Just getting used to the Monte and trying to see what kind of mileage it'll get. Now I don't drive a lot during the winter. Typically I warm the car up 10 minutes going to and leaving from work. Work is only about a 2 mile drive so not going very far. Also, I guess I'm pretty much a lead foot and having more power in the car than I'm used to, i like hitting that pedal, but I never really floor it. Just like to get a rise out of it.

I have been going by the in-dash estimated mpg and it says I'm getting about 14mpg which I think even for a V6 is a bit low. Are these things accurate and if they are, should I be getting that kind of mpg because of how I drive short distances or should I have the car checked out for something wrong?

 

pretty accurate, if your pounding on it, its gonna not get as good of mileage, and leaving it outside to warm up isnt the best for the mileage, also if your stopping and speeding up alot its not gonna help

 

You really warm up your car for 10 minutes to drive 2 miles every time? Seems like an aweful waste of gas to me, I'd rather just be a little cold for 2 minutes. All that warm-up time followed by a 2 mile trip, 14 mpg sounds about right.

 

These new cars don't need to be warmed up like the old 70's and 80's cars. I start the car, give it about 30-45 secs and I'm gone. Anything past 2 mins. is a waste of fuel.

 

yeah i wouldnt let it warm up for 10 min if you arent going that far but yeah 14mpg sounds about right if you are up and down on the gas a lot.

 

what motor do u have?? even though 14 dosnt sound right

 

I didn't realize that just letting it idle to warm up used much gas. I'll stop that right away and see what happens. Mine has the 3.5 motor.

 

Yeah, the idling definitely caused it, especially considering the engine. I remember resetting mine once (the overhead display), drove 30 miles, and then idled in the drive-way for 2 minutes waiting for someone which was longer than expected. Anyways I could actually see my MPG decreasing every 20 or so seconds. It's funny that two minutes of idling brought me down from 30mpg to 28, I guess it really does make a difference.

 

Do your own MPG math test. Fill it up, reset your trip.

Next time you fill up your car, take the gallons used and divide your tripometer reading.

If you still find the number low, wait until the spring and check all the typical tune-up parts

 

My display is a good 2-3 MPG higher that it really is , so I would do the math. Yes running the car for 10 mins can drop the fuel milage a lot, and also the additives they put in gas durring the winter can also affect fuel milage. I'm down about 4 mpg from what I get in the summer.