Better Fuel Economy in Town vs HWY?

[SVTRay]

So I've racked on some miles...roughly 4000 and taken some some what long road trips, in Dallas now which is 350 miles away from home one way. Anyhow, I get 15 miles per gallon in town and 14 miles to the gallon on the hwy?? Now I don't really buy the truck for fuel economy but shouldn't it be the other way around? The truck is completely stock including air filter, no bed cover, and using Super Unleaded. I haven't had a chance to install a bed cover yet but it's on my to-do-list.

 

[wbimota]

I have fabric bed cover, totally stock and 6.2.
I work at LA downtown for day time, and my home is like 20 miles from work.
My average MPG is less than 12.
But when I came from the Afton Trip to home which was about 150~200 miles, my MPG hit 15.2 and it was my best.
I ran mostly less than 75 and I think most of trip was little bit down hill.
I think one of the most important thing about MPG on freeway is your average speed.
I read one article from yahoo that said, if you increase your ave speed from 55 to 65, you loose 5 MPG and same as 65 to 75.

 

[Frivol]

i actually have to say i get better milage at 65 than i do at 55. but my combined driving in Germany i get about 12 average(this is calculated) and i've only got 1700 miles on mine. but for hwy miles tire pressure, winds, hills, altitude all come into play along with speed

 

[SVTRay]

Well doing 80+mph probably isn't helping lol

I think I'm going to try a K&N drop in filter for basic around town and hwy driving and then get a bed cover.

 

[Madcowranch]

Tried a little experiment the other day... reset my mpg comp. and kept the go-pedal down all the way for 4 miles flat terrain and averaged 4.8 mpg's. I was on a closed track, of course.:racing:

 

[SVTRay]

hum...I haven't even checked the mph computer, I've just been calculating it by hand/calculator during refuel stops.

 

[Frivol]

Haha yeah go 80!!! I'm planing on finding a drop in washable filter. Mine's already completely filled with dirt/mud/whatever wanted to go in the air box. and i cant find a replacement disposable over here, Fun huh?

 

[SVTRay]

Well I'm gearing up for a return trip home but I don't have time to locate a drop in K&N filter. So I'll have to check it out later.

 

[AuPanda]

Well doing 80+mph probably isn't helping lol

I think I'm going to try a K&N drop in filter for basic around town and hwy driving and then get a bed cover.

My gas milage has actually gone down since I've installed the K&N drop-in. I took it out and replaced it with the stock paper filter and up went the mpg (about 1mpg). I figure I'll just use the K&N when i go off road since it's "cleanable."

 

[Fido]

If I keep the rear tires from going faster than the front, mileage is much better.

For anyone with a physics degree or experience;
Does the bed cover really help on these trucks with the short short bed? Does the airflow actually create a large enough low pressure area to matter?