Mileage comparison EJ18 vs. EJ22

[ferox]

I am going to be purchasing my first new gen here soon in the form of an Impreza AT. Ultimately I am going to pass this along to my brother who commutes ~120 miles a day. I have been looking for a 1.8L, but in my research it seems that maybe the 1.8 doesn't get a huge mileage benefit over the 2.2L if driven mellow. My brother drives like a grandma. In fact my 93 year old grandma would probably pass him on the highway if she were still allowed to drive.

 

My bro is way into fuel mileage, so I know he's going to want the best possible, but if it's a matter of a couple mpg's then the 2.2 may be the better route. They seem to be more plentiful and obviously more displacement pushing the same car will be easier on the engine.

 

Anyone have comparative experience [with fuel efficiency] between the 2 engines they would like to share? If this is a dead horse a link would be great. I am having a hard time finding an effective search query.

Edited February 24, 2012 by ferox
Clarity

[idosubaru]

i think it's more driving and vehicle dependent than motor dependent.

 

if he's doing most driving in flat land i say the EJ18 is fine. if he's got steep grades, mountains, and hills to deal with then might want to reconsider. my EJ18 swapped legacy does fine in flatland, unfortunately i don't live where it's flat but i've driven all over the country with it, including the south and midwest where it is.

 

the EJ18's *can* get well into the 30's easier than an EJ22.

 

with EJ18 though you're also limited to a smaller car, fewer options, etc. has to be an impreza unless you swap like i did.

 

i swapped an EJ18 in my legacy and in flat land it does fine - i can get 32 mpg and that's with an automatic. it's not bad to drive either, i don't mind it one bit. i've put 60,000+ miles on it now with multiple thousands of mile road trips. it does fine when it's flat. i've never seen 30 in an auto EJ22 before. but - in the mountains where i live it gets killed and it's more like 25 on the freeway and downshifts all the time on the steep grades, it's not enough power. though it does a lot better if it's just me and not a couple people in the car. that was a legacy LSi too - it's a heavy car.

 

so might depend what car (how much it weighs) and what kind of driving he's doing - lots of mountain grades?

[ferox]

so might depend what car (how much it weighs) and what kind of driving he's doing - lots of mountain grades?

 

Thanks Gary. He's got an almost totally flat commute. For locals, he works in NW Portland and lives in Salem. He's a bachelor, and drives a '91 Dodge Dynasty aka "The Nasty" which pretty guarantees that he will remain single in the foreseeable future , so I think the Impreza would be a perfect car for him, and he wants an automatic with cruise.

 

It sounds like from what you are saying that the 1.8 might get around 5 mpg +/- more than the 2.2 if driven mellow on flat land, which is definitely the situation. I will try to find one.

 

Was '97 or '98 the last year of the 1.8s in the US? One problem I am finding is that people tend not to mention 1.8L engines in their for sale ads.

[johnceggleston]

imprezas 93 - 94 were all ej18s. starting in 95 the ej22 was available.

and outback sports, OBS, were all ej22s, so avoid them.

 

check out http://www.cars101.com/subaru_archives.html

for more detailed info.

 

and of course if it has not been said, FWD is more economical than AWD.

 

EDIT: for 1995

Manual transmission available with 1.8L engines. The only 1.8L with auto. trans was on the base Impreza model

Automatic transmission available only with the 2.2 L engines. There were no 2.2L with manual. trans.

Edited February 25, 2012 by johnceggleston

[ferox]

Thanks John,

 

Lot's of information on that link. Looks like '97 was the last year of the 1.8L. Seems like the challenge may be finding a 1.8L AWD wagon model with auto and cruise. It makes it a lot easier knowing the '93-'94 MYs are all 1.8s.

 

I am definitely only interested in AWD. Since my bro drives fuel truck and doesn't have seniority at the shop he works at, he's expected to make it to work regardless of the weather.

[CoupedUpSubie]

I can drive my 1.8 with a 5speed pretty hard and never get below 27 mpg. Thats driving up and down the Maine coast. For those who don't know it has lots of hills. It is a coupe with FWD so that helps. I know people who say they get 30 mpg with a 2.2 and 5 speed. The auto's seem to get worse mpg. If he really wants to get all he can then a manual is what he should get.

[ferox]

If he really wants to get all he can then a manual is what he should get.

 

Yeah even though he really likes the high miles per gallon it's kind of incidental to his driving style. After driving truck all day I think he likes to not have to shift gears on his commute. I hear what your saying, but knowing him he would probably value the automatic transmission over a little better fuel efficiency. He gets crazy mileage out of anything he drives without even trying. I'm not a super agro driver, but I couldn't drive like him. He's the kind of driver you what behind the wheel of a fuel truck though.

[idosubaru]

Thanks Gary. He's got an almost totally flat commute.

EJ18 sounds perfect.

 

I'm not a super agro driver, but I couldn't drive like him. He's the kind of driver you what behind the wheel of a fuel truck though.

did i mention EJ18 sounds perfect?

 

1997 i believe was technically the last year for the EJ18 - but they are hard to find particularly later models.

 

ebay, craigslist, autotrader allow you to search wide areas if he's up for traveling for one, i've done that before and it helps to get the vehicle you want.

 

another option is to find an impreza, like an OBS or sedan with EJ22 and swap an EJ18 into it. it's a plug and play swap. you bolt the EJ22 intake manifold on top of the EJ18 and you're done. you would widen your vehicle selections. might even get a cheap vehicle if you find one with a blown motor. or sell the EJ22 to recoup costs. EJ18 demand is almost zero so they're cheap and easy to find. i got mine with 80,000 miles and a 6 month warrant for $150 and had a friend offer me one too, but for $150 it was simpler to get the local one.

[Gloyale]

oops

[Gloyale]

My 86 wagon:

 

EJ22, 5MT 4.11 AWD, 2" lift with 195/65/15 tires = about 21-25 MPG (I drive hard)

 

My 84 Wagon:

 

EJ18, 5MT 3.9 D/R, 6" lift with 235/75/15 tires = about 22-26 MPG

 

 

So....in my case both engines get about the same mileage.

 

But the EJ18 engine is pushing WAAAY bigger tires and more wind resistance at highway speeds.

 

I can only assume if the EJ18 was compared in the same car as the EJ22, the difference would be about 5mpg. speculation only :wink:

[ferox]

if he's up for traveling for one, i've done that before and it helps to get the vehicle you want.

 

Actually this plan is all mine. I am going to buy one and drive it for a while so I can have adequate time to track down any issues and go through some of the deeper maintenance items before handing it over. I have spoken with him about this particular Impreza set-up so I know he is definitely interested, he just works a lot and doesn't know cars like I do. I don't mind traveling for one, but I live in Portland Oregon so these come up all the time. Now that I know which model years I am looking for that will make things a lot easier.

 

another option is to find an impreza, like an OBS or sedan with EJ22 and swap an EJ18 into it. it's a plug and play swap. you bolt the EJ22 intake manifold on top of the EJ18 and you're done.

 

I did not realize it was that direct of a swap. Does that mean the ECMs are interchangeable between the 1.8 and 2.2 for '93-'97?

[ferox]

I can only assume if the EJ18 was compared in the same car as the EJ22, the difference would be about 5mpg. speculation only :wink:

 

Yeah and I think it's safe to say that my bro's driving would represent "ideal" conditions for comparison.

[bhazard]

Impossible to tell a direct difference in MPG, but .4L less may be good for a couple mpg. Too many variables.

 

If hes looking for mpg, and it has to be subaru, and has to be awd, why an auto?

 

Ive managed 34mpg on a 55mph highway trip according to my ultragauge, but I'm sure I could have done better with a 5 speed. An EJ18, 5 speed fwd could probably manage 40mpg if driven right. Especially in a coupe.

[ferox]

Covered on page 1

 

If hes looking for mpg, and it has to be subaru, and has to be awd, why an auto?

 

Yeah even though he really likes the high miles per gallon it's kind of incidental to his driving style. After driving truck all day I think he likes to not have to shift gears on his commute. I hear what your saying, but knowing him he would probably value the automatic transmission over a little better fuel efficiency. He gets crazy mileage out of anything he drives without even trying. I'm not a super agro driver, but I couldn't drive like him. He's the kind of driver you what behind the wheel of a fuel truck though.

 

Ive managed 34mpg on a 55mph highway trip according to my ultragauge, but I'm sure I could have done better with a 5 speed. An EJ18, 5 speed fwd could probably manage 40mpg if driven right. Especially in a coupe.

 

I am definitely only interested in AWD. Since my bro drives fuel truck and doesn't have seniority at the shop he works at, he's expected to make it to work regardless of the weather.

 

I will also add that he often has to leave for work around 4 am so if it freezes overnight he will be driving on it.