So my gas mileage on my 08 sedan has been horrible. It's showing up on my dash to be 9.8 mpg
I drive for very short intervals, maybe 5-6 minutes tops local on a daily basis, and i don't even go really hard on the gas. I know short intervals (especially local) give you bad gas mileage, but 9.8 is just ridiculous.....any input?

 

9.8 is horrible. What are you driving a QX56?

 

somebody has a heavy foot.....

 

I would get the car checked out. I get 14 under multiple short trips in cold weather.

 

i dont even get that bad in short driving

 

Something is truly wrong with your car...even when I get into my car I dont get that bad MPG....

 

i've been trying to drive really easy to try to improve it, but it's not helping.....on the highway however i get the advertised 24 (around 70ish on cruise)

 

You answered your own question. The car isn't getting warmed up, so it's running rich on very short trips. I'm guessing that's also city driving with some idling at stoplights. If you're only going a couple of miles and the car is only running for 5-6 minutes without ever getting a chance to cover any miles, of course the mpg is going to be low.

I would recommend driving the car for 20 minutes from time to time so the engine can get completely warm and any water in the oil can burn off. Short trips like you're describing over a long period of time are hard on the engine.

Also, how are you measuring the mpg? Is it measured, or are you just looking at the display? If the latter, then a lot of idling will absolutely kill that number.

 

i live in nyc so i get around 10-12 if your driving mostly city miles its pretty normal

 

Yeb, that's normal for 5-6 minutes trips in less than 2 miles w/ 8-9 traffic lights.

 

That's way off the computer is off cause I was getting 10.5 in a 4x4 v8 hemi eith 33inch mud tires in the city

 

what types of gas are you using?

 

it might be that your car isn't reaching normal operating temperature... what type of oil are you using?

i mean even a lead foot will get better mpg than 10... i mean not an instant read, but over the tank.

 

only use 93 octane and use synthetic oil, i let the car warm up before i drive it. Will be going on a long road trip this weekend so I'll see what mileage I get on the highway. thanks for the responses

 

Step 1, stop letting the car warm up. Drive away gently after 20 seconds and keep driving gently until it is up to full operating temperature (if it gets there in your short trip).

Step 2, accept 10 mpg if you live in a cold climate and do the type of driving you do. Also, you should remember that your driving pattern is considered the worst possible in terms of "heavy duty" and requiring the maximum maintenance (oil changes, etc.) (maximum meaning the shortest interval between servicing).