Sudden Drop in Gas Mileage

[Racket]

Another age related change could be water in the spark plugs wells affecting ignition?

DPFE sensor probably past due replacement.

I'll presume oil and air filters, tire pressure is all good. Are you hand calculating or just relying on the dashboard computer?

I can see a failing battery causing the alternator to put drag on the engine running all the time.


I've never run 87 in mine, always midgrade or better because of the turbo. I bought a tune for a few reasons and will take it off when the truck goes to the dealership for service. Been contemplating taking the tune off until the spike in gas prices eases but then it's hard to find midgrade around me cheaper than Costco/Sam's Club/BJ's prices. I'm utilizing the boost guage on the recently installed Banks i-dash pro to try to save fuel so I'll see where that goes but now I'm wondering how to configure it to monitor relevant parameters per @airline tech 's recommendations...

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[FerdRanger]

a “sudden“ change in mpg could be attributed to a a particular gas brand vs another, change in average speed, or even a headwind vs tailwind

how long has this been happening ?

 

[$4Ranger]

Is your battery in good shape, found similar results until i desulfated and took a very long drive. I have 50k miles on mine and its a '19. I also tend to use 93octane... Local driving i am around 25mpg and highway north of 28...mix driving somewhere around 25 to 26. Fresh oil, air filter, tire pressure impact these numbers to varying degrees.

+1 for @Nellieg, I see a big drop in winter with fuel change and tire pressure goes lower due to cold air. Anything above 65 on the highway also drags down my mpg.

I've also heard that if you don't have a tailgate damper your mpg goes down.

 

[AzScorpion]

+1 for @Nellieg, I see a big drop in winter with fuel change and tire pressure goes lower due to cold air. Anything above 65 on the highway also drags down my mpg.

I've also heard that if you don't have a tailgate damper your mpg goes down.

Yeah but your HP goes up so the trade off is worth it!

 

[Nellieg]

Yeah but your HP goes up so the trade off is worth it!

Its really the extra weight of the damper that hurts performance... Hmmm... Performance and tailgate damper... Well maybe the extra lift helps us old guys

 

[AzScorpion]

Its really the extra weight of the damper that hurts performance... Hmmm... Performance and tailgate damper... Well maybe the extra lift helps us old guys

With every passing year every little bit helps! lol

 

[got3fords]

Maybe this. But I can't remember if I get better mileage is summer or winter.
" The switch to summer gasoline typically begins as early as February or March, with all refineries required to be ready by May 1st and all gasoline meeting summer specifications by June 1st. "

 

[FatalException0E]

Do you get any random "electrical gremlin" messages on the dash (various features 'not available' or the dreaded orange wrench) that go away after a short time?

I was having those pop up occasionally, but my battery always tested good at 7 years old. I decided to replace the battery anyway and the engine started running smoother. Between the new battery and doing the differential oil change, my gas mileage that had been suffering returned to like-new.

 

[$4Ranger]

Do you get any random "electrical gremlin" messages on the dash (various features 'not available' or the dreaded orange wrench) that go away after a short time?

I was having those pop up occasionally, but my battery always tested good at 7 years old. I decided to replace the battery anyway and the engine started running smoother. Between the new battery and doing the differential oil change, my gas mileage that had been suffering returned to like-new.

That is interesting, not sure if it is causation or correlation. Any other factors that you can think of?

 

[fob63]

My 2022 2WD Ranger with 78K miles on it was getting 25 mpg in regular driving and 30 mpg on long highway trips since 2022. Suddenly it's getting 24 mpg on long highway trips and 20 mpg in regular driving. Truck seems to drive the same as before, except for the sudden increase in gasoline consumption. Any ideas about what would cause this? Taking the truck into the dealership Monday to have my wallet emptied. I hope they figure it out and fix it.

 

[Grumpaw]

Maybe driving up hill more than you normally do ???
Have you or family gained any weight causing the Ranger to use more fuel ???
Spending more driving time a low altitudes where air is denser...using more gas to push thru that denser air ???
Spending a lot more time driving on sandy beaches.....means more rolling resistance....more gas usage ???

 

[TJC]

Maybe driving up hill more than you normally do ???
Have you or family gained any weight causing the Ranger to use more fuel ???
Spending more driving time a low altitudes where air is denser...using more gas to push thru that denser air ???
Spending a lot more time driving on sandy beaches.....means more rolling resistance....more gas usage ???

I drove to the low country of SC (elevation 5'-30' ASL) from the Piedmont of NC (475'-500' ASL) about 20 times in 2022. 550-600 miles round trip. MPG was 28.4 going south, 25.5-26 going north.

Definable / repeatable. No large steep grades, precious few hills, simply a steady slow rise. I suspect a little more impact from the turbo being engaged slightly higher on the way north.

 

[Grumpaw]

I drove to the low country of SC (elevation 5'-30' ASL) from the Piedmont of NC (475'-500' ASL) about 20 times in 2022. 550-600 miles round trip. MPG was 28.4 going south, 25.5-26 going north.

Definable / repeatable. No large steep grades, precious few hills, simply a steady slow rise. I suspect a little more impact from the turbo being engaged slightly higher on the way north.

Of course you milage going north would be less...
North is "up" and south is "down"....going down obviously uses less gas !!!!!!

 

[Racket]

I drove to the low country of SC (elevation 5'-30' ASL) from the Piedmont of NC (475'-500' ASL) about 20 times in 2022.

Ahem: we do not put a space in 'lowcountry' BTW.

 

[TJC]

Ahem: we do not put a space in 'lowcountry' BTW.

Yes, I know...

Proper English...

I was born there (Georgetown), relatives in Pawley's Island, St Stevens, Carvers Bay, Maryville, Black Mingo, Conway, and Goose Creek. Most of my extended family still lives there. As a boy I shrimped with my Uncle in Winyah Bay. My family goes back a long way... they are buried in Elmwood and Pennyroyal.

I lived on the corner of Hazard and Glibert Street, 2 blocks off South Fraser (Hwy 17). Attended the little Nazarene church across the street with my grandmother. Last time I was there in 2022 the church was still there but empty I think, and the house was gone, just a open field.

It's funny - all my relatives have a deep southern drawl... but I don't. Can't explain it.

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