So Im not sure if anyone has even mentioned or tried this yet that I've noticed in the forums but I wanted to see if there are people who are willing to take the challenge. The challenge is to see if valet mode will get you better mileage than auto/eco mode. This challenge will take 2 tanks of gas to complete. For 1 tank of gas you need to honestly and accurately calculate your mileage with auto mode and ECO mode on for the whole tank or close to it and drive your normal routine. Then once you have you mileage numbers for that tank, fill up with gas and switch your DSRT into valet mode and leave it in that mode for that whole tank doing your normal routine as done previously. This challenge may work better for those who do long trips back and forth where they travel on the same roads and at the same time everyday and also run out of gas faster so we get quicker results.
My theory started a few weeks ago while I was playing with the valet mode on my DSRT. The manual says that valet mode puts the car in 50/50 mode and disables launch control and etc, it also reduces engine power to a minimal level as noted when in the car when you do switch on valet mode. When in valet mode the DSRT will start in 2nd gear and reduces power by about 70%. As I was trying out the mode I do see that the engine power is greatly reduced from what Im used to and Id say it acts more like a weak V6 motor. I floor the pedal in second gear and its very sluggish and gets up to over 4k RPMs before switching 3rd gear but 0-60 is like 12 seconds overall. That being said if the computer is able to reduce engine power to act like a true V6 or even a 4 cylinder then maybe the gas savings might be better than when the motor goes into MDS cylinder deactivation mode. I am unable to try this myself as my driving habits and routines change from day to day and Id never be able to honestly and accurately keep the same route routine for 2 tanks of gas. As I said earlier this might be best tested by one of us who drives on the freeway a lot and constantly. even if its not city driving if we could accurately track the true mileage of a DSRT on Eco/auto mode for 1 tank and then do that same trip with valet mode then maybe we might see a difference enough to give us a answer if this works or not. The only problem i see doing this is that like almost all of us like to floor that pedal for some spirited runs here and there and with the valet mode on you won't get much. Now if you were to do this and do some spirited runs and were able to do the same thing on both tanks then go for it and just note that fact. Anyone that hasn't tried valet mode yet should check it out for half a day or whatever. Just see how much power is reduced to the engine, you be amazed. Luckily with the exhaust tune the way it is it will still sound good.
So who's up for the challenge and will do it honestly and accurately?
Please record your numbers and findings. Give us how many miles your driven both tanks and the MPG calculated when in each driving mode. if you went 300 miles on one tanks before you filled up again for your second tank then please calculate your numbers at 300 miles as well for the second to keep things the same. Let us know if you did freeway driving mostly or city etc. The more info the better. I suggest starting in Auto/Eco mode for your first tank to get the baseline MPG so you know what you should at least achieve if not exceed in valet mode.
My theory started a few weeks ago while I was playing with the valet mode on my DSRT. The manual says that valet mode puts the car in 50/50 mode and disables launch control and etc, it also reduces engine power to a minimal level as noted when in the car when you do switch on valet mode. When in valet mode the DSRT will start in 2nd gear and reduces power by about 70%. As I was trying out the mode I do see that the engine power is greatly reduced from what Im used to and Id say it acts more like a weak V6 motor. I floor the pedal in second gear and its very sluggish and gets up to over 4k RPMs before switching 3rd gear but 0-60 is like 12 seconds overall. That being said if the computer is able to reduce engine power to act like a true V6 or even a 4 cylinder then maybe the gas savings might be better than when the motor goes into MDS cylinder deactivation mode. I am unable to try this myself as my driving habits and routines change from day to day and Id never be able to honestly and accurately keep the same route routine for 2 tanks of gas. As I said earlier this might be best tested by one of us who drives on the freeway a lot and constantly. even if its not city driving if we could accurately track the true mileage of a DSRT on Eco/auto mode for 1 tank and then do that same trip with valet mode then maybe we might see a difference enough to give us a answer if this works or not. The only problem i see doing this is that like almost all of us like to floor that pedal for some spirited runs here and there and with the valet mode on you won't get much. Now if you were to do this and do some spirited runs and were able to do the same thing on both tanks then go for it and just note that fact. Anyone that hasn't tried valet mode yet should check it out for half a day or whatever. Just see how much power is reduced to the engine, you be amazed. Luckily with the exhaust tune the way it is it will still sound good.
So who's up for the challenge and will do it honestly and accurately?
Please record your numbers and findings. Give us how many miles your driven both tanks and the MPG calculated when in each driving mode. if you went 300 miles on one tanks before you filled up again for your second tank then please calculate your numbers at 300 miles as well for the second to keep things the same. Let us know if you did freeway driving mostly or city etc. The more info the better. I suggest starting in Auto/Eco mode for your first tank to get the baseline MPG so you know what you should at least achieve if not exceed in valet mode.
