JoKers06

Hello gentleman, since I bought my 06 in August I have been getting about 14.2-14.5 MPGs on the digital readout. Recently I took my truck on a hunting trip and since I got back last week monday my digital readout has been at 13.0-13.2. I did drive on a lot of dirt/mud roads and I did pull a small snowmobile trailer up (no snowmobile), and back (snowmobile on). All the way up and all the way back my readout was bouncing between 13.9-14.0. I checked the air filter which was mostly clean, not terrible but I will change that in the next couple days. I have also put a soft tonneau cover on when I returned. I have no idea what would have made my truck all of the sudden drop 1.5 MPGs but since my daily commute is about 65 miles that 1.5 MPG is kind of important. Is it possible the gas stations around here have switched to winter grade gas and thats doing it? the tonneau cover? something clogged with dirt from the roads?
Any input is appreciated, thanks in advance guys

gone postal

I think you hit the nail on the head, winter gas, which normally drops the MPG roughly10%.

JoKers06

I never knew that, I guess I've never had a vehicle that had an MPG read out right in front of my face either. It was odd to me that it happend right when I put on my tonneau cover, I was just reading another thread on here where they mentioned the episode of myth busters and I was thinking to myself, no way a tonneau cover dropped it 1.5 MPG.

Adam013085

First of all, don't trust the digital readout. Secondly yes you are probably right, you probably found a station that is using winter blend. I usually loose 1.5-2 MPG on winter blend. It sucks, but luckily gas is 1.99 here so it doesn't hurt QUITE as bad.