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Is this normal (80mph top speed under AC load in the heat)


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Basically, I'm wondering if this is just normal behavior, or if I'm short on power somehow.

 

1992 Loyale wagon, 5 speed, EA82.

 

100F weather, 700# of driver/passengers/cargo

 

AC on max, blower on 4.

 

Running down the highway, I couldn't get much past 80mph - I was just running most of the trip with my foot on the floor, turning the AC down if I was going up a hill.

 

Cooler weather seems to be fine, especially with the AC off. Low power, but much better than it was.

 

Is this typical under load in the hot, or am I short on power somewhere?

 

-=Russ=-

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My wagon seems to be about the same. Its an 88 SPFI, just like your 92. Seems the hot weather really seems to drag on it. I'm of course at a higher elevation.

 

Borrow a timing light and check the ignition timing. I found I can run the wagon up to 30 degrees without any ill-effects and still use regular gas.

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My wagon seems to be about the same. Its an 88 SPFI, just like your 92. Seems the hot weather really seems to drag on it. I'm of course at a higher elevation.

 

Borrow a timing light and check the ignition timing. I found I can run the wagon up to 30 degrees without any ill-effects and still use regular gas.

 

It's around 22-24deg initial advance. Even at that advance, it seemed like I was getting pinging on 87 - no complaints, because 89 is cheaper here in Iowa. I'm actually planning to retard the timing some in an attempt to gain back fuel economy.

 

-=Russ=-

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heh, i took my gl10 up to 102 on the alligator alley.. thats a highway across the glades from lauderdale to naples, so its a loooong flat grade.. but it was no struggle to get it up there. no WINGFOOT, i mean, i was laughing at it with my little brother (we DID grow up in sports cars, sorry.) but i wasnt quite topped out on RPMS or throttle... just ran outta stones. just as well, the hiway patrol pulled me over about fifteen miles later for doing eight over.. i came up on a pod of traffic he was in the front of, and instead of react to him, i played it cool and kept my pace.. so i got a written warning. :rolleyes: but thats 102, with a 2wd 3AT, no AC, windows... i dont remember. probably up :eek: (thank god for the vent lever/knob!!) and it was in late march, so like 75 degrees out. but this AC man, she sure does suck up the HP. i just got mine working well earlier this summer and i dont believe how much it can make a difference in performance/economy :mad: ive never had an AC before tho, so i am kinda just now getting used to it.

 

just one more reason to switch to a five speed!

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It's around 22-24deg initial advance. Even at that advance, it seemed like I was getting pinging on 87 - no complaints, because 89 is cheaper here in Iowa. I'm actually planning to retard the timing some in an attempt to gain back fuel economy.

 

-=Russ=-

Yeah, I'm also living at 5500 feet here. If I'm not mistaken, Iowa is around 1000 feet. So, I'm sure that helps. Regular here is even 85 octane.

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Ok. So nothing's wrong with my car, it's just being an EA82 Subaru with AC. :D

 

Hopefully getting the cats out of the exhaust system will help some, though. I plan to replace them with a presilencer when I do the exhaust work. My '87 GL feels like it has more power, but it just comes off the y-pipe into a glasspack, then exits.

 

-=Russ=-

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