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Comments
Thanks, Jerry
I think you could download them from SoA website, not certain; but I'm certain you're able to download from http://my.subaru.com
Need to register the car to login though.
-Dave
Cheers!
Paul
-mike
To put this back on topic - we got 6 free oil changes too.
-juice
Thanks.
Jon
Len: Unfortunately, clutch chatter seems to be a common problem with the 5-speed. The general consensus seems to be that the pressure plate is suspect. Work with your dealer and see what they can do.
Ken
That's also why octane boosters are dubious. Midgrade works because it is at/near a 50/50 mix; one 16 ounce bottle of 104 - 118 octane isn't going to do much to 15 gallons of 91 octane!
-Colin
Is it worth it? No, that would be a pain and take too much time at the pump, IMO.
-juice
I took a long trip and a couple of months before I had completely converted over to Premium. I kept track of all of the mileage. After I arrived in Sedona after a 680 mile trip, the gas mileage was exactly the same as on mid grade. Once in Sedona I switched back to mid grade and ran that on the way home. I actually got 2 MPG better on 3 tanks. And we did more uphill driving. So for me the experiment failed, and I'm sticking with the cheaper mid grade. No reason to go to Premium if I don't get better gas mileage.
Again, this is just a rule of thumb and there may be some engines designed for regular that run better with higher octane fuel.
Also, keep in mind that it sometimes takes several tanks of a type of gas before your engine computer adjusts to it.
Ken
no offense but the first thing that comes to mind for me is that the return trip consumed less gasoline for a more obvious reason than the octane of the gas itself. things like:
tailwind / lack of headwind
less aggressive / more passive driving
less passing
less use of air conditioner
slower speed (unlikely, you probably would have mentioned that)
more than you ever wanted to know about octane, including why two vehicles of the same model year and type may require different octanes for peak performance, and why premium generally doesn't help normal cars:
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54942
-Colin
-mike
PS: Love bustin his ballz
Ken
As to the other issues.
tailwind / lack of headwind Much more wind on the return trip.
less aggressive / more passive driving
Both were long stretches on the highway, only about 50 miles less of freeway driving.
less passing
less use of air conditioner
Air conditioner was not used on either trip.
slower speed (unlikely, you probably would have mentioned that)
Hey it was open desert, no towns, low traffic --
While my general rule is no more than 5 MPH over the posted limit, I'll take the fifth for certain deserted highway stretches -- no towns no traffic. Best guess similar driving at higher speeds.
-mike
PS: just busting on colin
(One of the percs at working for my university is getting to use its private pump at a discount price. I think it pumps 94, and my Forester calls for only 87.)
Thanks,
Joe
-juice
Jon - I first went to Somerset a few years ago because they are closer than Flemington.
The service was excellent. They have (had) a couple of Senior Master Techs and actually do the major services (15k, 30k, etc.) "by the book" like Flemington.
The only reason that I didn't continue to use them was because they don't have Saturday hours.
-Dennis
I had it checked for that twice, and both times, the mechanic wasn't able to detect anything during a test drive. It was only happening when cold, but now it's getting more frequent, even when warm. They said I'd have to leave it overnight. I had an appointment for yesterday, but something came up and I had to cancel. I'll reschedule for sometime in the near future. (But, to answer your question, they didn't say anything about being familiar with it.)
Len
Make sure that the dealership logs your concerns even though they can't replicate the problem then. By leaving a paper trail, you have a better chance of any warranty repair if they find the problem later on.
Ken
Now imagine a boxer, so twice as many heads for double the work, with difficult access.
-juice
I had mine done at a local brake specialty shop and was very satisfied with the work.
"The tie rods on the front wheels are done. Is that an easy enough thing to fix on one's own? Any idea? Is there an information source (read: internet site) that will tell me what a fair and reasonable mechanical repair estimate should look like?"
What say ye? Should we attempt this on our own?
I'm gonna be doing my rack in 2 weeks which probably will require me to do something with the tie rods too.
-mike
-juice
-Brian
This observation is consistant with some mfgrs that openly state a slightly lower HP rating if you use reg instead of premium - the engine computer is adjusting parameters to compensate.
So if you have an engine 'on the edge', you may indeed find that feeding it more expensive fuel will give you slightly more power & slightly better mileage (by having the timing more advanced, more of the time). There may also be a slight wear advantage due to lower system temperatures that come with more optimized timing.
I usually give a shot of higher octane when I will be demanding more from my cars. Towing, heavy passenger/luggage loads, city driving (quick on/off throttle), especially if it is an engine that I know would otherwise ping if given lower grade fuel in these tough situations. Otherwise I run the lowest octane that the mfgr recommends, and the engine doesn't ping regularly on.
Lastly, at one time some premium grades got a better detergent package, but I believe that all grades from the major refineries now get the EFI recommended solvents.
Steve
In post #5036 you stated "...some mfgrs that openly state a slightly lower HP rating if you use reg instead of premium..."
While I concur with most of your observations, I'm very surprised to have read that statement. Different officially stated/printed horsepower ratings for the same engine??? That's news to me. Please identify the manufacturers and car models that you know for a fact are subject to multiple horsepower ratings.
Len
-juice
But if you study and understand HP and Torque curves, you may realize that this does not tell the full impact of the power reduction. The engine computer builds a map for engine operating parameters, based on recent previous experience. So a test vehicle whose engine is fed regular, then run on a dynamometer for graphing purposes will probably have its overall timing map slightly retarded, compared to one on a premium diet. So at near peak RPM, where HP begins to roll off, the premium fuel engine will show a very slight HP edge. In the 200+ hp example above, 5hp is nothing - not noticeable in common use.
But that is not where we routinely operate. Just off idle, that same engine is probably producing a mere 30-40hp. You just tromped on the peddle, the engine pings, and the computer retards the timing by 10 degrees (maybe more). You can feel the hesitation. I bet you just lost 25% of your available power at that RPM. Maybe you just missed that window in a traffic lane change. This is where premium can buy you something in real world drivability (on some cars)....
So back to my Honda. 240hp rating on regular. But I know that it does ping under some loads. Planning something strenuous? I stop by and add 5 gallons of premium. Now she doesn't ping. Out of pocket cost = $1, plus a few minutes. Peace of mind, priceless!!!
Steve
-juice
It seems strange that this topic was discussed within the last 100 posts, but it's comforting to know that I'm not alone. It sounds like my best option is to call an auto glass shop. Is there anything special that I should look out for, or mention to the installer? SueBee has the AWP, so the mirror is heated -- does this make a difference?
Lyn
I took SueBee into Curry Surbaru here in Yorktown Heights, NY for her 7500 mile service 2 weeks ago and had them use Mobil 1 rather than dino oil. (We've used Mobil 1 for at least the last 25 years.) My mistake was that I didn't ask what the increased cost would be for the Mobil 1. For years wherever I went for an oil change, from quickie oil/lube places to independent/chain service centers, the additional charge has been $20-25 dollars, so I assumed (silly me) that Curry would do the same. Instead they charged $9.84 a quart extra over the cost of the dino oil -- an additional $49.20!!! When I complained, the service advisor told me that I should expect dealer service prices to be a little higher. The only reduction I could get from him was a $5 deduction for the dino oil. In addition, all under hood fluids were to be checked and replenished if necessary as part of their 7500 mile service. I checked a few days later and the windshield washer reservoir was only 1/2 full, so I doubt that this check was done. At least the tires were rotated. Needless to say, I wasn't a happy Curry camper either when I left the dealership or right now as I'm typing this. I don't have too much trust in the quality of their service dept.
Does anyone have any opinions (good or bad) about the service depts at Prestige Imports in Pleasantville, Rushneck in Tarrytown, Smith-Cairns in Brewster or Wappingers Subaru in Wappingers? Or can anyone recommend a good independent Subaru mechanic in the general area?
Thanks!
Lyn
Sorry to hear about the mirror and service problems at Curry. I lost glass years ago on a remote control mirror from a rock thrown up by my mower. But being the stubborn person I am, I cut it from a plate mirror myself and glued it into place. So it is not that hard to get fixed. You can probably determine where the heating element is on your AWP assembly. If it is in the backing plate and still functions, no problem. If it was heater wires on the back of the glass, you will probably have to replace the entire assembly if you want to keep it heated. Do you have the chunks to look at?
Dealers? I had a lousy time at Greer years ago, but since changing hands (now Wappingers), they seem better behaved. Still, insufficient data...
I had wonderful treatment at the Ford side of Colonial, but I remember Gregg mentioning that he was not impressed with the Subi side of the shop.
Lots of luck,
Steve
If you are determined to keep using Mobil 1 (and paying very dearly for the marginal, if dubious, advantages) why not buy your own by the case at a discount retailer such as COSTCO? The next time you need an oil change bring a few quarts along and tell your mechanic (Curry) to use YOUR oil and to reduce the price of their oil change service by the amount they usually charge for THEIR dino oil. Voila...no arguments or overcharges. You can do this with the oil filter too.
I came to understand the relationship between octane and pressure when I left Dallas and drove to Colorado Springs with my new EFI Datsun in '80. It was OK going up, but taking the low octane fuel back down was tough on the engine.
That is also why turbo or supercharged engines have their compression lowered, intercoolers to cool the charge, and often require higher octane.
Steve
Yes, I could just bring in the Mobil 1 and have them do it (I asked when I paid the bill).
However, the bigger problem with Curry is the loss of trust that I have in the service dept and that I feel I was ripped off wrt prices. Not adding a 1/2 tank of windshield washer fluid is a small thing, but they were supposed to at least check it as part of the service. They rotated my tires, but I'll bet that the tire pressure wasn't checked (another thing that was also part of the service) -- they were still at 33 lbs when I checked them later in the day (and noone mentioned that they were at a higher then recommended pressure). Overall, a very sloppy visit for which I paid a premium price.
We may complain about quickie lube places, but whenever I've used their services they have always checked all fluid levels. If I can't trust Curry's service dept with the minor things, how can I trust them when a larger service must be done or SueBee really has a problem? If they gouge me on Mobil 1, how much are they going to overcharge me on brakes, or a water pump, or whatever? I want a dealership or mechanic that I can trust. They don't have to be the cheapest, but I have to feel that I can trust them and get value for my money. It sounds simple, but it's not. It's what makes a few dealerships like Flemington in NJ so highly recommended. And it's why I'm looking for another place to bring SueBee.
I'll climb off my soapbox now...
Lyn
Good to hear from you again! Is it time for another meeting of the East Fishkill chapter of the Subaru Owners Club?
Most of the glass is still attached to the backing, but the glass is in enough pieces that it looks like a court jester's shirt! Maybe what I should do is turn on the mirror defroster on the way into work tomorrow and see whether some of the moisture dries up. Hopefully SueBee won't blow a fuse!
Lyn