I am getting around 22 mpg using cheap gas on flat highway. 20 if a/c is on. I thought it would get better mileage.

You should be able to pull almost 30 on the highway if it's an auto. We could get 29.5mpg with 3 people and their gear in our 1998 cruising cross country at 75mph.

 

This was a 98 Outback wagon with the DOHC 2.5l and 4eat. Middle of summer doing crosscountry trips across the midwest.

Edited August 17, 201213 yr by WoodsWagon

Fuel filter and spark plugs (iridium/platinum NGK/Denso) seem to make the biggest difference.

I get better gas milage then that and it's kinda hilly here the way I go... with a mix of Highway/city I avg about 26 MPG with the AC on. The worst was 16 but that's when I did not have 5th gear and a few other stuff I had to tackle.

My 97 GT auto wagon, with a 2.2 transplant, gets a consistant 21-22 around town.

 

Did a fuel filter, subaru plugs+wires, checked brakes for drag etc. did not get much mprovement, but I have read others having improvements in mileage.

 

The sons Legacy 4dr sedan, 2.2 auto consistantly gets 25 around town, 28-29 on the highway.

 

Go figure.

I can't say how much but I had a improvement in gas mileage when I got new plug wires.. #3 was misfiring because the wire inside broke off so it would hesitate a lot.. What sucked was you know the rubber part around the tip of the plug wires? It got left in the motor somehow and was a pain in the rump roast to get out.. I had to use a coat hanger with a sharp point to stick it and pull it out.

 

I've got a 500 mile trip next month curious to see what I can get on a tank of gas.. I can do 310 here on a tank which is not bad.. better then my other Legacy.

be sure to "throttle" your engine. I've seen 30MPG in my little Impy and about 38 out of my old GL wagon. I drove down to Trinidad on monday, and Cheyenne on tuesday.. ~26-30MPG round trip.. I throttle it at 70mph on cruse and kick it off on hills so it doesnt down-shift going up those hills - thats where you really kill your hwy miles. keeping the engine speed at around 2500 - 3k.. will help keep your mpg up.. any higher and you are putting more engine energy to keep the speed up there. 70mph is about what i cruse at..

 

sources: I hypermile!

 

 

-Justin

From my experience of owning one of these for 9 years....

 

About the best you're going to see out of the older 2.5 outbacks is 25mpg highway. If you're driving down a long stretch of flat interstate, maybe 26-27. The EPA hwy rating is 25 and that's what I get each time I do a fill-up and I do like 85% highway driving.

 

My car has NGK Laser Iridium plugs, NGK wires, NTK o2 sensors, I keep all my filters clean, and I actually even put in brand new fuel injectors. None of it has done much to improve mileage above that number. It's the nature of the beast, I guess.

and I would really like to know how anybody is getting 30mpg in these things. I have a really relaxed driving style to the point where I piss people off taking off from red lights. Maybe I need to do a full tank down I-5 and see what happens.

Last April when I went over Vail Pass and Eisenhower Tunnel in my 98 Outback and back for a total of 250 miles I got 32 mpg and that was running the speed limit with a automatic. Just about all the uphill driving is done in third gear just so that it doesn't jump back and forth from overdrive.

Edited August 18, 201213 yr by jp98

and I would really like to know how anybody is getting 30mpg in these things. I have a really relaxed driving style to the point where I piss people off taking off from red lights. Maybe I need to do a full tank down I-5 and see what happens.

 

I got about that doing 60 MPH for a 600 mile trip I got about that high.. not every many people can do 60 for 624 miles.

my wife's 2.2 swapped LSi sedan gets 21-22 no matter what I do. I think it's ecu related.

It really depends on how you throttle it. Downshifting and heavy engine working will directly effect it. Also, a good air filter, spark plugs, wires and even oil type/age make a huge difference.

 

 

 

-Justin

I know I recently replaced rotors calipers and pads on front, had originals on there and one bad caliper i think, and it's amazing the difference in mileage.

And to add.. Tire wear, Air pressure, alignment.. but thats just being nit-picky..

 

 

-Justin

20-22 around town

29-30 hwy (ac on or off except up hills/off)

use the cruise control whenever practical

Sometimes on a long trip a bit over 30...

1999 OBW 2.5L

And to add.. Tire wear, Air pressure, alignment.. but thats just being nit-picky..

 

 

-Justin

 

Not really, everything is critical to getting top mileage. Big roof rack, having a moose strapped to the roof, etc drops it fast too.

My 98 OB 223K miles gets 25 Hwy with the AC and it's hot here!

get's 27 Hwy without AC Travel 110 mi per day average speed is 70