Tonneau cover and MPGs.

I know that the mythbusters supposedly busted this? What episode was this? I remember they tested the tailgate down vs up vs netting, but I don't remember a tonneau being tested.

Anyways, here is a Ford engineer at wind tunnel stating that Tonneau covers improve efficiency and mileage.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEkiDsVGr9c

Skip to 1:26.

 

I bought a hard tonneau cover because I wanted one. I would never buy one just to save gas.

 

If it makes a difference I would say that it is so small as to be negligible. Airing up your tires a couple # will make a bigger difference. Get a hard tonneau because you want secure bed storage, not because you want to save on gas. You'll never even come close to amortizing the cost of a tonneau based on gas savings alone.

 

I run mine with and without a tonneau cover and pay attention to my milage. If there is a difference, it sure isn't noticeable.

 

I don't really see a difference in MPG but I do feel a slight pull when air gets held back by the tailgate when I hit crosswinds. Since I run the cover all the time, I do notice it when it is not on. I do feel better aero dynamics on the freeway.

Regardless, don't buy a cover because of "Fuel Savings", buy it for its usability.

 

I just put a soft tonneau on and mostly drive freeway miles. I noticed only a slight uptick in mpg (maybe 0.5 higher), but a BIG difference in higher speed aerodynamics and feel.

 

I agree you can notice a difference in aerodynamics at 70 mph and up, not much below that.

 

Zero difference in mpg here when I put mine on.

Everything is designed in a wind tunnel these days for max efficiency anyways.

 

I just got a tonnneau cover and I did my first highway trip with it.

I got nearly a 1.5 increase in mpg. I have never got more than 20.5mpg on this particular trip. Keep in mind that I drive a manual, which has EPA rating of 20mpg highway and 17mpg city



The cover made a difference in my case. I noticed a much larger jump in MPG during the slightly more downhill sections of these trip.

 

I have not noticed any difference with mine. But when I do start paying more attention to the MPGs I tend to baby it and get a little better gas. That may explain your new found great gas mileage.