Do any of you use Eco mode?

[Xist]

Assuming you even have it! For some reason I seem to be more active on YouTube than here. Pretty pictures! You guys seem to be much better informed and civilized than other corners of the Internet.

Scotty Kilmer posted a video about saving gas and gave the standard tips about replacing your air filter, using the right oil and tire pressure, and driving conservatively, but he also introduced something called "Wind Booster" that adds eco, sports, etc. modes if you have an electronic throttle.

I cannot find out much about it, just that it reduces throttle response in eco mode and increases it in sport mode, because stomping on the accelerator is so difficult--or people want to pretend they are driving their car hard, while still being able to afford gas.

Who even uses Eco mode? I don't have it!

[Vman455]

In the Prius, Eco mode also changes some other parameters, like cycling the AC compressor, so I generally leave it on.

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by Vman455

In the Prius, Eco mode also changes some other parameters, like cycling the AC compressor, so I generally leave it on.

Ditto for our 2 Lexus hybrids and Gen 3 Prius. Eco mode dulls down the initial throttle response as well as being less aggressive with the air conditioning, allows a bit more deviation from the set speed for cruise control and uses less acceleration to maintain the speed.

The difference is extremely noticeable and we leave all of them in eco unless pursuing a sporting jaunt through the hills near home.

Priuschat link that shows a graph of throttle response (Post #19)

Simon

[redpoint5]

Scotty Kilmer is more of an entertainer. He rarely applies a scientific method or thought process to what he recommends. The fact that he mentions "check the air filter" as a fuel savings tip shows which car era he is from (the carbureted one). It simply isn't relevant for modern vehicles. He might "know" some things about vehicle ownership, but he doesn't "understand" how things work.

I generally leave the Prius in normal mode except for rare occasions in the summer when I want the AC to operate more efficiently. There is no discernible difference in fuel economy between the 2 modes. Even worse, eco mode changes the throttle curve to be non-linear. Almost nothing happens for the first 2/3 of the pedal motion, and then it gets extremely twitchy towards the last 1/3 of travel. This actually makes it more difficult to maintain the throttle in the "eco" range of the HSI.

Slow acceleration does not equal improved fuel economy. Most important is brake avoidance. Thankfully Toyota doesn't screw with the brake application curves for the sake of improving fuel economy.

The "eco" button should be repurposed to change the regen behavior. It annoys me that the car regens slightly and slows when letting off the throttle. If I could switch modes so that letting off the throttle enters a pure coast, that would make me happy. Others would be happy to have the car slow at maximum regen when letting off the throttle. That feature is way more valuable to consumers than the awful "Eco" button.

[2000mc]

https://www.cars.com/articles/2009/0...rolet-equinox/
GM program engineering manager Doug Smith... Eco mode locks up the Equinox’s torque converter at lower speeds — most automatics do this at highway speeds — and changes shift patterns in the four-cylinder’s six-speed auto. It cuts the engine’s speed at idle, too, but it doesn’t affect the accelerator pedal. The net effect? About 1 mpg...

We leave the eco button on all the time in my wife's equinox. my parents have one too and my dad calls his the "make it feel like a 4 cyl" button

[Natalya]

My G2 Insight has some kind of flower economy button. I noticed with my ScanGauge that it changes the TPS values. I usually leave it on because it seems to make it slightly easier to hold certain low TPS values that I use, usually 17 or 21 or 23, but I don't know if it changes anything other than TPS.

[redpoint5]

Oh yeah, I guess I forgot other makes have "eco" buttons too. I leave eco on all the time in the '13 Dodge Grand Caravan. It short shifts and holds the taller gears longer when getting into the throttle.

[RedDevil]

The G2 Insights eco button influences the way the cruise control accelerates.

If you go along at a constant speed the revs drop to about 1100 RPM (when slower than 35 mph) or until the CVT maxes out.
When you let CC accelerate it will keep the revs low in Eco mode under about full engine load. It will speed up reluctantly and leisurely. - a bit like a loaded semi.

Eco OFF then it jumps to or above 3K and speeds up like most cars do.
In this car it definitely uses more fuel like that.

[Fat Charlie]

Yeah, Dodge changes the shift points and keeps the torque converter locked more. It helps you if you're willing to be more gentle on the throttle (meet it halfway, you know?).

I leave ours on except in major hills or when towing in hills. Then it's best to just give the unit free rein and do its job.

Eco mode is just another tool. Find out what yours does and you may find it useful.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Eco mode is just another tool. Find out what yours does and you may find it useful.

You can't make snappy YouTube videos with advice like that!