Problem with trip Computer

A

adkensmith

I've just bought a new 2006 Outback 2.5 i Limited and seem to be having
a problem with the trip computer. When I have it on the setting that is
supposed to display the current miles per gallon the reading fluctuates
wildly. For example, it will jump from 13mpg to 29mpg to 70mpg to 99mpg
to 50mpg back to 10mpg etc. I would expect it to fluctuate a bit based
on my driving style but not this much. Furthermore, I know I'm not
getting 99 mpg.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Was it an easy fix? What do
you think could be going on?

Any advice is appreciated.
 
I've just bought a new 2006 Outback 2.5 i Limited and seem to be having
a problem with the trip computer. When I have it on the setting that is
supposed to display the current miles per gallon the reading fluctuates
wildly. For example, it will jump from 13mpg to 29mpg to 70mpg to 99mpg
to 50mpg back to 10mpg etc. I would expect it to fluctuate a bit based
on my driving style but not this much. Furthermore, I know I'm not
getting 99 mpg.

I'm not familiar with the Subaru version, but I've seen this behaviour
in other cars. The reading is instantaneous fuel mileage, not averaged?
If so, you can see such a variation. For instance, when you are coasting
with the throttle closed, the mileage will be very high, since you are
not using any fuel, and when you are at full throttle, it will be very low.

Not clear to me from your message if it's working okay or not. If it
varies this much when you are simply cruising steadily on a flat road,
no throttle changes, then indeed you have a warranty problem.

Larry Van Wormer
 
They do tend to jump around quite a bit on the "instant" mileage setting. A
lot depends on your throttle application, the vehicle load, whether the
vehicle is travelling up or downhill etc.

If you go one step further on the computer you should get an overall
consumption figure which on my 05 OBW I have found to be most reliable.

Good luck.
 
I've just bought a new 2006 Outback 2.5 i Limited and seem to be having
a problem with the trip computer. When I have it on the setting that is
supposed to display the current miles per gallon the reading fluctuates
wildly. For example, it will jump from 13mpg to 29mpg to 70mpg to 99mpg
to 50mpg back to 10mpg etc. I would expect it to fluctuate a bit based
on my driving style but not this much. Furthermore, I know I'm not
getting 99 mpg.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

Current consumption reading is just that - it's what the fuel flow is
at that instant. It just shows how much fuel you can waste tromping
rapidly on the gas pedal.

Instead, I find it useful to keep the average consumption showing and
reset one of the odometers each time I fill up.
 
I've just bought a new 2006 Outback 2.5 i Limited and seem to be having
a problem with the trip computer. When I have it on the setting that is
supposed to display the current miles per gallon the reading fluctuates
wildly. For example, it will jump from 13mpg to 29mpg to 70mpg to 99mpg
to 50mpg back to 10mpg etc. I would expect it to fluctuate a bit based
on my driving style but not this much. Furthermore, I know I'm not
getting 99 mpg.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Was it an easy fix? What do
you think could be going on?

Any advice is appreciated.
I generally use this setting if I am going up grades and want to see how
much difference the throttle makes with grades generally since it is an
instantaneous readout. The average consumption which is the next setting
up, is the one you should use.

Ron

--
And it really doesn't matter if
I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong.

Lennon & McCartney
 
My 2005 Subaru has identical behavior. I think current fuel usage stat is
useless, I only use average, which seems to be very accurate
 

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