What does the eco indicator light mean?

[Curtis]

When the eco indicator light on the car is illuminated, it indicates that the vehicle's economy mode has been activated. ECO stands for the car's economy driving mode, also known as the economy mode. When driving frequently in congested urban traffic conditions, activating the eco mode can significantly improve fuel efficiency. Under eco mode operation, the carbon deposits in the engine are roughly similar to those produced under normal operating conditions. The main principle of eco mode is not complicated. It primarily involves making comprehensive judgments and analyses 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 to the engine for operation, effectively reducing fuel consumption compared to normal driving mode. Simply put, it controls the engine speed with reasonable gear selection to minimize unnecessary fuel consumption. ECO is an abbreviation, with the Chinese translation representing 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 dashboard eco indicator light is on, it means the vehicle's economy mode is active. Eco mode is categorized into active and passive types. The difference lies in the fact that active mode has a dedicated button, allowing the driver to choose whether to activate it. When the driver presses the eco mode switch, the dashboard indicator light immediately illuminates, and the vehicle automatically adjusts settings such as throttle opening, transmission shift logic, and air conditioning output power. Passive eco mode does not have a dedicated button. When the dashboard eco indicator light is on, it serves only as a reminder function. The eco system automatically evaluates your driving behavior. If your current driving operation achieves the optimal fuel supply, the dashboard will simultaneously display the eco indicator light. Most cars use the active eco driving mode, meaning they have a dedicated switch button. Therefore, you can activate eco mode during daily driving. However, it is unnecessary to activate 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. Doing so would not only fail to demonstrate the fuel-saving characteristics of eco mode but also affect vehicle performance. Additionally, eco mode typically becomes ineffective under the following conditions: When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 kilometers per hour, the car prioritizes speed, and eco mode automatically deactivates. During idle parking or in N/P gear and manual mode, eco mode may also deactivate. When high torque output is required, such as when climbing a hill, the engine control unit prioritizes ensuring sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and eco mode will not function.

[LeDaniela]

While driving my car through the city, I noticed a small green ECO light illuminated on the dashboard, indicating that the economy mode was activated—meaning the car was helping me save fuel. When this light is on, the system automatically reduces throttle response for smoother acceleration and makes the transmission shift earlier to avoid high engine RPMs that waste fuel. During daily commutes in traffic jams, I prefer using ECO mode, which indeed reduces fuel consumption by about 10%, saving me a decent amount on gas money each month. However, it does have drawbacks, such as feeling slightly weaker power when climbing hills, so I turn it off on highways for better performance. Remember, this isn’t a warning light unless it starts flashing, which might indicate an issue. This is how I learned to optimize my driving habits, making my beloved car more eco-friendly and durable.