Mpg drop after talons garage cat shield?

**disclaimer: I'm not complaing about mpg,i know what I signed up for.

I've had my talons garage 1/4 aluminum skid/cat shield since I got the truck. I average 16 mpg usually. I had to take it off after the dealer blamed a squeak on the TRD/talon skid connection and my mpg went up to around 20. Does it really affect the aerodynamics that much and mpg? Anyone else see this?

 

Highly unlike but there's only one way to find out. Go drive the exact same route exactly the same way for a full tank each with and without the cat shield.

 

Seems to big of a jump. Going from OEM tires to 33s didn't even affect me that much

 

Naw I added a talons alum and got no noticeable mileage change. Still averaging about 23average per tank on the 4 banger.

 

did you consider summer vs winter gas? fill up timing might have affected mpg. depends how you measured. no hint in first post.

 

My Tacoma got 2mpg better pulling a rav4 for 100 miles
Doubt an expensive differently named skid plate is going effect mileage that much

 

No difference on my tundra

 

This was just last week i had it off, and put it on yesterday

 

This is the way...

 

One day this, another day that ...

As stated, a full tank, maybe 2, running consistent routes. Then make 1 change (not several) and repeat. There is a reason they test new vehicles at the same corporate track, year after year.

 

purely coincidence. Other factors like wind, city/highway, speed, warm up times, what type of moon tonight, etc etc

 

I still get the same ~17 mpg city with a Talons Garage CAT shield, TRD skid plate, and front air dam removed as I did when completely stock.

 

Run a full tank or two with each setup and see the difference

 

It is highly unlikely that that cat shield impacts fuel consumption to that degree.
They are not even in direct airflow.

 

My mpg is a little better and there’s no rattle. I can hear a rock hitting it every now and then. Comes out of my tire after going down my gravel driveway.

 

Give it more time. It’s almost certain it does nothing for mpgs when the weight against any/some slight aero efficiency is factored in.