My accord has one. It does two things. It remaps the throttle so it's less sensitive, basically it takes pushing the accelerator more to get the same response as if it was off and it also makes the AC compressor cycle on less often. Some people have noticed it makes the transmission shift earlier but I have not noticed that.

I used it on my drive across Canada and I can honestly say I noticed no difference. I got 6.5L /100km with it on and off. That's my experience with it in a V6 accord anyway.

 

Thanks much!

 

ECON mode does not improve fuel economy by any measurable amount. If it did, it would default to "on" every time you started the vehicle and its operation would be required during EPA testing.

ECON mode works by encouraging relaxed driving by "dampening" throttle response within a wide band from just off idle to just before wide-open throttle. Although it doesn't make any mechanical changes, it reduces part-throttle response to make the vehicle feel less powerful. When a vehicle feels less powerful, you tend to drive more gently which saves fuel. With ECON off, the vehicle feels more responsive and powerful which encourages quick starts, fast driving, and quick stops which reduces fuel economy.

Technically what happens you turn ECON mode on is:

- The throttle becomes less responsive to accelerator pedal input within a band. However, wide-open throttle is still wide-open throttle.
- The HVAC fan speed is slightly reduced, recirculation mode is used more often, and the cabin temperature is allowed to vary more.
- The cruise control becomes less aggressive - the vehicle will lose more speed going uphill and gain more speed going downhill.

That's it - no magic going on. It's basically a "feel good" button. Many drivers report lower fuel economy by using ECON mode. I notice no difference in my CR-V's fuel economy. I get 33 MPG driving to work every day with it on or off. Personally, I keep ECON mode on for the simple fact that it makes the throttle less "touchy".

 

That's a very good explanation.

 

It feels like it starts in second gear with the econ button on. Is that just the perception of the dampened throttle?

 

Yes. If you floor the accelerator pedal the rate of acceleration will be identical whether ECON is on or off.

 

Funny how some Gen2 Pilot owners claimed they got worse fuel economy in Econ mode...but then most admitted that it was frustration-related. They would push the throttle and not get enough response so they often over-compensated by pushing much harder ("GO, dammit, GO!"). Eventually they just quit using the Econ button. Some Piloteers who bought VCM Muzzlers said they did the same thing when they felt VCM shutting down cylinders -- they'd push the engine harder and get lower fuel economy before they installed the Muzzler and unshackled their engines.

 

I would agree with this....I only have a tick over 2000 miles on mine, and hate that button. I left it on for one tank of my normal driving and I got 2mpg less.

What the ____ Rover.

I just use my foot....so far I have been very happy with the MPG on my car/truck/thingy.

 

It sounds like something else to malfunction with no appreciable payback.

 

The only hardware involved is a momentary pushbutton switch and a bit of wire - hardly anything that's likely to fail. The rest of the system is all software running on hardware that already exists.

 

I like to stomp on the new CRV once in awhile just to watch the glowin dash lite change color.

 

Our school buses have an ECON switch on them with the Allison transmissions and what it does is change the shift rpms, lower in econ.

 

In the "good ol' days" we did this by adjusting the transmission's throttle valve linkage on the side of the carburetor. My, how things have changed!

 

To econ or not econ??

 

Not ever once.

I've had other vehicles with an ECO button and the car usually drives like complete crap with it on.

 

No, because it sucks your soul and makes you sad.

 

Econ mode sucks the power and responsiveness out of the truck. I tried it a couple of times and probably never will again. It may be OK on a long road trip with the cruise set, but would that result in any fuel savings?

 

I have it on all the time...truck is slower and has less power but mileage is much better....it you need more power just press the button and it's there for you and your mileage is going to go down. Easy.....

 

Mine is always on. I do notice the lag in holding cruise control and acceleration, but I like getting 22.5 MPG with 50/50 driving. (This is an actual number, the computer shows 24+)

 

Yes I use it for the daily commute which involves cruising. The button is right there and instantaneous if I really need to put the hammer down.

 

Always for highway driving.
Better MPG.

 

This almost seems counter productive. Wouldn't you want to use it in stop and go traffic or surface streets with lots of traffic lights? I usually don't have a problem holding a steady throttle on the highway and get great fuel economy.

Like I said earlier, I don't even want to know what the Ridgeline feels like with it on. Maybe if gas goes back up to 4.35 a gallon some day we shall see.

 

Never used it until today. Yeah, it's somewhat unresponsive, but it keeps me from being a bit...aggressive. I'll leave it on until it drives me nuts, or doesn't.

 

The first 2500 miles I rarely used it... But then I thought I wasn't using it enough to get a true feel for it, so I decided intentionally to use it continually for the next 1000 miles. I now have 5000 miles on my G2, and still have it in Econ mode! I like the shift points for City driving, and it seems less likely to downshift when using cruise control! :wink: ... both of those are IMO, win-win. Combining those two Econ benefits with an approx 1.5-2 mpg gain makes it's use a no-brainer for my daily driving habits 0 ... Naturally, I'll disengage it if towing, etc.
.
.

 

It has been on since the day i drove if off the lot. That day was 5 months ago.

 

I just put it in neutral and push...

 

Never used it and probably never will.

 

I did on the 8 hour trip to CT a few weeks back. Made the truck VERY boring to drive.

I've had it turned off since. I don't drive a ton, so the gas mileage isn't a huge concern.

One thing I really love about the RL is the acceleration. Econ makes it drive like a CR-V.

Pete

 

Mine is almost always on. I have heard it makes the ac cut on and off, but I have not experienced that this winter for obvious reasons. We will see once summer returns.

 

My gas mileage is definitely better with the Econ mode on (as much as 29.5 on highway trips as calculated by me rather than the truck´s computer).

I like the option of being able to activate it when I want as I don´t always need the full acceleration of the motor. Other times and in certain situations, it can be a bit annoying, but then again, I can just deactivate it with the push of a button.

All in all, it´s nice to have the option.

 

I used it for the first month I had the truck, started to get used to senior citizen responsiveness. I got real disappointed with the MPG in my city stop and go traffic and I averaged around 15.4 to maybe 16.4. So, then one day I was trying to negotiate a difficult busy intersection and nearly got my rear handed to me because I couldn't jump the traffic.

So, I figured, hey my mileage sucks anyway I'll shut it off. Oh boy, it was like I finally got a new truck! Wow it drives normal!! Yeah I was miffed that the vehicle I traded got just about double in MPGs and was more powerful and fun... but fine I will pay the unhappy-tax of more fuel if disengaging the ECO button meant I could have a normal vehicle.

Then to my surprise, I'm getting about 0.5 MPG better without the ECO engaged. I'm getting about a whopping 16.4 to 17 and change. All of these are numbers on the dash. My last refill calculation put me at 17.3 MPG at about 50% city, 40% suburban 10% freeway.

So, I could have practiced brevity and just said, "No", it does suck. And who knows what the mega-brains at Honda are doing with that VCM to toast your engine even earlier... the fuel costs may end up being the cheapest outlay on this overpriced Ranchero.

 

Funny you say that about the ranchero, i park next to an old one daily at work. My G2 next to a Ranchero and the occasional G1 parked next to us if he gets the spot early enough in the morning.