18 mpg??? Should I be worried?

radio-x · Post by **radio-x** » 11 May 2007, 01:31

My 94 850 wagon is worrying me just a little bit. Most of my trips are in-town for usually less than 5 miles each way averaging around 30 mph. My un-scientific mental gas calculator estimates that I get about 17-18 mpg for these short trips where the car doesn't have time to completely warm up. I'm guessing it's because the car is using a richer fuel/air mix for the first few minutes, but I wanted to put my fears to rest (hopefully) by getting a second opinion.

I just think that for in-city driving I'd be pulling 20-22 mpg. But I assume that's for a good 30 minute drive of stop-and-go traffic at around 45 mph.

(BTW: It's a non-turbo, and I get about 23-26 on the highway)

Joe

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 May 2007, 05:06

Actually you're getting better in-town mpg that me. Highway miles you'll get really good...in-town, these cars don't do so well.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 11 May 2007, 05:41

BTW: It's a non-turbo, and I get about 23-26 on the highway

That is bad. I get 23 to 25 in combined highway and city depending on the ratio. For pure highway you should get over 30 mpg.

Have you checked your airbox thermostat? Mine was bad and I was getting mileage like yours until I "fixed" it. (Jammed it open).

...Lee

Black850 · Post by **Black850** » 11 May 2007, 06:46

What exactly do u mean by un-scientific mental calculator.

radio-x · Post by **radio-x** » 11 May 2007, 23:57

Black850 wrote:What exactly do u mean by un-scientific mental calculator.

Basically, when the low fuel light comes on, I put...let's say around 4 gallons in the tank. I reset the trip odometer, drive until the low fuel light comes back on. If I got 76 miles on those 4 gallons, I averaged around 19.5 mpg. That's the un-scientific mental calculator.

And BTW, I had to drive the wagon about 120 miles today primarily on the open roads, and I got 27.5 mpg with the AC on, so I don't think that's a big problem. Without it, I could probably pull 29-30...so, my mental calculator was flawed in that instance

I was talking to the Volvo mechanic my father takes his 850 to (that's why I drove 60 miles each way, to drop off his 850 for work) and he said the 5 cylinder Volvos are thirsty during city driving...he said it might not be a problem, but if it gets less than 17 in the city on a normal basis, the thermostat might be malfunctioning. I'm not gonna lose sleep over it...I'm still getting better mileage than my old 940 did (16-18 city, 25-27 highway).

Big thanks to everyone...I think I just worry too much

Joe

Post by **kelvin6** » 12 May 2007, 00:02

I'm gonna have to say its normal.

I drive 80% city driving, stop and go and hilly streets of San Francisco. I only average in city 16MPG if i drive a with a light foot. My trips are about 20 mile a day. I use premium fuel, because with regular I get less MPG.

With a heavy foot I can score 13-15 MPG.

My car is a 1995 850 non turbo engine.