Should ESP be kept on or off normally?
2 Answers
The ECO button represents the car's energy-saving mode, which is an acronym formed from the initials of the three English words: Ecology, Conservation, and Optimization. When the ECO indicator light on the dashboard is illuminated, it indicates that the vehicle's economy mode has been activated. How ECO works: ECO 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 optimal amount of fuel to supply to the engine for operation, effectively reducing fuel consumption compared to normal driving mode. Simply put, it controls the engine's speed with appropriate gear shifts to minimize unnecessary fuel consumption. Generally, it can be divided into two types: passive ECO driving mode and active ECO driving mode. The passive ECO driving mode mainly serves as a reminder and guidance function. The active ECO driving mode usually has a dedicated button. Once activated, a series of driving-related settings will change, such as a smaller throttle opening corresponding to the same accelerator pedal depth (making the throttle less responsive), transmission shift logic more focused on economy (shifting up earlier), and some vehicles may also adjust the air conditioning output power simultaneously. The ECO button is typically located on the left side of the car, labeled with the letters 'ECO.' Some buttons are green, making them easy to identify. ECO is most effective when used in congested urban traffic conditions. In such scenarios, strong power is not required, and the frequent stop-and-go driving leads to higher fuel consumption. Activating ECO mode not only reduces fuel consumption but also enhances driving comfort. There are a few situations where it's unnecessary to activate ECO: When the car is traveling at high speeds (up to 100 km/h), even if ECO is turned on, the vehicle's computer will prioritize speed, causing the ECO mode to automatically deactivate. When high torque output is needed, such as when climbing hills, the engine computer will prioritize ensuring sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and the ECO mode will automatically deactivate. In ECO mode, the engine operates at low speed and high load. Prolonged use of ECO mode can accelerate engine carbon buildup, which cannot be expelled. Long-term use of ECO mode can harm the vehicle. When using ECO mode in congested traffic, the engine continues to operate at low speed and high load, leading to carbon buildup over time. If not cleaned promptly, this can reduce the car's power output and shorten the engine's lifespan. While ECO mode can save fuel by limiting engine output and making the car more docile, for drivers who prefer aggressive driving, this means altering their driving habits. Moreover, once the speed exceeds 80 km/h, fuel consumption remains the same whether ECO mode is on or off.
When I'm driving normally, the ESP is basically on by default because it's a safety guardian that constantly monitors the risk of the car slipping and automatically brakes individual wheels to prevent loss of control. I remember the first time I drove on the highway, it was raining so heavily that I almost skidded, but the ESP intervened to stabilize the direction. This experience made me trust it a lot. Most cars come with it turned on from the factory, and unless you manually turn it off, it keeps working. However, in special scenarios like off-roading in snow or mud, turning off the ESP allows the wheels to slip a bit more to help get unstuck, but only at low speeds, otherwise it's dangerous. In short, for normal city driving, I strongly recommend keeping the ESP on to prevent accidents.
