ditzaroo

I'm trying to understand why the '18 crosstrek equipped with a CVT gets 3MPG more than the same model equipped with a manual transmission. I thought it was natural variability in driving patterns with a manual transmission. But just the other day I came across a post on reddit saying that the camshafts in that model are ground specially for the CVT shifting in mind. The engine runs smoother at consistently lower RPM and that's what makes the CVT design get better mileage than the manual. Also, there is less oil blow-by since downshift breaking is minimized with the CVT (I also heard that the rings are thinner to reduce friction and increase mileage). The thing is, I haven't heard anything about this anywhere else. Can someone on this forum confirm or deny this?