ECO mode on way too much

[User_34235]

Good morning all. When I first got my 2021 Bighorn (11K miles), the ECO mode hardly ever came on. Now its on almost all the time. Today for example I was doing about 30 MPH up a hill and it stayed on the entire time. Up hills, down hills, accelerating and decelerating, it comes on all the time. I am hesitant to take it to a dealer because having them duplicate the issue might be hard, but I wanted to see what all of you thought.
Thanks in advance.

 

[SpeedyV]

Wish my (heavy) truck saw Eco / MDS more often…

 

[Scram1500]

Sounds normal. Do you have 3.92 gears? Mine will enter eco as low as 20 mph and stay there through all the gears up to the desired speed. The vibration and droning isn't any fun so MDS is disabled 99.9% of the time through the gear selector

 

[User_34235]

Thanks for the reply. I have the 3.21 gears. I just feel like this is a BIG change from even a month ago.

 

[Louhound88]

Thanks for the reply. I have the 3.21 gears. I just feel like this is a BIG change from even a month ago.

At times I notice mine stay in eco more than other times. For me it comes down to whether i've been driving a bit slower than usual, letting the truck shift at earlier rpms, etc. Do that a few days and I'll notice the truck wants to consistently shift early and go into eco quicker, and stay there a bit longer. Even at times when I'm accelerating a little. Once I get back into harder takeoffs and hard acceleration again it goes away after a few days.

 

[Dewey]

Mine rarely goes into ECO. Might have something to do with my heavy foot.

 

[HemiDude]

Is it running poorly? MDS staying activated? Or just the green light staying on?

 

[Scap]

Is it running poorly? MDS staying activated? Or just the green light staying on?

In addition to the quote above, you can turn the green light off and have one less thing to watch.

 

[Richard320]

I fail to see a problem.

 

[User_34235]

Is it running poorly? MDS staying activated? Or just the green light staying on?

Yes, Yes and Yes. You can really hear the engine kick out when its on and it sounds horrible. Very obvious that it's engaged.

 

[dski]

Mines on a lot but never considered it a problem.

How do you disable MDS?

 

[WXman]

If you put the truck into ERS mode (Electronic Range Selection) with the buttons on the steering wheel, MDS is deactivated.

I've been testing MPG with MDS on normal operation vs. turning it off with ERS mode. So far I'm seeing weekly MPG numbers within a few tenths of a mile per gallon, virtually identical. So MDS doesn't really save much if anything at the pump, it only decreases the life of an engine.

 

[Idahoktm]

If you put the truck into ERS mode (Electronic Range Selection) with the buttons on the steering wheel, MDS is deactivated.

I've been testing MPG with MDS on normal operation vs. turning it off with ERS mode. So far I'm seeing weekly MPG numbers within a few tenths of a mile per gallon, virtually identical. So MDS doesn't really save much if anything at the pump, it only decreases the life of an engine.

Same for me. I can't find any conclusive evidence that MDS is detrimental to engine life, but common sense says it's not helping. I deactivate it every time.

 

[Dewey]

I've been testing MPG with MDS on normal operation vs. turning it off with ERS mode. So far I'm seeing weekly MPG numbers within a few tenths of a mile per gallon, virtually identical. So MDS doesn't really save much if anything at the pump, it only decreases the life of an engine.

When I owned Chevy’s it was exactly the same deal with Active Fuel Management. I actually got better gas mileage with the older motors before that was added. Nothing but a feel good marketing scam that did nothing but reduce the life of the motors and cause many more valve train repairs.

 

[kapinallinen2]

I like my V8 running on all eight.
The gear range selector is my friend and maybe the lifters will stay happy by keeping them active.

 

[Rick3478]

Anyone remember Cadillac's V8/6/4? My boss owned one that spent more time in the dealer shop than being driven. Until GM finally came out with a kit to "downgrade" it to a normal V8.

 

[mikeru82]

Anyone remember Cadillac's V8/6/4? My boss owned one that spent more time in the dealer shop than being driven. Until GM finally came out with a kit to "downgrade" it to a normal V8.

Sure, I remember those commercials. I also remember thinking what a bad idea that was.

 

[bigdodge]

Anyone remember Cadillac's V8/6/4? My boss owned one that spent more time in the dealer shop than being driven. Until GM finally came out with a kit to "downgrade" it to a normal V8.

my friend may he rest in peace was in on the ground floor of this and he said it was crap.

 

[HemiDude]

Anyone remember Cadillac's V8/6/4? My boss owned one that spent more time in the dealer shop than being driven. Until GM finally came out with a kit to "downgrade" it to a normal V8.

My Grandfather bought one of those when they first came out. Seemed gimmicky to me, but he never had a problem with his. He kept it for his standard four-year stint.

 

[HemiDude]

Yes, Yes and Yes. You can really hear the engine kick out when its on and it sounds horrible. Very obvious that it's engaged.

I wonder if there is something compromising normal engine performance, and it is exacerbated when the MDS kicks in. Before taking it in to the dealer, maybe you can check a few easy things: A clogged air filter or rodent debris in the airbox, try a tank or two of fuel from a different station (maybe a higher octane as well), things like that.