san jose to LA, gas mileage ?
09-25-2012, 01:04 PM
#31
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: East Bay / Pomona
Posts: 3,670
Car Info: '02 PSM WRX
Best I ever did was Pleasanton to Pomona on 1 tank. 400 miles almost on the nose according to my odometer, a little over 27mpg going 80mph until 210 and then 65mph the rest of the way (gas light came on, lol). Always get better mileage going to LA than coming back. But that was back in my 2.0 days, now with my 2.5 the best I get is about 24 to 25.
Tune, driving style, and mods make all the difference in getting mpg.
I don't condone doing most of these, but if you're really strapped for cash, some free things to increase mileage:
Reduce excess weight. If you've never changed your spare tire on the doughnut, then it's basically useless because tires are only good for 6 years. You can take it out. Remove everything out of the trunk you don't need for your trip, even the small things like the scissor jack you won't use if you don't have a spare.
Reduce rolling friction. Inflate your tires more (but still to a safe amount) to decrease the contact patch with the road, it will reduce rolling friction. Just don't over-inflate to dangerous levels or to cause bad wear on the tires, which will then cost more in the long run.
Tune, driving style, and mods make all the difference in getting mpg.
I don't condone doing most of these, but if you're really strapped for cash, some free things to increase mileage:
Reduce excess weight. If you've never changed your spare tire on the doughnut, then it's basically useless because tires are only good for 6 years. You can take it out. Remove everything out of the trunk you don't need for your trip, even the small things like the scissor jack you won't use if you don't have a spare.
Reduce rolling friction. Inflate your tires more (but still to a safe amount) to decrease the contact patch with the road, it will reduce rolling friction. Just don't over-inflate to dangerous levels or to cause bad wear on the tires, which will then cost more in the long run.
Last edited by STi-owns-evo; 09-25-2012 at 01:08 PM.
09-25-2012, 07:28 PM
#32
aka FlukeWRX
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East Bay
Posts: 3,657
Car Info: '03 WRX WRB Sedan
Usually when I drive I5 I stop for gas just South of Tracy (I believe it is in Westley off the Howard Road Exit). That's typically been the cheapest prices I would see along I5. It didn't matter how much gas I had, I would stop and fill up there just to ensure I had enough gas for the trip.
Then I would fill up again when I got down to the Grapevine. I would exit around Magic Mountain and get gas there as it again was one of the cheaper locations I found for gas and was really convenient to stop there.
The last time I was driving back from San Diego I filled up at the Chevron there by Magic Mountain. Then drove back to San Ramon, drove down to work in Fremont, went to lunch in Milpitas, back to Fremont and then was going to head back home when I finally ran out of gas at about 380 Miles on the tank. That's when I realized that my gas gauge was messed up as the gauge was reading that I still had over 1/4 of a tank left.
I was a bit pissed with myself as I just passed the 76 Gas Station right in Fremont off of the Durham exit right before my car ran out of gas. Luckily I wasn't on the freeway yet, but that still sucked.
Now I just fill up typically around 300 miles on the Odometer whether I need to or not just to be safe.
Then I would fill up again when I got down to the Grapevine. I would exit around Magic Mountain and get gas there as it again was one of the cheaper locations I found for gas and was really convenient to stop there.
The last time I was driving back from San Diego I filled up at the Chevron there by Magic Mountain. Then drove back to San Ramon, drove down to work in Fremont, went to lunch in Milpitas, back to Fremont and then was going to head back home when I finally ran out of gas at about 380 Miles on the tank. That's when I realized that my gas gauge was messed up as the gauge was reading that I still had over 1/4 of a tank left.
I was a bit pissed with myself as I just passed the 76 Gas Station right in Fremont off of the Durham exit right before my car ran out of gas. Luckily I wasn't on the freeway yet, but that still sucked. Now I just fill up typically around 300 miles on the Odometer whether I need to or not just to be safe.
09-25-2012, 07:37 PM
#33
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Location: gone hunting, be back maybe
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Car Info: 12Teens crazy 4 me
Not San Jose to LA, but San Jose to Las Vegas, I averaged 29.8 in a 2.5i with a WRX catback....
So i would guess your car would get roughly 20-24mpg with your mods.
So i would guess your car would get roughly 20-24mpg with your mods.
09-25-2012, 08:31 PM
#36
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Location: Daly City
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Car Info: 2001 Impreza 2.2L
Another non-turbo here, but maybe this might be helpful for people with N/A Subies wanting to know how much they might get.
I got 30.5 mpg doing the speed limit (70 mph) with some 75-80mph when passing certain cars and big-rigs. My GF was in the car with me as well as some luggage. Probably could have gotten 32mpg if the Grapevine didn't drain my gas. I pretty much had the pedal close to the floor while climbing up at 40-45mph. Definitely envying the turbo folks for that one.
I got 30.5 mpg doing the speed limit (70 mph) with some 75-80mph when passing certain cars and big-rigs. My GF was in the car with me as well as some luggage. Probably could have gotten 32mpg if the Grapevine didn't drain my gas. I pretty much had the pedal close to the floor while climbing up at 40-45mph. Definitely envying the turbo folks for that one.
09-27-2012, 10:24 AM
#37
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Location: San Francisco, CA
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Car Info: 05 Scion xB. 02 WRX 247k RIP
i'm planning on driving down to subiefest on just one tank. i'm cobb stage 2 and get about 28mpg all freeway cruising at 70-75. i can get over 30mpg cruising between 60-65 but that's a little too slow.
winning lol
09-28-2012, 04:06 AM
#42
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Location: Stockholm
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Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
Just went from San Mateo to Long Beach and back the weekend before last. I never thought this would be possible, but after doing the math twice, my car got around 27mpg on the way down. It was around 25 on the way back. We went down 101 on the way down, speeds with traffic 75-85 or so. On the way back, we took I5 and it was a little faster.
2002 WRX w/ mild mods and a tune (272whp).
2002 WRX w/ mild mods and a tune (272whp).
09-30-2012, 12:21 AM
#45
Just went from San Mateo to Long Beach and back the weekend before last. I never thought this would be possible, but after doing the math twice, my car got around 27mpg on the way down. It was around 25 on the way back. We went down 101 on the way down, speeds with traffic 75-85 or so. On the way back, we took I5 and it was a little faster.
2002 WRX w/ mild mods and a tune (272whp).
2002 WRX w/ mild mods and a tune (272whp).