Sitting here thinking about this, and I have to wonder...
Most (if not all afaik) automatic AWD Subaru's have the option of running FWD by installing a fuse under the hood. Part of me wants to believe that running the car in FWD mode will increase mpg (due to less drivetrain loss and drag). However, part of me wants to believe that running in FWD mode will increase gas mileage, as it would make the engine and tranny work harder to pull the weight of the car. I'm also a bit concerned with the potential for increased wear/failure of the trans by running in FWD, seeing as said mode is usually only reserved for diagnostic purposes (from what I have been led to believe)...
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Any experience? Still somewhat new to the Subaru world, and I cut my teeth on the oddball one (the 92 SVX, with which I wasn't concerned about mpg
), so I'm a bit baffled when it comes to some of this stuff.
One more thing I should note, I have already adopted some hypermiling techniques, started them when I bought my Fiero about 4 years back (modified form of P&G, foot off gas downhill coasting, feathering the gas pedal, etc). And just recently started honing my DWL technique after researching here prior to registration.