Mud flaps reduce MPG fuel mileage?

[Jah.]

I have mudflaps ( 15 months) and mpg didn't change . same around town and on road trip . 24 mpg town and 32 mpg highway .

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[Optimus]

I keep my mudflaps treated with middle grade trim detailer, and I got .2mpg right back again.

 

[Jman79]

Looks like the mud flaps will cut fuel mileage a bit and increase engine noise. Both minor but there. May require removing them and checking the numbers. On my normal drive have noticed about .3 mpg decrease.

Guaranteed that other factors you miss provide larger margin of error than .3mpg

- Drive path
- Your foot
- wind conditions
- computer or gas pump variance
- load in the car (did you evacuate your bowels constantly and eat the same?)
- etc
- etc

Just to be scientific about it

 

[bgn]

That's why I just run the fronts. I only take a .15 mpg hit.

 

[Jman79]

I heard if you buff your car with KY it slides right through the air. Thats another .5 mpg!

 

[Johnny “Ray” Thigpen]

.3? lol.

I’m with you.
I waited 18 months (actually years) to get a Maverick type truck from Ford and to get exactly what I want on it. If it makes it to every other service station that’s a plus for me.

 

[MaxMav]

I think it would be better to do this with only fronts then only rears and finally one flap at a time to get a more accurate measurement.

 

[Mightybeast]

So you telling me I can have a better mpg?

 

[801Maverick801]

After I installed my Mud flaps, I calculated my MPG loss to be exactly 0.34283475929237132959234723094123712301 mpg.
The Decibal increase was calculated to be an increase of 1.4575345234123123032572359123012371 db.

 

[Stevezilla]

If you drive in reverse, they improve aerodynamics so you get those 0.3 mpg back.
And the engine is quieter. SCIENCE!

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

After I installed my Mud flaps, I calculated my MPG loss to be exactly 0.34283475929237132959234723094123712301 mpg.
The Decibal increase was calculated to be an increase of 1.4575345234123123032572359123012371 db.

Totally unacceptable. I would junk the whole rig...

 

[Shay]

Now I'm worried about my deer repellent whistlers.

 

[ejouie]

Switch to a stubby antenna. That will offset the drag.

 

[jahaas13]

I just coated my truck's underbody with Fluid Film. Will report back on if this increases or decreases my MPG.

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