap for air to catch on the bottom. I plan on getting some at some point, so i guess i'll see if that helps. However i get this feeling if i lift it more, which i honestly don't plan on, but might go to 4" lift, that the primitive plates won't fit right as i drop the subframe. But honestly i think i'll get something more serious for off-roading, like a wrangler, pathfinder, 4runner, international scout, 70's era GM truck. Something with a frame and just plain shocks, with better attack and departure angles and an engine i can play with.

 

So i'm getting decent mileage no matter what fuel grade i'm running, does it really make sense to keep putting premium in? I know it's only recommended, not required, and i did not notice performance differences. Has anyone actually used a knock sensor on an H6 and found out if their car was knocking using lower grade gases and notice engine retardation from the VVT, cause i never noticed engine retardation running with 85, 89, 87, 90. I'm probably gonna get conflicting answers to this octane question.

 

Premium is recomended not required. If the car runs fine on regular you can use it. The only time I would recomend premium is if you are towing a trailer.

[lesstutrey]

Thanks for the info. yeah, 4400lbs ain't a light car by any means. Got a question for those of you with a trailer hitch.. Since the hitch bolts to the tow-recovery point in the rear, what is the best method of getting pulled out/pulling someone out? I got d-shackles (6 1/2 ton, 4 1/2 ton, 3 ton), a 25' chain with hooks on each end, and a couple snatch straps of varying lengths, as well as a tree saver.

 

And for the front end, there is nothing that really fits into the tow eye except a hooked tow rope. So i bought some quick link chain pieces rated for 5000lbs, they hook into the eye nice and easy and a snatch strap loops right in. However the 5000lbs WLL seems a bit weak, and a decent way to send a piece of metal into lethal flight speed if it breaks. If i used two of the quick links, that's gonna not give me 10000lbs, but i imagine it would increase the load it could take, or am i crazy in that thinking? Have any of you had to actually use that front eye, and if so, how did you go about it? Those 130$ tow hooks subxtreme makes seem rather tempting with the annoying recovery ability on the front end, also thought about trying those 5 ton recovery hooks that bolt on.. dunno if they fit the hole spacing though. Could probably have one of the various machine shops make me a pair. Also thought of possibly bolting those 5 ton hooks on to the hitch.. i dunno, what do you guys think?

Edited August 3, 2011 by lesstutrey