Subaru Baja MPG thread

General talk about the Subaru Baja.

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jdlmodelt
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by jdlmodelt »

filled with three tanks of 87 octane and am getting 27-28mpg on highway with average driving. NA engine and automatic transmission
Allanon93
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by Allanon93 »

Before i did anything to it I was getting 19 highway, 17 city but was on 87 ethanol 10% blend. Now on 91 octane 10% ethanol blend aftermarket exhaust and k&n air filter just did one tank so far 30 highway 24 city. OEM plugs and OEM Oil filter and OEM coil pack. 03 Subaru Baja N/A Auto
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anarchy1024
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by anarchy1024 »

Are you still getting the same improved fuel economy? I once accidentally filled with 91 instead of 87, and it felt that I got substantially better mileage. However, as I continued using 91, the fuel economy dropped back to what is was (around 22 MPG). Not at all a controlled test, but wondering what your experiences are. If it's still going well, any idea which of those changes improved the fuel economy the most?
Allanon93 wrote:Before i did anything to it I was getting 19 highway, 17 city but was on 87 ethanol 10% blend. Now on 91 octane 10% ethanol blend aftermarket exhaust and k&n air filter just did one tank so far 30 highway 24 city. OEM plugs and OEM Oil filter and OEM coil pack. 03 Subaru Baja N/A Auto
Allanon93
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by Allanon93 »

No, still getting the same have been running 91 for a couple of months now, still getting the same improved fuel economy , but lately not getting so good, head gasket is going out probably going to try replace next week or the week after. Going to school, so don't have time to do it myself. It's been getting worst now. I will let you know when I get it fixed. When I got the car, it had a head gasket leak, but it didn't use much oil. Now it's using quite a bit more so I will see. I tried the 91 10% ethanol that was the tank. Went back to.


anarchy1024 wrote:Are you still getting the same improved fuel economy? I once accidentally filled with 91 instead of 87, and it felt that I got substantially better mileage. However, as I continued using 91, the fuel economy dropped back to what is was (around 22 MPG). Not at all a controlled test, but wondering what your experiences are. If it's still going well, any idea which of those changes improved the fuel economy the most?
Allanon93 wrote:Before i did anything to it I was getting 19 highway, 17 city but was on 87 ethanol 10% blend. Now on 91 octane 10% ethanol blend aftermarket exhaust and k&n air filter just did one tank so far 30 highway 24 city. OEM plugs and OEM Oil filter and OEM coil pack. 03 Subaru Baja N/A Auto
Last edited by Allanon93 on Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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kamesama980
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by kamesama980 »

Low 20s in my mixed commute (~4 miles 60mph highway then ~4 miles in town) 24-25 on the highway.

'03 NA 5 speed, no under-tray, slightly oversize crap mud terrain tires, and none-too-easy on the skinny pedal.
-Russell
"You don't get to judge me for how I fix what you break"
03 sport 5mt
05 turbo 5mt vf39 and other STI bits, 3" turbo-back
bobjr94
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by bobjr94 »

50/50 City / highway was 19 when I my 05 turbo 5spd last month, after injector cleaning and spraying out the MAF have been getting 22-23 driving the same route. Best so far was 24 with 70% freeway, but it still may needs plugs and the O2 sensor looks original.

Also, we use to have an 05 NA 5 speed, it was usually 24 normal driving, upto 27 on long freeway trips. Not great mileage but the NA's have pretty small 5th gears, so it would often run around 3000 to 3400rpm on the freeway. The turbo seems to run about 300 less for the same speed.
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by inconel710 »

I've owned my '03 Baja for almost two weeks now. Just finished the first full tank of gas in it and got 19.4mpg. Mostly in town driving, some time on the interstate. Non-turbo, no mods, AC off, 5-spd manual, using 87 octane (10% ethanol), 142k miles.
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by mkc1962 »

Ive had my baja for 2 years now. 180k, 5 speed. Its gotten a consistent 25-27 mpg regardless how I drive it ( mostly 27). Used as a daily commuter. Cant really explain how I manage to get so much higher mpg than most, other than it stays well tuned, monitor tires often, 87 octane.
Mike
Central Alabama.

Way too many hobbies and interests to list. Anything DIY consumes 99% of my free time.


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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by Guitarshopguy »

2003 non turbo five speed sport...averaging 27 mpg with 165,000 miles on it...I baby it... :lol:
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by Airborneguy »

21mpg consistently on my 03 manual. How the heck are you guys getting more? Tires brand new, I run 87 and drive pretty tame. I have no issues I know of, runs like a top. Maybe a tune up?
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Guacamole
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by Guacamole »

Airborneguy wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:20 pm 21mpg consistently on my 03 manual. How the heck are you guys getting more? Tires brand new, I run 87 and drive pretty tame. I have no issues I know of, runs like a top. Maybe a tune up?
If you're doing exclusively city driving then that's normal. If mostly rural driving, definitely get it checked out.
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Airborneguy
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by Airborneguy »

Guacamole wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:57 pm
Airborneguy wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:20 pm 21mpg consistently on my 03 manual. How the heck are you guys getting more? Tires brand new, I run 87 and drive pretty tame. I have no issues I know of, runs like a top. Maybe a tune up?
If you're doing exclusively city driving then that's normal. If mostly rural driving, definitely get it checked out.
Mostly city for me, but even on tanks where I took long trips on the highway I’m still averaging 21.
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kamesama980
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by kamesama980 »

Airborneguy wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:48 am
Guacamole wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:57 pm
Airborneguy wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:20 pm 21mpg consistently on my 03 manual. How the heck are you guys getting more? Tires brand new, I run 87 and drive pretty tame. I have no issues I know of, runs like a top. Maybe a tune up?
If you're doing exclusively city driving then that's normal. If mostly rural driving, definitely get it checked out.
Mostly city for me, but even on tanks where I took long trips on the highway I’m still averaging 21.
good highway tires, aired up?
No roof racks, undertray intact?
alignment and brakes good?
No AC, windows up?
Ethanol content and overall gas quality too but less quantifiable or measurable.

Your tame isn't the same as mine. to get the MPG figures means shifting really short (for how heavy/underpowered the Baja is) like keeping it under 2500, preferrably under 2k. highway means 55-60 mph, not 65, 70, 80+.

I commute about 4m at 60 then drop to 35-45 for another 4mi with traffic and lights in town. moderate driving style... sometimes I baby it, sometimes I do wind it out. I get 22-23 like clockwork in my 03 manual NA. my 05 manual turbo w/ mods was about 19 in the same commute.
-Russell
"You don't get to judge me for how I fix what you break"
03 sport 5mt
05 turbo 5mt vf39 and other STI bits, 3" turbo-back
iamwhoiam
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by iamwhoiam »

I get about 23-26 in my 06 automatic.
I'm at 155K miles on it now
DocSemtex
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Re: Subaru Baja MPG thread

Post by DocSemtex »

year/engine type/ miles on car: 06BT5MT EJ257 187k
gas: E85 (73-80%EtOH)
driving style: 80% putz/ 20% in boost
mileage type: 70% city / 25% highway / 5% track(-ish)
mods of note: built block, Cobb SF, GS TMIC (LGT), GS 3-port, ID1000s, Blouch 440XT, 3” turbo-back, Tactrix, and all supporting bits & pieces. (Oh, 8.5” of rubber - ‘cause that does make a difference.)
MPG: 14-17 (total putz)/ 7-14 (living in boost)

-Doc
05BT5MT 128k sorta stock. Kinda.
06BT5MT “212k”; 8.5:1/E85/28psi; AWIC; RA1-4/LGT 5th; SureTrack LSDs; Haltech
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