Can ECO Mode Be Used for a Long Time?

[SawyerRose]

ECO mode can be kept on for a long time. ECO mode, also known as economy mode, is effective in saving fuel when the vehicle is frequently driven in congested urban traffic conditions. Under ECO mode, the carbon deposits in the engine are roughly the same as those produced under normal driving conditions, so ECO mode can be left on continuously. The main principle of ECO mode is not complicated. It primarily involves a comprehensive judgment and analysis of factors that affect fuel consumption during vehicle movement, such as automatic transmission gear position, engine speed, vehicle speed, braking, and transmission oil temperature. The ECU control unit calculates the appropriate amount of fuel to supply the engine for operation, effectively reducing fuel consumption compared to normal driving modes. Simply put, it controls the engine speed with reasonable gear positions to minimize unnecessary fuel consumption. ECO is an abbreviation, with its Chinese translation being Ecology (environmental protection), Conservation (energy saving), and Optimization (power). ECO mode is further divided into active ECO driving mode and passive ECO driving mode. When the ECO indicator light on the dashboard is illuminated, it indicates that the vehicle's economy mode is activated. ECO mode is categorized into active and passive types. The difference lies in the fact that the active type has its own dedicated button, allowing the driver to choose whether to activate it. When the driver presses the ECO mode switch, the dashboard indicator light immediately turns on, and the vehicle automatically begins adjusting settings such as throttle opening, transmission shift logic, and air conditioning output power. Passive ECO mode does not have a dedicated button. When the ECO indicator light on the dashboard is illuminated, it serves merely as a reminder function. ECO automatically evaluates your driving behavior, and if your current driving operation achieves the optimal fuel supply, the dashboard will simultaneously display the ECO indicator light. Most vehicles employ active ECO driving mode, meaning they have a dedicated switch button. Therefore, during daily driving, we can generally keep ECO mode activated. However, it is unnecessary to enable ECO mode when driving at speeds exceeding 120 km/h, during idle parking, in N/P gear, or in manual mode—especially when climbing hills—as this would not only fail to demonstrate the fuel-saving characteristics of ECO mode but also impact the vehicle's power performance. Additionally, ECO mode typically becomes ineffective under the following circumstances: When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 km/h, the system prioritizes speed, causing ECO mode to deactivate automatically. During idle parking or when in N/P gear or manual mode, ECO mode may also become ineffective. When high torque output is required, such as when climbing hills, the engine control unit prioritizes ensuring sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and ECO mode will not function in such scenarios.