Is there a MPG gain with synthetic oil or adding a tonneau cover?


I'm planning on doing the tonneau but curious if anyone is seeing any noticeable differences with either.

 

Mythbusters did an interesting episode on this, sort of. Actually, it was a tailgate up vs down. The same idea would at least, partially apply to tonneau covers. A backwards swirl (Separated bubble) developed that actually made the air flowing over the hood and roof sweep smoothly over the bed. With the tailgate down, it actually spoiled the air flow.

I'll see if I can find the video. There is a video out there somewhere that shows the tonneau specifically.

Driving With Tailgate Up Is Fuel Efficient | MythBusters | Discovery

Extract- http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2006/10/e..._revisite.html

Other light reading;

http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl...-economy-myth/

 

I have a Tonneau cover on my truck and didn't notice any change in mileage with or without.

Dave

 

Thank you. I appreciate the info. I'd show you my shocked face that my mileage isn't going to skyrocket but that would be disingenuous.


My biggest reason for the tonneau is to keep snow and ice from building up in the bed. The tonneau resellers do tout the fuel savings will pay for the tonneau which I didn't quite buy. If it gets me from 17.5 to 18 mpg, and it is due to the tonneau, it's a bonus.


As far as the oil, I am considering going over to synthetic, wondering if that gets me to 18.25 MPG (wooohooo - watch out Pruis crowd!).


I don't think any of us buy a diesel for its fuel mileage. I was banking on getting 15 MPG and I'm pleasantly pleased I am getting better than that.

 

I get 15-16 around most of the time(In Sig 2012). 18+ is a bit of wishful thinking. If I do longer hwy drives my speed kill my millage. I can get 20 mpg down a slight down hill at 60. But the regen always brings it down. With my TT in tow on long trips I see low 10. I don't drive in the flat land so that has something to do with.




Also you don't want to drive this truck like a old man for better millage. These trucks like to be worked and worked HARD. Tow often ride hard.


Really best not to look at millage when you using one of these trucks. My V10 gave me 10 MPG and not I get 16 YEAH!

 

I can get 18 going over a cliff if I turn her off on the way down.

 

Ways known to best improve mileage include: removing unnecessary weight, properly inflating the tires and going easy on the slender pedal.

 

Only way to reduce the weight is for me to get out before it goes over the cliff. Not complaining or I'd have bought a Prius.

 

Didn't know that iron, steel, aluminum and plastic liked anything.

 

You'll find many different opinions on the fuel mileage people claiming only 14 and 15 and other people claiming 19 and 20 on a regular basis. Like the idea of a cover was thinking a way to put one on my truck to to keep the snow and ice out of the back, but I have a fuel tank and work box I have to make some Custom Design you think they would do that by now a lot of people have fuel tanks in their trucks at least in my area. I started a post about non-combatant fuel mileage it always turns into an argument around here just a little heads up take care

 

We're on the same page -


Yes, I read and entered my info in your non-combatant fuel mileage thread and l expected it to devolve. I bought my diesel, like most on this thread, because I like the power and use the diesel's power when I need to. I replaced my 6.0 with the 6.7 for those reasons. Some people buy them just as a work truck but mine is a combo of towing, hauling, and 5 day a week commuter.
I'm not sure why anyone who drives any vehicle isn't looking to get the best MPG they can. If it's a tank and goes from 1 MPG to 1.25 or a Prius that goes from 50 MPG to 55 by doing some sort of changes and using the right pedal judiciously - as long as the cost of the gain is recoverable or acceptable to the buyer (me), I'm willing to explore it.
Heck, when I was a teenager, come the days just before pay day, I was looking for gas to get me to my next paycheck so I could fill up my Mach I at $0.70 / gallon. The game hasn't changed for me, just the cost to play.

 

I have a alum cover. Have kept my mileage from the first of the year. My average has been 18.91, that is with 2 camping trips. I have not noticed any difference with or without the cover.

 

You say we don't buy diesels for fuel mileage, but that is why I bought mine. 8 mpg towing with a 6.2L and 12.5 mpg towing with the 6.7L. And for a look back, I got 9-10 towing the same fiver with my 3.5L Ecoboost. My unloaded MPG with my 7500 lb F350 is very close to what I got with my 6,000 lb F150.
I run synthetic HDEO with Archoil AR9100. I add Opti-Lube Summer Plus and AR6200 to the fuel tank and recently added an aFe Pro5 drop-in air filter which netted about 1 mpg.

 

You fall into my category. I bought my first pickup truck because I needed a pickup and a tow vehicle. Eventually, a few trucks later, always a 3rd vehicle for me, I had a F150 and started towing regularly in the winter with it. I got 10 MPG and killed the drivetrain before the truck hit 70,000 miles. I ended up with my first diesel pickup (6.0) because it towed so much easier and got better mileage. Now I'm on to a 6.7 because it does everything better and rides like a daily driver (so I was able to go down to 2 cars from 3). The MPG factor is part of the conversation but isn't the driving reason I have a 6.7 pick up.

 

Strange - I get 15.5-16.0 (tops) average everywhere - period (toolbox in bed w/ 350 lbs +/-). I drove 5 hours from San Antonio to Dallas ... I had a 100 lb piece of equipment in the far ***-end of the bed - got 17.5 the whole way. Come on, man .... I plan on experimenting more with this see-saw conspiracy theory ...