2000 Forester Ltd Auto 2.0L, Fuel Economy Questions:

[Adam]

Hi All,

I have just bought a 2000 Forester Ltd Auto Tranny, with about 74 000 km.
Just got a few questions that I need help with.

1) 60 litre tank. Correct? Currently getting to empty on the fuel gauge
after about 40 litres of fuel. I know this cause that's all the fuel I can
put back in. The fuel light comes on, and stays on, but I drive about
another 40 KM. My question is how far past empty can you drive it before
becoming worried? When there is 5 or 10 litres left in the tank?

2) With the 40 odd litres of fuel I'm getting about 320 - 340 km (about
19ml/gallon). Mostly City/Suburb driving. Not highway. Is this right or is
the car in desperate need of a tune up?

3) How far can you get with a tank of fuel and how much can you fill it up
with after?

Thanks in advance.
Adam

 

[Dominic Richens]

1) 60 litre tank. Correct? Currently getting to empty on the fuel
gauge after about 40 litres of fuel. I know this cause that's all the
fuel I can put back in. The fuel light comes on, and stays on, but I
drive about another 40 KM. My question is how far past empty can you
drive it before becoming worried? When there is 5 or 10 litres left
in the tank?

Same as my 95 Legacy, only the fuel light doesn't come on until there's
about ~15 litres of fuel in the tank. As far as worrying, the only thing I
worry about is gunk that has built up in the bottom of the tank over the
years getting into the engine.

2) With the 40 odd litres of fuel I'm getting about 320 - 340 km
(about 19ml/gallon). Mostly City/Suburb driving. Not highway. Is this
right or is the car in desperate need of a tune up?

That's about right. Depends on driving style too. Stomping on the gas when
the light goes green is not good, especially with that heavy AWD transaxel.

Don't think there is really anything to "tune up" anymore. The ECU will
keep everything running optimally, and if it can't (e.g. dead O2 sensor),
the CEL will come on.

3) How far can you get with a tank of fuel and how much can you fill
it up with after?

So the funny thing about Subarus, I find is that the city economy is pretty
poor, but the highway economy is great. I can typically get from Ottawa to
Oakville (~500km) on about 35 l of fuel (~7l/100km needle between empty and
1/4 when I get there) if I keep in under 120km/h.

When driving to my mother's (250km round trip on a road posted as 80km/h
where everyone does 100km/h) I get 6.5l/100km (~35miles/USgl)

 

[Rocketman]

Adam

I bought a '94 Legacy Turbo last June. I was getting about 24mpg (Imperial
gallon) and was not happy with that. My temperature gauge was always toward
the cool side, but I didn't think too much about it because the gas gauge
shows empty when there are 20 litres of fuel left.

About a month ago I took an evening trip through the mountains and wasn't
getting any heat, so I knew I had a problem. Changed the thermostat (stuck
WIDE open) and now I have heat and 33 mpg. Car runs a lot better too. Have
to learn not to assume that the gauge is wrong I guess.

vern....