Awful gas mileage :(

That would net you a misfire code and CEL and likely way worse MPG. Counting MPG in any truck is usually depressing and best avoided.
I think that mileage with that load on the little 4banger in the winter sounds about right

 

How long have u had this truck

 

I find it hard to believe an area that gets down to -14 doesn’t have a winter gas blend.

 

Everybody gets winter gas in the winter months. I'm driving an 07 DC 4X4 auto with the 4.0 V6 with a 180 lb fiberglass cap, if there is any loss of fuel mileage in winter it is small enough to be hard to detect.

Where and how you drive has the biggest impact. I usually see 16-17 mpg for my normal every day driving, but there is almost no true stop and go city driving in there. It is more rural 2 lane and small town driving with some 4 lane state highway driving. On the road 18-20 mpg.

 

Where is the OP located? Sounds like he is in the Northern parts of the States and enjoying the brisk temperatures.

Yes, fuel mileage will suffer. Primary reasons are high idle during warm up, winter blend fuels, snow/ice covered roads, declining tire pressure, ballast in the bed.........

FWIW, my V-6 gets 19+ mpg in the summer with mixed highway/city driving. In the winter........it tanks down to the 16- range. For the past 10 days, we've had sub 0F. I'm not going to figure the mpg on this tank......I'm sure it will be in the bottom double digits.

This is all normal for winter.

The EPA estimates are guidelines set up on specific test conditions to allow a consumer to compare vehicles. It isn't meant as a guarantee. The test is done at a set temperature, set speeds, set times at speed, acceleration/deceleration rate, tires, inflation pressure.......... Real world driving with real world drivers is not the same, nor will it ever be the same.

Although, you can take steps to improve your mpg.
1. Tire pressure is important and will change with temperature. Watch your tire pressure, adjust as needed.
2. Reduce the weight being hauled. It takes energy to haul weight.
3. Keep the engine and drive train in good condition.
4. Don't sit letting the truck idle to warm up. This is a bad habit that remote start allows. Just get in start the engine, buckle up, drive easy. When the oil pressure is up, you can go. This is when the red "genie" lamp goes off.
5. Avoid 4WD unless in snow (unplowed roads). It does little good on snow pack or ice.

 

Incorrect. You have it and just don't know it.

You also haven't had the truck long enough to know what it will do in other conditions.

Right now I'm getting about 16 in town (short runs) but will get 18 in summer w/AC always on, with 22-23 on hwy trips.

 

14-17 MPG in my 5-lug RC auto lately; Marginally better if I run 89 or 91 but after experimenting with high octane fuels for a little bit I determined it was not worth it. BJ's has 93 cheaper than other gas stations in my area sell 87 for!

The best mileage I've gotten in the last year was 22 MPG on the highway while driving home from Carlisle in August 2020; This was at speeds of 75 to 80 MPH with the A/C cranked.

Primarily, I blame the effects of cold weather on ethanol-based fuels! Stupid ethanol...

 

I have a 2009 Access 2.7 5-spd, completely stock. I bought it for economy. Mine drops in the Winter, but its dropped 2mpg in the last month. I have every fill up recorded in notebooks from the day I bought it (7-3-2011). I can see the trend, and the drop is dramatic enough to question it. I have heard that the air filter and mass air sensor could be the problem. Someone said online that you can clean them. Ive gotta get mine out and see what is what.
Anybody have any ideas?

 

Air filter is pretty easy to check. I'd probably just replace it though. Any change in use? More idling, cold weather, etc? Any other symptoms that might indicate a head gasket problem? Could Be lots and lots of things though...

 

I am going to change the air filter and check out the MA sensor. There is something going on. No change in anything. Connecticut Winters every year Ive owned it. No reason to suspect a head gasket...it runs normally.
Has nothing to do with gas or the way its driven.