Tuning ECO Mode -vs- normal on TA

[chas379]

Have just filled up again after doing 285 miles with TA Lounge in total Eco Mode between fills. I achieved 45.2mpg in this mode -vs- 42mpg average in normal mode. Did not change my driving style and was confined to local driving with a couple of 40mile round trips. Not overtly impressed. :slayer:

 

[jrkitching]

Have just filled up again after doing 285 miles with TA Lounge in total Eco Mode between fills. I achieved 45.2mpg in this mode -vs- 42mpg average in normal mode. Did not change my driving style and was confined to local driving with a couple of 40mile round trips. Not overtly impressed. :slayer:

You've just discovered one of the ecoDriving fundamentals - substantial improvements in fuel economy require a change in driving style.

I thought the point of having an eco mode was to tweak the map & throttle response so that the car is more driveable in the 1200-2200 rpm range, which is where you need to stay if you want to maximise your economy. The Eco button may make the car more pleasant to drive gently, but it's not going to give you another 20mpg on its own.

 

[loveshandbags]

You've just discovered one of the ecoDriving fundamentals - substantial improvements in fuel economy require a change in driving style.

A lot of cars now have a Sport button and in a NA car like e.g. the M3 it gobbles the juice reducing 'economy' by about 3mpg.

The Sport button on the A500 is similar to the 'more hyper' Dynamic mode on the MiTo and like any turbo charged car the boost is increased along with a mapping change i.e. this is in effect the 'Normal' mode on the TA.

From a theory point of view more boost means more fuel but it can also be more efficient than having less boost and having to use a heavier right foot to compensate. Some modders who have chipped their boosted cars noticed an improvement in fuel 'economy'.

If your driving style is to 'nip along' then using the 'free' turbo power is a lot more efficient than having to crank up on a larger NA engine with equivalent outputs.

Have seem some reports of 'brisk' TA drivers getting a better mpg with Eco off than on but it may well come down to one's driving style.

 

[chas379]

A lot of cars now have a Sport button and in a NA car like e.g. the M3 it gobbles the juice reducing 'economy' by about 3mpg.

The Sport button on the A500 is similar to the 'more hyper' Dynamic mode on the MiTo and like any turbo charged car the boost is increased along with a mapping change i.e. this is in effect the 'Normal' mode on the TA.

From a theory point of view more boost means more fuel but it can also be more efficient than having less boost and having to use a heavier right foot to compensate. Some modders who have chipped their boosted cars noticed an improvement in fuel 'economy'.

If you driving style is to 'nip along' then using the 'free' turbo power is a lot more efficient than having to crank up on a larger NA engine with equivalent outputs.

Have seem some reports of 'brisk' TA drivers getting a better mpg with Eco off than on but it may well come down to one's driving style.

Agree with your last comment it is down to style. I'm off on a decent round trip from Worthing to York, next week, as long as the fuel crisis' doesn't materialise. I'll try Eco out again on Motorway use.:idea:

 

[jrkitching]

I'll try Eco out again on Motorway use.:idea:

Unless I'm missing something, I wouldn't have thought the eco button would make much difference when you're cruising at a steady speed on the motorway.

However, the cruising speed you choose will make a big difference.

I've also found motorway economy to be quite noticeably affected by wind speed & have seen as much as 10mpg difference out & back on a same-day return trip - something to bear in mind if you're making comparative measurements.

 

[chas379]

Unless I'm missing something, I wouldn't have thought the eco button would make much difference when you're cruising at a steady speed on the motorway.

However, the cruising speed you choose will make a big difference.

I've also found motorway economy to be quite noticeably affected by wind speed & have seen as much as 10mpg difference out & back on a same-day return trip - something to bear in mind if you're making comparative measurements.

I appreciate what you say. I'm not really bothered about the economy, as long as I see 40+ mpg as I have been achieving since owning the TA. I've always locked into monitoring my mpg per fill for quite a few years now across the range of cars I have owned.

My right foot action will never change irrespective of which mode I select to drive in.

Good to promote discussion and that is why I find this forum most valuable.

 

[bgunn]

Unless I'm missing something, I wouldn't have thought the eco button would make much difference when you're cruising at a steady speed on the motorway.

However, the cruising speed you choose will make a big difference.

I've also found motorway economy to be quite noticeably affected by wind speed & have seen as much as 10mpg difference out & back on a same-day return trip - something to bear in mind if you're making comparative measurements.

He talks sense.

ECO is most advantageous for town driving because it flattens the torque curve, making the engine feel less peaky - which makes you less likely to accelerate so hard, thus using less fuel. To really hyper mile, you'll be driving very slowly though!

 

[TrevC]

I've been using eco a lot since the "fuel crisis", and you do have to combine it with gentle driving to reap the rewards. I don't think it gives any benifit when motorway cruising, but the softer power delivery lets you change up sooner around town. I can drive at 30 in 5th with eco on, without it isn't happy much below 40. That's on the level without accelerating. My mpg on my daily commute has increased from around 50 to 55 or more.

 

[rockaroller]

I have been experiencing the same... eco mode on... car feels flat as expected and its not giving me much more on the mpg compared to eco mode off. But then again I dont have trouble controlling the accelerator when driving in town... I do prefer to have the power there if I need to get out of trouble or overtake a car. Did a drive to Swanage on the weekend with the eco mode off and I got 52mpg up from my normal 45mpg. So its full power mode on for me.


RaR

 

[senicko]

I have no idea what my problem is but I can't get more than 38 mpg in either mode. Should I have my dealer look at it or is my foot just too heavy?

 

[1st500]

I can drive at 30 in 5th with eco on, without it isn't happy much below 40..

You're lucky! I can't drive in 5th in either mode under 60mph without the engine 'hottering' as we call it here!

So far as the gear change indicator goes, I never see it suggest that I change DOWN a gear. Does it do this? BMW's one does, for example. My TA's one comes on FAR TOO early to tell me to change up ... and I do drive in an economical manner with my aim being to get up the gears as soon as possible. Incidentally, does anyone go directly from 2nd to 4th gear? I was always taught to go through ALL the gears [in sequence] ......

 

[BigJordC]

You're lucky! I can't drive in 5th in either mode under 60mph without the engine 'hottering' as we call it here!

So far as the gear change indicator goes, I never see it suggest that I change DOWN a gear. Does it do this? BMW's one does, for example. My TA's one comes on FAR TOO early to tell me to change up ... and I do drive in an economical manner with my aim being to get up the gears as soon as possible. Incidentally, does anyone go directly from 2nd to 4th gear? I was always taught to go through ALL the gears [in sequence] ......

Fiats idea of when you should change gear in a TA is madness, according to the ecoDrive application it states that you should change into fifth at around 1600rpm, to do this you would release the clutch then the car would shake and not accelerate at all. You would find yourself replacing the engine after not long, ridiculous is you ask me.

Yes the internal computer within the TA does infact inform you to change down, however I have only found this when in normal mode and harshly accelerating below 2k revs. (fault on my behlaf, mind was wondering!)

 

[bgunn]

You're lucky! I can't drive in 5th in either mode under 60mph without the engine 'hottering' as we call it here!

So far as the gear change indicator goes, I never see it suggest that I change DOWN a gear. Does it do this? BMW's one does, for example. My TA's one comes on FAR TOO early to tell me to change up ... and I do drive in an economical manner with my aim being to get up the gears as soon as possible. Incidentally, does anyone go directly from 2nd to 4th gear? I was always taught to go through ALL the gears [in sequence] ......

Block gear changing is something taught in the advanced driving test.

Incidentally, driving in fifth on mine is entirely acceptable at cruise at 30mph+, but it's most comfortably at around 40 - especially if you need to accelerate, or maintain speed up hill.

 

[senicko]

You're lucky! I can't drive in 5th in either mode under 60mph without the engine 'hottering' as we call it here!

So far as the gear change indicator goes, I never see it suggest that I change DOWN a gear. Does it do this? BMW's one does, for example. My TA's one comes on FAR TOO early to tell me to change up ... and I do drive in an economical manner with my aim being to get up the gears as soon as possible. Incidentally, does anyone go directly from 2nd to 4th gear? I was always taught to go through ALL the gears [in sequence] ......

Yes it does, mine did it this afternoon while I was driving in Fiat's recommended gear at 1500 rpms :bang:

 

[chas379]

i have no idea what my problem is but i can't get more than 38 mpg in either mode. Should i have my dealer look at it or is my foot just too heavy?

foot!!!