I have been trying to juggle some things lately, replace my automatic Forester with a 2WD manual, as well as purchase a house. Unfortunately, both of those things are on hold indefinitely. However, while I thought that I had money to spare, I ordered instrumentation.
As I mentioned in Pletby's thread, I did try to calibrate my mileage using mile markers. I finally have my GPS and will read the manual and figure out how to track mileage. Nemo posted the calibration instructions and the download link for the manual, but I keep messing up the fuel calibration. I guess that I need to set up Average MPG-Trip instead of just the average--I will not know my mileage until I fill up.
I usually get about 23 MPG. My best driving up to my parents' house was twenty-eight--163.7 miles with a 5,169 increase in elevation, so 0.6%. I do not know what everybody else learns with instantaneous feedback. So far all that I have learned is that my car does not do DFCO, not at 5 MPH and not at eighty, so I started using neutral again. Before leaving town I filled up at 25 MPG, but that is the odometer / pump.
The UltraGauge showed my average at 26.5, so I figure that it is 6% high. The average was about 27.3 when I parked here, so I do not think that I matched 28 MPG, but I guess that it is still pretty good, considering cold air and winter fuel.
I think that I get better mileage up here. I believe the elevation more than compensates for the colder air. According to
Air Density Calculator, the air is 12.2% thinner.
My record going back down is 40.4 MPG. I was stunned.
I am pretty sure that that I coasted in neutral where possible.
So, AWD, automatic, and it does not do DFCO. At least the car runs pretty well.