# Poor mileage - '95 Subaru Legacy wagon **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** legacy, fuel-economy, subaru\ **Created:** [January 11, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277 "2008-01-11T17:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bblake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@bblake](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bblake)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/1 "2008-01-11T17:10:17Z")
Hi - I have a '95 Subaru Legacy wagon (smaller engine) with 120K, well maintained. For about 12 months, the city mileage (about the only driving we do) is 15-16 MPG. That seems too low. Two good shops in town say it’s the car’s age. I tried a new cold air sensor (I think that is what it was called), but no change. Any suggestions for better mileage from the engine? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/2 "2008-01-11T17:30:37Z")
How many miles on it? When was the last time you replaced the plugs, plug wires, air & fuel filters? Have you had to replace brakes recently? Auto or manual transmission? How long are your usual trips? Last and maybe most important, do you dive conservatively or aggressively? ---
**Author:** ![bblake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@bblake](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bblake)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/3 "2008-01-11T17:41:28Z")
Thanks for the reply. 120,000 miles, Belts, plugs, filters all replaced within Subaru specs. Tire air pressure is kept to spec. New brakes at 80,000. Car is regularly tuned, looked-over, etc. I drive conservatively: slow starts, gradual stops. By the way, the Subaru computer test reports no errors or problems. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/4 "2008-01-12T02:27:22Z")
The sensor you refer to may be the coolant temperature sensor for the ECU and is different than the one for the temperature gauge in the dash. The sensor has 2 leads to it. These sometimes fail and cause poor mileage by causing the fuel to run too rich. ---
**Author:** ![bblake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@bblake](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bblake)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/5 "2008-01-22T03:17:59Z")
Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jimmythemechanic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jimmythemechanic/32/632_2.png) [@jimmythemechanic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jimmythemechanic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/6 "2008-01-22T03:30:24Z")
15-16 city which not too bad i think. My wife has a 2004 WRX turbo 2.0 AWD, mostly HWY and we get 24-avg. But, check for brakes calipers that still bites at all time(frozen), calipers bracket that’s bad and drag, parking cable that not 100 release when you let off. Or wheel bearings? ---
**Author:** ![MilesFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@MilesFox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MilesFox)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/poor-mileage-95-subaru-legacy-wagon/9277/7 "2008-01-28T00:11:32Z")
also have the oxygen sensor checked out. my 95 legacy with 263,000 miles gets about 20 mpg hiway and the engine codes call for a new oxygen sensor(s) there are 2 o2 sensors, one on the front and rear catalytic converters