Gas mileage let down

Can't figure out what just happened with my MPG. Have an 08 taco that I have been getting about 22 mpg in. Took a trip over the weekend and on my way down to my destination I averaged 22.5 mpg. on the way back after a half of tank fill up I only got 18.5 mpg. No real difference in the ride back, maybe a few more lbs in the back but no head wind or any thing else unusual. What the heck could cause a drop off of 4 mpg on the second leg of the trip? Any thoughts?

 

maybe you ere going more uphill?? sometimes is unnoticeable...

 

I used to drive from Vermont to New Jersey and back a few times a month. The trip is 300 miles each way (kind of a duhh comment right here, not like it's going to change on the way back). On the way down to NJ, I would average about 28-29 mpg in my car. On the way back I would only average about 23-24 mpg. I would always drive the route around 2 or 3am and never change it. Could never make any sense of the difference other than thinking that I must be driving on a very slight incline/decline.

 

4 is a bit much, but I'm guessing fuel type. You see a little sticker on the pump saying 10 or 15% ethanol where you were?

 

Were you using air conditioning the second half?

 

were you wearing different shoes on the way home? or maybe your windows were dirty..

 

So many factors, gas, speed, weight, aerodynamics. Were you using cruise or free flyin? Big change fo sure. Boy you want to see a difference in mpg, trying towing something. It takes a big bite

 

Was mars in the fourth house of 3rd trimester??

 

No...but the stench radiating off your ass was starving his truck of oxigen.

 

That always happens to me between Vegas and Tahoe. I don't really check the exact mileage, but I can almost make it back to Vegas on one tank and on the way up I wouldn't come close to 3/4 of the way. Probably depends on having a tail wind or not plus the elevation change.

 

Just crank up the Team America soundtrack and burn as much gas as you can!

 

A half a tank isn't enough to get a true reading.