Higher Octane = higher MPG? 95 Legacy 2.2

[Jaimesbeam]

I know this controversy has been beat to death in the past,

but I can't help it....

 

I have a 1995 Subaru Legacy 2.2 with 111K miles. I recently drove from

Franklin ME to Ashaway RI for Christmas with a midgrade full tank of gas.

Well actually $40 of gas, going from the low gas warning light on, the gas

warning came on a few miles short of Ashaway. It's a trip of 353 Miles.

This is with 4 passengers, Christmas presents, a 34 lb organic turkey, and

two cartop carriers full of heavy untanned sheepskins, I'd say 150 lbs.

 

Coming back with 3 passengers, no turkey, few presents, the sheepskins

replaced with 18 cases of empty wine bottles. Put $40 low grade gas into

an empty tank... And the gas warning light comes on at 210 miles at

Kennebunkport ME. This time there was a slight detour to Westport MA

to pick up the wine bottles, and we went through Boston instead of around

it, but the traffic wasn't bad, and it's included in the mileage.

 

Both days were nice warm sunny winter days, no hurricane tail/head wind.

Just had the oil changed; the Cat Oxygen sensor seems to be missing on the

car. I'll have to recheck the receipts to be sure, but both fill-ups were about

12 gallons. Mid-grade in ME is $3.33; low-grade in RI is also around $3.33.

(I saw low-grade in PA for $3.11!!!) Milage is according to Google Maps.

 

It's a real head-scratcher for me! I always though maybe higher octane

might get you better gas milage, and the $.10 price difference is insignificant

with the high base price of gas! Thank God it's come down from $4/gallon!

 

What to you think? I think it's worth more research!

 

Jim.

[johnceggleston]

i think do the mid grade for a month and keep records, then compare to a month of regular.

 

i don't think one tank of mid-grade is a large enough sample.