ECT power???

what's it used for??? towing??? uphill???

 

ECT is Electronic controlled transmission. It changes the shift point of the truck to a higher rpm. Allowing you to get a bit more power out before the shift.

 

so when would be an ideal time to use it?

 

I leave mine on 24/7.

 

I think the official anwser is when you need a little more ooomph like when you want to pass a vehicle on a 2 lane road or when you are merging onto the freeway and need to get to speed.

As far as me though, I tend to switch it on randomly when I want to hear my deck plate mod growl

 

Only time I turn mine off is when I'm on the highway and don't want the tranny to keep shifting in and out of the top gear. With it off, it will help keep it in the higher gear and not downshift as much... but it says on 95% of the time.

 

wait so ECT keeps it in a high gear?

i never use it unless i feel like hearing it growl a little more or im merging or something

what about gas mileage?

 

higher rpm = more fuel being used

 

I have comapred several full tanks with ECT on and off and never really noticed any real difference. I get a few more miles with it off but I attribute that to me gasing it more when ECT is on to hear her scream.

 

Yep if you dont have you foot in it all the time ECT will have zero effect on your mpg. For the first 2 years of having my truck I never even knew what the thing was. But since then I have had it on 24/7. I average anywhere from 22-24mpg with or without it on.

 

Ive never turned it on as it states in the user's manual that is for towing mostly and may negatively effect the MPGs. Ive always left it off and just accepted the fact that my 2.7L is slow as FAWK. I cam from driving zippy tuner cars ( subaru's Honda's, Nissan's ) and it sucks that my truck cant get out of its own way in comparison. Ah well. Not fast = my right foot stays out of the accelerator and i get better fuel economy and NO TICKETS ! its a trade off i suppose.

Maybe ill turn the ECT on and check it out, but just having to look at the ECT light may bug me.

 

sweet thanks guys...exactly the answers i was looking for..

 

Oops.. Typo! I ment to put, with it off, it keeps it in a higher gear..

 

"Owner's Manual"

"ECT or "Power" mode is for a more powerful acceleration...Toyota recommends leaving it off to improve fuel economy"

 

x2

 

24/7 also. Once I tried it, I never went back. I don't think the truck shifts down nearly quick enough when ECT is off. I don't like to half floor it to get it to shift down and then as soon as I let off again have it shift back. I turn over drive on/off all the time and sometimes shift to 2nd, but I never take ECT off.

Matt

 

I keep my ECT on 24/7 unless I'm wheeling like MTGirl said.
Here in Utah there are some ridiculous hills and my truck usually has issues searching for gears when going uphill with cruise on. With ECT switched on it makes gear searching a little less frequent.

Damn these hills, didn't have 'em back in Texas.

 

me too! lol i drove a honda the other day and it was so low and fast lol i just sit back and cruise now and keep an eye out for johnny law

WHAT!?!?!?! lol hmmmmm maybe ill run through a tank with ECT power and see what happens