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Old 01-25-2011, 11:17 PM   #1
stuffedcabbage
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Default New Impreza owner, low mpg?

I just bought a 06 Impreza wagon about 3 weeks ago. Its awesome, and I love it. I am only getting 21-22 mpg. I have filled it about five times, and that has been the average every time. Its a manual and it has snow tires. My question is, is that normal or should I be concerned?
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Old 01-25-2011, 11:37 PM   #2
neverrain
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Damn.. I would love to get 21-22 in my car.

According to this site - http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/21772.shtml - (Google search took all of 5 seconds), you are seeing pretty good economy.
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Old 01-26-2011, 12:50 AM   #3
nevin95 LSi
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There are a few easy steps you can take to make sure you're getting the best mileage that you can out of your car.

Check the air pressure in your tires. Sometimes people run less air in snow tires when they can run the same amount as before just the same. Typically, a tire for our size of vehicle will take up to 44psi. I work at a tire shop, and I see under-inflated tires all the time. Sure, you don't NEED to run them that high, but the only thing you'll sacrifice is a bit of ride quality. And the only reason you'd know NOW is because I just mentioned that! Honestly, if I aired up 95% of the tires on this forum, people would not know! Airing them up makes less rolling resistance, which means your car will need less power to move!

So, that's the first thing. Check the air in your tires.

The second thing is more general and covers more areas, but it all goes together. Engine maintenance! Give your car a tuneup! Spark plugs, check your air filter, replace your fuel filter, check all of your vacuum lines to make sure none are cracked, check your PCV valve(s) to see they're not clogged. Just give it a general "once over."

Next, check all of your fluid levels, and possibly consider swapping to synthetic lubricants if you're not already running them. (ATF, gearoil, etc... as applicable) They can typically lower the friction of rotating parts, and therefore use less energy to turn, which means you need less energy to move!

And last but certainly not least is "tighten the nut behind the wheel." A common expression which basically just means that you should double check your own skills, habits, etc... and if you can improve your driving technique, then do! Why keep your foot on the gas if you're coming up to a stoplight in 1/4 mile? Do you need to be the first off the line at every light? Simple questions to ask yourself which could help you out.


And please don't think that I'm scolding you or anything. I have no idea how you drive, how good of maintenance your car has seen, or anything like that! These are honestly some things that some people will never think of, and can be of some real benefit!

If even one of these ideas was helpful to you, then my response was a success!

p.s. On the highway, I can get 30mpg with my 140k mile 3500 lb. automatic transmission equipped '95 SVX. Alot of it really IS how you drive the car.

Last edited by nevin95 LSi; 01-26-2011 at 12:55 AM.
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Old 01-26-2011, 09:30 AM   #4
thewritingwriter
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HAHA must be nice to get 20+ MPGs, my 06 WRX is lucky to get around 17-18 around town. But that is better than my old Dodge Ram which averaged about 6-7 (on the highway).
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Old 01-26-2011, 09:35 AM   #5
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There is nothing wrong with that mileage in winter from the winter blended gas.
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Old 01-26-2011, 11:57 AM   #6
gregoriousd
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Agreed- 20ish mpg isn't so bad. What edmunds says when you're researching vs the real world is always different. Where do you reside Mr. Cabbage? Snow tires can definitely drag your efficiency down. Run down your street with your winter boots on, that's how your car feels. Keep on the maintenance though, treat your car right and it'll return the favor.
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Old 01-26-2011, 01:22 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nevin95 LSi View Post
Typically, a tire for our size of vehicle will take up to 44psi. I work at a tire shop, and I see under-inflated tires all the time. Sure, you don't NEED to run them that high, but the only thing you'll sacrifice is a bit of ride quality.
Um... What? No. Just no. You work at a tire shop and you are giving out this information? Where's the facepalm button?

Lets take a look at what happens when you add more air than recommended to your tire. The pressure recommended is set in such a manner that throughout the operating range you will have maximum tread contact with the road when driving this. Inflating the tire to its max PSI will cause the center of the tire to bulge farther than the edges, thus wearing your tires significantly faster AND throwing in the added "benefit" of reduced traction.

This is an awful idea. Underinflated tires are terrible as well, but keep it at the factory recommended pressure.
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Old 01-26-2011, 02:01 PM   #8
NeoUtahImpreza
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I have a 06 Impreza Wagon as well, been averaging 26-28 mpg...used to get around 30 with a 24 mile free way commute. Now its cut in half. I have over 33K miles.
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Old 01-26-2011, 02:01 PM   #9
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max pressure is a terrible idea. not safe at all.
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Old 01-26-2011, 08:30 PM   #10
Americanrebel21
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Do Not over inflate your tires as that guy recommended. Hes very wrong and probably works at a tire shop that does shabby work as most do. Go by what your vehicle recommends for tire pressure.
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Old 01-26-2011, 08:42 PM   #11
stuffedcabbage
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Thanks for all the feedback. I live in Boston, but I do mostly highway driving. Its cold as hell and there is tons of snow so I am sure that affects the mpg. I posted just to see what other people with the same car were getting. Its not a wrx, its just a plain ol impreza wagon.
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Old 01-26-2011, 11:15 PM   #12
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My 07 Impreza 5 speed gets about the same, I wouldn't worry about it.
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Old 01-27-2011, 12:14 AM   #13
nevin95 LSi
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Regardless of what the car is reported to get, that still just seems low.

For such a small car with a relatively frugal engine, it just seems like it would be better!
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Old 01-27-2011, 12:19 AM   #14
nevin95 LSi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Americanrebel21 View Post
Do Not over inflate your tires as that guy recommended. Hes very wrong and probably works at a tire shop that does shabby work as most do. Go by what your vehicle recommends for tire pressure.
Wow, thanks for judging me. That makes me feel awesome.

And I take pride in taking care of other's vehicles because they do not know how to themselves. Being trusted by someone else to give my opinions on matters that I am PAID to know about is not something I take lightly. People's personal safety very literally depends on the work I do, and I do not give out advice that I would not take myself. So please, don't jump all over me.
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Old 01-27-2011, 06:08 AM   #15
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That sounds pretty bad. Do you drive balls to the wall all the time? I generally average 23 hw 19 city though the last 3 weeks I'm getting 27 ( ticket / court supervision *not speeding*.... so no boost). The low 20 range still had a lot if spirited driving. Are you using 93 octane?
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Old 01-27-2011, 06:12 AM   #16
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I should also add that before this october... I had an 08 OBS and got mid 20s city and around 30 highway. Turbo = more hp = less mpg. Your non turbo should be higher.
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Old 01-27-2011, 08:10 AM   #17
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20mpg ha! I wish I could get that coasting down a hill in neutral! I average around 15-18mpg
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Old 01-27-2011, 09:12 AM   #18
BTomp6754
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I am also getting around 21-22 per tank in southern NH. Most of my driving is highway from the seacost (portsmouth area) to manchester.

On a side note about the tires...
The crazy tire shop man isnt super far off, I agree 44 is def high however according to the chart in the owners manual 40psi is the adjusted cold weather temperature. I had mine at 32/33 but the damn TPMS light kept coming on due to the cold weather so i had to add more air...im currently around 36psi with no issues...
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Old 01-27-2011, 10:10 AM   #19
CarterMarkham
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I have winter tires on but I never checked the. Pressure when I put them on (no tpms in these wheels) I was sliding all over the place. I drove 1/4 of a mile to the gas station, set the digital gauge to 39psi and now it handles a lot better. (they were all at ~30psi before)
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Old 01-27-2011, 11:22 AM   #20
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for your car 20-21 mpg ain't bad but it ain't great either, perhaps a tune up is in order. My kid has an 08' impreza 2.5i and he is knocking down 25-26 on the highway. Me, I would love to see 21 but alas a big turbo, extensive mods and a heavy foot limit me to around 17.
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Old 01-27-2011, 11:35 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nevin95 LSi View Post
Wow, thanks for judging me. That makes me feel awesome.

And I take pride in taking care of other's vehicles because they do not know how to themselves. Being trusted by someone else to give my opinions on matters that I am PAID to know about is not something I take lightly. People's personal safety very literally depends on the work I do, and I do not give out advice that I would not take myself. So please, don't jump all over me.
If you are advising to over inflate tires past factory / tire recommended pressures, then you are not doing anyone any service, you are endangering them and costing them money because they will need to buy tires sooner.

Instead of getting all huffy and defensive, learn from your mistakes and move forward. Honestly from your suggestion it appears you know very little about how tires work, though you may know how to put them on a rim for someone.

My .02 cents
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Old 01-27-2011, 11:49 AM   #22
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my wrx got 17-18..... the boxer motor is not fantastic for gas mileage

you are getting way better mileage than you should be, and if you wanted a good gas mileage car you bought the wrong car
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Old 01-27-2011, 02:06 PM   #23
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Change the way you drie. I get 23 in my 11 WRX and my mom has no problem getting 27 in her '08 Impreza. These are the averages across highway and city driving. 21 in a regular Impreza sounds low to me.
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Old 01-27-2011, 09:33 PM   #24
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Regarding tire pressure: you guys throwing the stones need to do your research. Does a single one of you track your car? At the track, I run over 40psi. You know why? Because it increases steering response and stability and has a negligible affect on the contact patch size. Modern tires are stiff enough that an extra few PSI isn't going to cause the "bubble effect". And modern tires can also hand upwards of 50psi, running in the 40's isn't going to cause issues. You know what downsides there are to high tire pressure? Ride quality and a decreased ability to isolate road irregularities. And if you hit the nastiest of nasty potholes, you're a little more likely to get a flat. That's it.

This forum is full of immature brats who just look for the opportunity to jump down someone's throat and try to make them look like an idiot. The only thing is, most people don't know WTF they're talking about. Everyone bitching about high tire pressure falls into that category.
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Old 01-27-2011, 09:51 PM   #25
nevin95 LSi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toconn View Post
Regarding tire pressure: you guys throwing the stones need to do your research. Does a single one of you track your car? At the track, I run over 40psi. You know why? Because it increases steering response and stability and has a negligible affect on the contact patch size. Modern tires are stiff enough that an extra few PSI isn't going to cause the "bubble effect". And modern tires can also hand upwards of 50psi, running in the 40's isn't going to cause issues. You know what downsides there are to high tire pressure? Ride quality and a decreased ability to isolate road irregularities. And if you hit the nastiest of nasty potholes, you're a little more likely to get a flat. That's it.

This forum is full of immature brats who just look for the opportunity to jump down someone's throat and try to make them look like an idiot. The only thing is, most people don't know WTF they're talking about. Everyone bitching about high tire pressure falls into that category.
Thank you. *internet highfive*
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