180 miles on a 15-gal tank?
08-16-2004, 05:14 PM
#1
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180 miles on a 15-gal tank?
I just consulted the owner's manual for my wife's '97 Outback. It says that the tank capacity is something like 15.5 gallons. She usually gets about 180 miles before the needle hovers past 1/4 tank. When she goes to fill it, it's never more than 9.5 gallons. This is a 2.5L with an auto trans. Did the auto cars get a smaller tank? Is there something wrong with her fuel gauge?
Conversely, my 2.5GT 5-speed gets about 260 miles to the tank, usually filling to between 10 and 11 gallons at that point. I've gone as many as 300 miles, filling to 12+ gallons.
Neither of these cars' low fuel lights come on even when the needle is just above E. Is there something wrong here?
Conversely, my 2.5GT 5-speed gets about 260 miles to the tank, usually filling to between 10 and 11 gallons at that point. I've gone as many as 300 miles, filling to 12+ gallons.
Neither of these cars' low fuel lights come on even when the needle is just above E. Is there something wrong here?
08-16-2004, 05:24 PM
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it looks like she's getting about 20mpg for an automatic. that's really not that far from reality. i have an automatic wrx, and get close to 18mpg in city driving if i'm lucky.
08-16-2004, 07:44 PM
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i can generally get close to 300, 350 if i stay away from boost on my wrx.
180 for a full tank(15gallons) does seem a bit low, i think even STI's can get more than that.
180 for a full tank(15gallons) does seem a bit low, i think even STI's can get more than that.
08-17-2004, 04:55 PM
#7
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I just don't want to find out the low fuel light doesn't work, ya know? Can anyone verify the actual tank capacity of a 2.5/ATX '97 Outback? I wasn't really questioning the MPG--it's what I've come to expect, just the range and capacity.
08-17-2004, 07:55 PM
#9
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according to online sources the tank is 15.9gals, but check the owners manual in the glove box, that would be the most for sure. i know my 92 legacy doesnt actually have the capacity it says, b/c i ran out of gas once, and it didnt take what it should have.
as for the fuel light, mine comes on when i NEED gas, so i just use 300kms (~180miles) as the max i go on a tank, as the gauge seems to be pretty inacurate.
as for the fuel light, mine comes on when i NEED gas, so i just use 300kms (~180miles) as the max i go on a tank, as the gauge seems to be pretty inacurate.
08-17-2004, 10:49 PM
#10
Everything sounds about right. If she's filling it up that early, I wouldn't expect more then 10 gallons needed. I have a 2002 auto Legacy (similar motor, transmission and gas tank, but not exactly the same), and when the needle gets to 'E' I rarely have to fill up more then 14. Coupled with that fact that I can easily go another ~85-95 miles between '1/4' and 'E', this makes perfect sense (approximating 20+mpg).
As for the tank size itself, I'm almost certain you've got the standard 15.9 gallon tank, as my buddy has a '97 Outback and he filled up 15.something gallons once when he decided (for some unknown reason) to see how far down he could take the tank of gas. And the needle was well below 'E'
As for the tank size itself, I'm almost certain you've got the standard 15.9 gallon tank, as my buddy has a '97 Outback and he filled up 15.something gallons once when he decided (for some unknown reason) to see how far down he could take the tank of gas. And the needle was well below 'E'
Last edited by Nick Koan; 08-17-2004 at 10:51 PM.
08-17-2004, 11:13 PM
#11
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what you could do is drive the car until you hit the gas light and see how much miles you get, keep a jug of gas in the trunk when it gets near that point, just so you don't get stranded.
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