Car background:

1993 Impreza, 165k on the car, 117k on the engine.  The oil was changed about 300-350 miles ago.

I drive a very modest drive to work -- about 3-4 miles in dense traffic.  It takes a little under 20 minutes to get to work from my apartment.  If my calculations are correct, I am averaging about 15 mpg right now, if that.

I'd prefer not to take the bus to work because of wait times, inclement weather, and the fact that I really don't like riding the bus, but is that poor of gas mileage to be expected for such driving?  Is there any way to improve it?

Spark plugs and wires?

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 01:48:58 PM
Car background:

1993 Impreza, 165k on the car, 117k on the engine.  The oil was changed about 300-350 miles ago.

I drive a very modest drive to work -- about 3-4 miles in dense traffic.  It takes a little under 20 minutes to get to work from my apartment.  If my calculations are correct, I am averaging about 15 mpg right now, if that.

I'd prefer not to take the bus to work because of wait times, inclement weather, and the fact that I really don't like riding the bus, but is that poor of gas mileage to be expected for such driving?  Is there any way to improve it?

You already stated the reason for the poor mileage - "3 to 4 miles in dense traffic."  The car probably has a cold engine for half of that commute (cold engine = worse fuel economy) and you're always switching from the throttle to the brakes in traffic, which hurts mileage as well.

Plus, it's an AWD car with a small engine saddled to an automatic transmission.  That's not the ideal drivetrain for efficiency.  You could try changing your plugs, wires, air filter, etc., but I doubt you'll see a substantial increase.

We had an automatic 94 2.2L Legacy wagon and it would easily get mileage in the teens. You might try changing out any differential fluids you have for compatible synthetics.

Quote from: The Pirate on May 18, 2008, 02:09:29 PM

You already stated the reason for the poor mileage - "3 to 4 miles in dense traffic."  The car probably has a cold engine for half of that commute (cold engine = worse fuel economy) and you're always switching from the throttle to the brakes in traffic, which hurts mileage as well.

Plus, it's an AWD car with a small engine saddled to an automatic transmission.  That's not the ideal drivetrain for efficiency.  You could try changing your plugs, wires, air filter, etc., but I doubt you'll see a substantial increase.

So I should just bite the bullet?

Bite the bullet, ride a bike, it will be quicker!  Shit, I rode one 7 miles this past summer to work 'cause it's less stressful than sitting in traffic.

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 02:20:04 PM
So I should just bite the bullet?

The bullet being what?  New tranny, new car...?  You have no payment on that car, and you know it's history.  I'd keep it.  Even if you get something else that brings you up to 25mpg, you are still going to come out behind because you'll be making payments (and your insurance costs will go up as well).

Quote from: The Pirate on May 18, 2008, 03:03:27 PM

The bullet being what?  New tranny, new car...?  You have no payment on that car, and you know it's history.  I'd keep it.  Even if you get something else that brings you up to 25mpg, you are still going to come out behind because you'll be making payments (and your insurance costs will go up as well).

On the highway, I'm still averaging somewhere around 30 mpg, but this transmission just doesn't like city driving.

Quote from: J86 on May 18, 2008, 02:55:18 PM
Bite the bullet, ride a bike, it will be quicker!  Shit, I rode one 7 miles this past summer to work 'cause it's less stressful than sitting in traffic.

The traffic in this city sucks, and the drivers are worse.  I can't see myself buying one.  Also, I'm seemingly getting more than enough of a workout at work with all of the running around and washing.

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 03:09:26 PM
On the highway, I'm still averaging somewhere around 30 mpg, but this transmission just doesn't like city driving.

Yikes, that's quite a difference between city and hwy. Besides some of the normal maintenance recommendations, is there another route to work available you can take? I've changed mine a few times to suit a more mileage friendly experience and it does work.

Quote from: Northlands on May 18, 2008, 03:15:39 PM
Yikes, that's quite a difference between city and hwy. Besides some of the normal maintenance recommendations, is there another route to work available you can take? I've changed mine a few times to suit a more mileage friendly experience and it does work.

That's actually a really good idea.  I did something similar, there's myriad ways for me to get to work and school.  The route I usually take is a bit longer (an extra 3 miles or so), but the traffic density and "stop and go" stuff is much less, so the increased fuel economy more than makes up for it.  It's probably the best route in terms of time, as well.

Quote from: Northlands on May 18, 2008, 03:15:39 PM
Yikes, that's quite a difference between city and hwy. Besides some of the normal maintenance recommendations, is there another route to work available you can take? I've changed mine a few times to suit a more mileage friendly experience and it does work.

There's an excellent alternative route.  The only problem with it is that it's completely brick, and after driving on it, my turn signals and steering rack started making funny clicking noises.  It's not very smooth.

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 03:09:26 PM
On the highway, I'm still averaging somewhere around 30 mpg, but this transmission just doesn't like city driving.

15/30 sounds pretty good to me.

Quote from: Raza  on May 18, 2008, 04:57:13 PM
15/30 sounds pretty good to me.

The car was doing about 22-23/28-31, but this short driving is killing that.

So, you're getting about 15 MPG and doing a 3-4 mile commute each way?

In other words, you're taking two days to burn a gallon of gas to get back and forth from work, making the cost of commuting fuel about $10/week at $4/gal?

I'm sorry, you were complaining about something?

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 05:04:39 PM
The car was doing about 22-23/28-31, but this short driving is killing that.

Duh.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on May 18, 2008, 05:23:47 PM
So, you're getting about 15 MPG and doing a 3-4 mile commute each way?

In other words, you're taking two days to burn a gallon of gas to get back and forth from work, making the cost of commuting fuel about $10/week at $4/gal?

I'm sorry, you were complaining about something?

+1
You're not even spending that much money on gas. Either pay for the gas (not that much) or ride a bike and keep the car for rainy/snowy days.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on May 18, 2008, 05:23:47 PM
So, you're getting about 15 MPG and doing a 3-4 mile commute each way?

In other words, you're taking two days to burn a gallon of gas to get back and forth from work, making the cost of commuting fuel about $10/week at $4/gal?

I'm sorry, you were complaining about something?

That's what I thought too.

I'm getting the impression none of you think this is particularly bad. 

On another note then, will this mean I'll have to change the oil or any other fluids more frequently?  I'm using Mobil Clean 5000 in the car right now.

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 08:57:43 PM
I'm getting the impression none of you think this is particularly bad. 

On another note then, will this mean I'll have to change the oil or any other fluids more frequently?  I'm using Mobil Clean 5000 in the car right now.

I don't think it's very bad, because as Adam and others listed out, you have an automatic AWD car, which is the least fuel efficient drivetrain, you're driving in the city in dense traffic and you barely get the car warmed up.

Quote from: thecarnut on May 18, 2008, 09:07:06 PM
I don't think it's very bad, because as Adam and others listed out, you have an automatic AWD car, which is the least fuel efficient drivetrain, you're driving in the city in dense traffic and you barely get the car warmed up.

And you all are absolutely right.  It's not incredibly fuel-efficient, but I'd also like to get more out of each gallon of gas.  This is about as well as my car has been handling winter weather, gaswise.  It just sucks that after filling my tank at $3 a gallon when gas is hovering at about $3.80 around here now, my efficiency has gone way down.  I filled my tank on the 8th and it's right around 3/4 as we speak on a 12.9 gallon tank.

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 09:14:57 PM
And you all are absolutely right.  It's not incredibly fuel-efficient, but I'd also like to get more out of each gallon of gas.  This is about as well as my car has been handling winter weather, gaswise.  It just sucks that after filling my tank at $3 a gallon when gas is hovering at about $3.80 around here now, my efficiency has gone way down.  I filled my tank on the 8th and it's right around 3/4 as we speak on a 12.9 gallon tank.

Three and a quarter gallons of gas for 10 days of driving?  That's fantastic.

Quote from: the Teuton on May 18, 2008, 09:14:57 PM
And you all are absolutely right.  It's not incredibly fuel-efficient, but I'd also like to get more out of each gallon of gas.  This is about as well as my car has been handling winter weather, gaswise.  It just sucks that after filling my tank at $3 a gallon when gas is hovering at about $3.80 around here now, my efficiency has gone way down.  I filled my tank on the 8th and it's right around 3/4 as we speak on a 12.9 gallon tank.

You filled your tank on the 8th. It's the 18th. You have 3/4 of a tank left.

Seriously, stop this conversation now.

I filled up today. I filled up on the 13th, the 8, the 3rd as well.  About 10-11 gallons each time. And I get about 30 MPG.

Quote from: giant_mtb on May 18, 2008, 09:19:35 PM
Three and a quarter gallons of gas for 10 days of driving?  That's fantastic.

srsly.
When a tank of gas lasts you over 5 weeks, you have nothing to complain about. That's less than $50 for an entire fillup, assuming you don't have ANYTHING left in your tank. That's $1.25 a day. Two freaking bus tickets will cost more than that a day.

Quote from: giant_mtb on May 18, 2008, 09:19:35 PM
Three and a quarter gallons of gas for 10 days of driving?  That's fantastic.

I go to work and I buy groceries.  That's about it at the moment.  I don't particularly worry about people stealing my car because it's one of the uglier cars in Oakland (especially since I'm still rocking the steelies covered in surface rust), so it's a relatively low-worry car.  I just can't get over 10-15 mpg in a car this small and supposedly economical.

It does kinda blow my mind that your mileage is that bad...I get around 20-21 in the city, and I'm generally hustling.

Indeed...that sort of mileage does seem inadequate for such a vehicle, even if it is an automatic AWD.

It seems low to me, even given the circumstances. I changed my plugs and wires last summer, and my mileage increased four or so miles per gallon. They were all pretty worn out, though.

Check the emergency brake.

The Accord is a pretty efficient car, but even its instantaneous MPGs of the Accord are horrendous (10-15) while accelerating. If 100% of your driving is like this, well, of course it will average out to crap. If "biting the bullet" means getting a more efficient car, you'll be extremely hard pressed to find one that doesn't suck in a pure stop and go existence.

Buying a car specifically for a commute is really silly when it's a college kind of job that won't last more than a year or so.