Boxer engines thirstier?

[mac]

that's about what my 91 legacy gets...20-21.

The 2003 Camry has an 18.5 gal fuel capacity. Once, I went a month between
refueling. Now, my 2004 Forester XT is gobbling fuel at an average of 19.5
mi/gal, with a 15.9 gal tank . . . you talking about requent gas station
trips.

 

[no mas panzon]

I did indeed miss Alan's first point. However, don't you find 15.9 gal tank
large enough?
I don't always use premium gas though. I can only find 93 around here. They
recommend 91 for the H6.
I get premium 2/3 of the time and regular the other 1/3.
John

No, John, I do not. I appreciate being able to wait another week (or
another 130 miles along the highway) before I MUST refuel. On a trip it
gives me more flexibility as to where I buy gas. In town, that lets me tank
up when prices are down, or pass on by when they are high!

I've now got one vehicle, a big GMC truck, with a 34 gallon tank. Since it
gets over 20 mpg, I can go one week, two weeks, or three weeks on a tank
around town. On the road I can stop 300 miles out, 420 miles out, or drive
all the way to El Paso before I stop to refuel. I can, therefore, stop
ONE TIME when I need to eat or use the facilities, rather than say, every
120 miles along the Interstate! (But then, I HATE driving when the fuel
gauge reads below 1/4....)

I am almost ready to buy a Forester, and one thing I in this thread gives me
some pause: IS there a requirement for premium gasoline? I didn't realize
there was.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Only the Forester turbo model needs premium gas. ed

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

The manual for my OBW H6 3.0 recommends high octane but says using low
octane is allowed in an 'emergency'. I use mid-range as a compromise. I
did run one tank of reg. - never heard any pinging.

Carl
1 Lucky texan

 

[Bill Putney]

The manual for my OBW H6 3.0 recommends high octane but says using low
octane is allowed in an 'emergency'. I use mid-range as a compromise. I
did run one tank of reg. - never heard any pinging.

Would that possibly be because the computer retarded the timing (and
reduced performance) to compensate for lower octane?

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Oh yes I'm quite sure. I suppose 'require' is a relative term. Will
running reg. in the XT result in pinging? how far can the ECU retard the
spark?

No doubt I suffer some loss in performance (though not noticeable) and
probably slightly lower fuel eff. but I suspect there is still a cost
savings.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[Bruce Hoult]

Oh yes I'm quite sure. I suppose 'require' is a relative term. Will
running reg. in the XT result in pinging? how far can the ECU retard the
spark?

No doubt I suffer some loss in performance (though not noticeable) and
probably slightly lower fuel eff. but I suspect there is still a cost
savings.

I find the performance difference very noticable on my 2.5L Legacy.
Running on 96 (or 98) RON it has a ton of torque right from idle.
Running on 91 it can barely get out of its own way until you get to the
plus side of 3000 RPM.

I don't think maximum power is affected much though.

-- Bruce

 

[no mas panzon]

Very welcome news, Ed. Thanks