ECT Button Use and MPG

Hi all- I am clear on what the ECT button does, but I am curious if any of you use it often or all the time and its true impact on MPG? Thanks

 

While I'm not completely sure, I surmise that it changes the shift points (i.e. higher RPM) to better keep the engine in its stronger power band.

 

^^^ lol op, welcome to the confusion that is TW.

 

It's impact on MPG is going to be completely dependent upon who's using, how they're using it, and under what conditions it's being used.
I live in the mountains, and use it when I'm in the mountains. Once on relatively flat land, assuming I'm not towing anything, it no longer serves a purpose.
I average 15mpg ~ on a stock truck with stock size Nitto Ridge Grapplers @ 25psi.

 

I use it for higher torque acceleration...as @CT Yankee mentioned.

Of course, I have OTT, V9, Mild Drive/Spicy ECT so it has some get up and go even more so with ECT engaged!

ECT is not on constantly...it has to be engaged every time the engine is started.

I'm sure I loose some MPG but I'm not keeping track of it.

EDIT: I'm currently not towing or have oversized tires or DB tonneau cover--all of which will be added within a year or so. (except towing)

 

MPG has so many impossible-to-isolate variables that anyone who says that altering one has a significant impact... yeah I won't believe it until I see the measured data AND the variance calculation.



I Use ECT when towing. It changes shift points, so the MPGs of acceleration will be altered (most likely will be worse) but MPG at constant speed should be unchanged. Theoretically. I don't worry about it too much, I just use it when I need to be in the higher revving engine bands.

 

The truck is tuned (including the transmission) with it's main goal being gas mileage. The ECT is bypassing some of that to increase performance (mainly by holding a gear long, allowing higher RPMs before shifting). This increase in performance will negatively impact your mileage.

 

i have had the "ECT on at startup" mod in my 2016 for about 6 years now.
just try using it for a day and judge for yourself. you will have to push the button every time you start it.
turning left or right from a stop onto a road is a big difference. without ECT my truck was in 4th gear before i even finished the turn into traffic. when you want to speed up very little pedal and is shifts down, try it and report back.
no noticeable difference in my gas mileage.

 

ECT will definitely eat more gas. it will hold the gears longer thus resulting in more overall gas consumption.

 

Yeah, it seems like it is always trying to get you into the highest gear as quickly as possible to get the revs down, even when you still need the torque. I have found that when it does this, I can leave the gas where it is and just push the button and it helps.

 

With ECT turned on, does the truck ever actually get to 6th gear? If not, does it only allow getting to 5th? 4th? Just wondering what gear I would be expecting to cruise at on the freeway with it turned on.

 

Driving normally, it has had very little impact on MPG”s, but I haven’t tested a whole tank.
Yes, your truck will still go in to the OD gears at highway speeds,,, assuming you are not going uphill and/or in to a headwind.

 

Good thread. I like how my truck drives even with ECT when unloaded, I am tempted to leave it on all the time.

 

Why do you run such low tire pressure?

 

I see zero difference between ECT and “normal”. I spent many months testing it out and couldn’t find any discernible difference in MPG’s in my experience. Seems others have had difference results which makes sense if you’ve owned more than one 3rd gen. No two seem to be alike lol

 

I live on the Transamerica Trail.
I'm off road before I get on road. Spending nearly as much time on the fire roads as I do pavement, 25PSI is just a good trade off.
With the sport suspension, I actually prefer lower, but it chews through tires on the twisty quasi paved back roads.

 

I’ve found I get slightly better mpg if I use the ECT function when in stop n go traffic. As soon as speeds increase and are steady I turn it off and get the usual. I have the same daily commute and have tried it several times with the same result. It’s just a few 10th of an mpg but it’s been pretty consistent.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised!
I’d think there’s also inefficiencies in up shifting, only to have to jump it to downshift.

 

@tacomalimited23

Test it out...both without ECT and with it engaged...see the upshift pattern it produces.

You can always shift into S-Drive...which basically locks into any gear. (What I learned about gear lock is; the transmission will not shift up past the gear you select, e.g. S4/S5)

I'd keep it at S4 under 45mph and S5 above that.

You could live with driving in S5 all you want...the transmission will never go to S6.

 

I thought “S” mode capped what gear the truck was able to shift into. In other words, if you are in S4 the truck can still downshift and utilize 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear but will not be able to shift into 5th. Maybe we are saying the same thing?