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redhemi57

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
What exactly does the ECO mode button do?

Do you use it? Is it always on?


Have you noticed an MPG improvement?

On my '15 Durango ive noticed it changes the transmission shift points, and throttle not as responsive.

I have mine off because of the weird transmission lag it introduces.

I've got a Durango 2015 R/T.






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#2 ·
Here's my 'serious response': You are asking for data but have obviously been playing with it yourself. What are your results?

PS - I wasn't going to say anything, as I have too much respect, but some people, and I won't say who, might take your comments as an invitation to whip out a can of smart-azz. This thread is going to be so Yuuuge!!!

Lighten up...
 
#3 ·
redhemi57 said:
What exactly does the ECO mode button do?

Do you use it? Is it always on?


Have you noticed an MPG improvement?

On my '15 Durango ive noticed it changes the transmission shift points, and throttle not as responsive.

I have mine off because of the weird transmission lag it introduces.

I've got a Durango 2015 R/T.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I've had my '15 RT for exactly a year now. I drove the first 1k with the ECO off, and only started using it once the initial fun stage started to wear off. The ECO does make up-shifts happen sooner and not as quickly. The last 11 months, I've drove with the ECO on trying to "save" fuel. I don't think it really saves all that much in my case, since I'm always in some sort of traffic, either freeway or surface streets. The cylinder deactivation does not kick in without the ECO turned on. There is a very distinct engine exhaust sound change when it does kick in. As for fuel millage I might get 1-2 MPG better with ECO on, but it has to be a long, continuous drive without traffic at all. In the last month I've turned off the ECO, and I find that driving performance is better and I'm liking it. The quicker shifts and delayed up-shifts are more to my personal driving preference, so I'll be leaving the ECO off from now on. Just my 2 cents on this.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
i always drive with ECO off , i think with its on will wear the transmission clutches sooner by shifting several times between stop signs, this is my personal opinion??

and cylinder deactivation system with it on and off several times in the city just non sense and the possibility of failure is high. just let the 8 cylinders work all the time that's why i bought it for??
 
#5 ·
I originally thought ECO being Off prevented MDS from kicking on, but now I'm not so sure.

If you drive with ECO on, and do so in such a way where MDS kicks in, you can reach down and turn ECO off and feel MDS also kick off. So this made me think ECO off meant MDS would be disabled. But, since I drive with ECO off a lot, I have noticed MDS will still kick in under certain circumstances.

So, what I think is happening is: ECO may have some impact into the parameters which control when MDS is turning on/off. And with ECO off, it seems those parameters are much tighter, and therefore MDS doesn't kick on as much.

This is just my opinion based on observation from driving my 2016 R/T.
 
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#6 ·
redhemi57 said:
What exactly does the ECO mode button do?

Do you use it? Is it always on?


Have you noticed an MPG improvement?

On my '15 Durango ive noticed it changes the transmission shift points, and throttle not as responsive.

I have mine off because of the weird transmission lag it introduces.

I've got a Durango 2015 R/T.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Eco mode is cylinder deactivation to help with the fuel economy . From what I heard it does not make that difference on the 5.7 HEMI if it actually make any difference at all.

My experience was weird because I got higher MPG with eco mode on. I always turn it off.
 
#7 ·
Natet510 said:
...only started using it once the initial fun stage started to wear off.
Click to expand...
When does that happen?

LOL. I hope the fun never wears off.

Chris
 
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#8 ·
I played with it when I first got the truck but now that I have almost 16k, I realized that its useless to me and it always stays off. The engine still goes into 4 cyl mode when it can, its just less obvious in "normal" mode. My MPG didn't seem to be affected one way or another, and 16mpg city stop-and-go is good enough for me.
 
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#10 ·
I have just under 2 months and about 4,500 miles on mine, nearly all done with eco mode off. I just today clicked it on to feel the difference. The most noticable is of course cylinder deactivation, but shift points and how quickly it moves up into 8th are also very noticeable. I've been seeing 15 mpg average, maybe 16 at times, in normal mixed driving with eco off. I'll try it for a few days but I'd guess I could get 1.5-2 mpg better with it on, part of that being that with the lag time I'm less inclined to hit the pedal and make it downshift.

I suspect when I'm done experimenting I'll do 90% of my driving with it off. I'm not a fan of cylinder deactivation.
 
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#11 ·
If it saves 1 to 2 mpg that is about 5 to 10% better mpg. Hence that would equal to 50~100 miles ever 1k miles. Annually it could be up to 1200 free miles.That is a lot of miles/year to me. On my V6 with it on it leads one gear/speed vs. off most of the time. And that is not a lot of shifting to wear the tranny. Compromise is somewhat more sluggish shifting down when needed.
 
#12 ·
CaspianM said:
If it saves 1 to 2 mpg that is about 5 to 10% better mpg. Hence that would equal to 50~100 miles ever 1k miles. Annually it could be up to 1200 free miles.That is a lot of miles/year to me. On my V6 with it on it leads one gear/speed vs. off most of the time. And that is not a lot of shifting to wear the tranny. Compromise is somewhat more sluggish shifting down when needed.
Click to expand...
You're right, and in my case I drive over 25,000 miles per year. Say I get 1.5 mpg better with eco on. 25,000/15.5 mpg = 1,613 gallons @ $2.30/gallon = $3,710. 25,000/17 mpg = 1,471 gallons @ $2.30/gallon = $3,383. Savings of $327 over the course of the year.

My decision is I'd rather enjoy the power and responsiveness of my Durango rather than have the muted vibration of cylinder deactivation plus lag time on acceleration that eco mode creates. I'm spending 500 hours a year in my car, I'm ok with paying $327 for 500 hours of more enjoyable driving. Just my take on it, I'm not criticizing your approach, it's just different strokes for different folks!
 
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#14 ·
I have the V6 and when I first got my D, I really didnt notice a big difference when driving with it on or off. I recently went to the service center for an oil change and they had an update for the D, after that, I did feel a difference. On a follow up visit I asked the service adviser if there was a trans update and he said yes. I feel that when the ECO is on, the D has a bit less power, a bit more sluggish to shift and when I hit the gas, it takes a bit longer to respond (which can be pretty crazy when you really need that D to move and it takes a second or 2 before it does). With it off, it feels alot more responsive to my foot, and the shifting alot smoother. You really have to pay close attention but you can feel a difference. As far as MPG's, I really dont know, I think when its on ECO, I purposely drive with a lighter foot so probably get a bit better MPG's.... but for all we know, its probably like that crosswalk button... just there to keep you entertained but doesnt really do anything... ;)
 
#15 ·
I also have the V6 and the Eco. I pull insane mileage paddle shifting to OD asap, way better than the eco. You can't paddle shift while in Eco either. Also have getting the transmission flash, eco shifts so slow/soft I don't feel it, and it shifts up at a slow and steady space. On the V6 the car still tries to wear out your starter ever stop sign with ECO off. They have a seperate button for the ESS Electronic Stop/Start or as I called it Extreme Starter Salesman feature. I would imagine the V8 has a button for the MSD Multi-Displacement System OR as I like to call it Magnified Drone System after hearing about the exhaust sound from R/T owners. :p
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
Thx all for your replies. The general consensus is leaving it off.

Reason I asked the question is I'm heading on a long trip to the east coast. 3000 miles or so from the West coast, and wanted to save every penny I could. I'll drive with it on for the 1500 miles then off for the last 1500 and note the differences. And buy my self the torque app with the OBDII reader. And see what I get.

How can you tell if the cylinder(s) deactivated? Is it the laggy response when you step on the accelerator?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#17 ·
You can feel the difference when running on 4 cylinders. It's kind of a slight vibration. The way to figure out how to identify it is to drive on level ground and let up on the gas (with eco mode on), you'll feel it. Step down a bit, vibration will stop and engine smooths out. Let up again, back into 4 cylinder mode. I'm not saying it's some kind of rattling vibration, just a very muted feel. I can't think of a better word to describe it.

That sounds like a great plan on your trip, I'll be interested to hear the difference. My only suggestion is that you do the mpg calculation manually, track your miles and gallons pumped, don't rely on the car's computer. They are not 100% accurate.
 
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#20 ·
Tweak said:
I also have the V6 and the Eco. I pull insane mileage paddle shifting to OD asap, way better than the eco. You can't paddle shift while in Eco either. Also have getting the transmission flash, eco shifts so slow/soft I don't feel it, and it shifts up at a slow and steady space. On the V6 the car still tries to wear out your starter ever stop sign with ECO off. They have a seperate button for the ESS Electronic Stop/Start or as I called it Extreme Starter Salesman feature. I would imagine the V8 has a button for the MSD Multi-Displacement System OR as I like to call it Magnified Drone System after hearing about the exhaust sound from R/T owners. :p
Click to expand...
That's weird that you cant use the paddles on ECO, I have a 2015 and I swear that I can, although I dont think Ive tried it since the last update the dealer did, Ill test it out on my next drive today. As far as the start/stop feature, that was the biggest reason I went with my new 2015 (that was built in december 2015, so basically a 2016) rather than the 2016, didnt want that feature at all. Ill update when I go out for a drive and see if mine has limitations to the paddles with ECO on.
 
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CaspianM
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