ECO mode, fuel saving mode not working

[Gondul]

I don’t get how Walmart gas (MurphyUSA) is not top tier gas but when I click on the link for Austin TX, it shows a Murphy USA station as 100% gas.

Because they sell cheap gas which does not meet the Top Tier requirements for ethanol gas.
Non-ethanol gas doesn't get all the detergents added like the Top Tier gas.

 

[Ortiz7983]

Because they sell cheap gas which does not meet the Top Tier requirements for ethanol gas.
Non-ethanol gas doesn't get all the detergents added like the Top Tier gas.

So then don’t go by the website that was provided for 100% gas. Since it’s not top tier. At least for this station.

 

[Gondul]

So then don’t go by the website that was provided for 100% gas. Since it’s not top tier. At least for this station.

Yeah, "Top Tier" does not apply to non-ethanol gas.

All gas has to have a minimum amount of detergents in them per federal regulations. Top Tier has a higher requirement as developed by auto manufacturers.

Nothing wrong with using non-ethanol gas, especially for older engines, but there is not really any adverse impact on modern engines.

 

[jabara572]

Question on the Eco mode. Is there a range of mph it goes into effect. I typically run 70-80 and have yet to see it come on so I was thinking I’m driving too fast.

It will not activate under 20mph, and will disable if your speed goes below 15mph. It will almost never come on going up even the sligtest of incline. If you have a heavy foot it will never come on.

I can get mine to come on by completely coming off the gas, then applying a max of like 5% throttle, generally flips it on everytime

 

[jzinckgra]

Bought a used 2021 with 7500mi. Haven't seen the light yet and have driven it about 150mi. Mine has CAI and borla exhaust. Would this effect econ?

 

[Richard320]

Bought a used 2021 with 7500mi. Haven't seen the light yet and have driven it about 150mi. Mine has CAI and borla exhaust. Would this effect econ?

I doubt it. The default setting for the ECO light is off. You have to go into settings on the radio screen to enable it. Or get on a flat road and put the dash to display instant economy. Cruise about 40 mph. If the instant economy is somewhere between 20 and 99, you're in ECO mode. As soon as you hit the slightest grade -- even just an overpass -- it will drop out and the mileage will also drop.

 

[jzinckgra]

I doubt it. The default setting for the ECO light is off. You have to go into settings on the radio screen to enable it. Or get on a flat road and put the dash to display instant economy. Cruise about 40 mph. If the instant economy is somewhere between 20 and 99, you're in ECO mode. As soon as you hit the slightest grade -- even just an overpass -- it will drop out and the mileage will also drop.

My indicator light setting is set to "on". I'm not convinced the Econ is functioning. I was coasting down many hills this morning on my alternate route to work and it does not come on, nor do I feel the MDS switch back and forth. Just because the instant fuel econonmy jump to 99mpg doesn't mean MDS is on. I've had other trucks and cars without cylinder deactivation and instant mpg will always jump when off the gas pedal and going down a hill.

 

[Richard320]

My indicator light setting is set to "on". I'm not convinced the Econ is functioning. I was coasting down many hills this morning on my alternate route to work and it does not come on, nor do I feel the MDS switch back and forth. Just because the instant fuel econonmy jump to 99mpg doesn't mean MDS is on. I've had other trucks and cars without cylinder deactivation and instant mpg will always jump when off the gas pedal and going down a hill.

99 mpg actually means infinity. That means no fuel is being used. Which is why I specified between 20 and 99. Not coasting, just leisurely cruising on a flat road should get it working. But who knows, maybe the previous owner hooked up some aftermarket tuner and deactivated it?

 

[jzinckgra]

99 mpg actually means infinity. That means no fuel is being used. Which is why I specified between 20 and 99. Not coasting, just leisurely cruising on a flat road should get it working. But who knows, maybe the previous owner hooked up some aftermarket tuner and deactivated it?

This is what I'm wondering. Can MDS be deactivated with a tuner? I've been on enough flat roads and feathering the pedal and no light comes on. Avg mpg is 17.5 on my 50mi rountrip commute which is 50/50 back roads and highway. I knew I'd take a hit on mpg compared to my Ranger, but not this bad. Love the truck though. If it costs $500 more a year in fuel, I'm ok with that, but would still like the benefit of Econ

Also saw this online: "You may also want to disable the MDS on your vehicle if you use aftermarket exhaust. This is because of the goofy sound it produces when the engine switches from eight cylinders to four cylinders."

 

[ferraiolo1]

Yea you can turn it off via a tune if you bought the truck used.

And mds mileage improvement is negligible. Especially if you live somewhere will hills.

That mpg sounds about right for mixed driving

Also note MDS is meant for less air pollution, not so much MPG gains. There are a few good articles to read floating around. Be glad its turned off, its annoying kicking on and off.

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[Kaderast]

For whatever reason, I've noticed the Eco light comes on at very random intervals. I can drive the exact route to work (about 20 miles of mixed hwy/city) for weeks and not see the eco light at all. Then one day I'll see it on first thing in the morning, and if I drive reasonable can keep it on for almost half of my commute. Then days or weeks will go by before I see it on again. No idea why the complete randomness. 9,500 miles on a '21 Bighorn.

 

[ferraiolo1]

It’s all about your right foot when it activates.


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[Mountain Whiskey]

It’s all about your right foot when it activates.


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Yes, 100% right. I think these guys are not seeing eco mode because the pedal has to come up off the floor for it to come on!

 

[jzinckgra]

This is what I'm wondering. Can MDS be deactivated with a tuner? I've been on enough flat roads and feathering the pedal and no light comes on. Avg mpg is 17.5 on my 50mi rountrip commute which is 50/50 back roads and highway. I knew I'd take a hit on mpg compared to my Ranger, but not this bad. Love the truck though. If it costs $500 more a year in fuel, I'm ok with that, but would still like the benefit of Econ

Also saw this online: "You may also want to disable the MDS on your vehicle if you use aftermarket exhaust. This is because of the goofy sound it produces when the engine switches from eight cylinders to four cylinders."

So this is funny. I was convinced in the week since I bought my truck that the previous owner disabled MDS, yet this morning it starts coming on and I can hear the exhaust note change when it bounces between 4 and 8cyl. What I'm wondering about is whether the gear limit being enabled stays restricted to a certain gear until you "release" it. For instance, over the last week I've seen the gear indicator switching between gears and such and not paying much attention to it otherwise. I assumed it stayed illuminated all the time. But last night I started pushing the + and - buttons to try it out then parked in the garage till this morning. On my way to work this morning the Econ light comes on and gear indicator light was off. Is it possible I was locked into gears 1-7 for the last week and not 1-8? I would assume when the ignition is shut off and the turned back on, any gear limit would be removed and the truck would go back to default MDS. In any case, MDS is working now, but I can't explain why it wasn't.

 

[ferraiolo1]

Any time you manually select gears, it turns off mds.

It’s why I always put mine in 8 as soon as I start driving.


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[jzinckgra]

Any time you manually select gears, it turns off mds.

It’s why I always put mine in 8 as soon as I start driving.


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ok, but does it stay that way after you turn off the truck?

 

[ferraiolo1]

No. Or when you put it in park, n, or reverse.

Tow haul mode also turns it off.

Honestly stop focusing on it so much. It’s not going to improve anything for you.


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[jzinckgra]

No. Or when you put it in park, n, or reverse.

Tow haul mode also turns it off.

Honestly stop focusing on it so much. It’s not going to improve anything for you.


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Disagree. On my 10mi highway section I got 17.6mpg without MDS and 19.8 with.

 

[ferraiolo1]

10 miles isn’t enough to get an appropriate reading. Other factors are affecting that reading.

If that was the case I wouldn’t be getting my epa mpg ratings over my 1000k road trips with it OFF

 

[mikeru82]

Disagree. On my 10mi highway section I got 17.6mpg without MDS and 19.8 with.

When I tested this on my commute a couple years ago I saw a negligible difference. Ran with MDS enabled for a month, then ran with it disabled for a month. I hand calculated my mileage, and saw a 0.4 mpg increase when leaving MDS enabled. I would consider that difference to be within the margin of error based on the variables involved with day to day driving.