Does the ECON button REALLY work in the 2017-2020 CR-V?

[Pablo]

I've been driving the 2017 CR-V a LOT more the last 8 months (since dog) - this whole week I have it (wife gone).

I know what the ECON button is supposed to do. I feel it, cut power, change shift points, etc.

I don't see the MPGs change at all. If anything it's just over 34 with ECON OFF, and around 33 with ECON ON.

With it OFF it probably is just more user controllable, hence no difference.

Thoughts? Input??

 

[Patman]

I know that it works for my 2016 Civic. The first couple of years I owned it I didn’t use eco and then once I started it was a pretty significant improvement with my driving style. About 2-3 MPG actually

 

[KrisZ]

It depends how you drive. If you’re smooth with the throttle it will likely make no difference. But if you’re jerky with it and make big inputs fast, making the tranny downshift all the time, the Econ mode will likely dampen it quite a lot, downshift less and save some gas.

 

[supton]

I'm sure each instance varies, but I always thought it was just playing with throttle pedal programming. Instead of having say a linear response to input, it probably lowered the slope. But ... press hard enough and it will go WOT. So instead of a linear slope to the throttle pedal, it now becomes expoential.

[Something like that--I swear, on some Toyota's it was logarithmic, lots of tip-in and then... sadness. YMMV. Maybe on some cars it does more than just throttle mapping, but no matter what, the car has to meet all EPA requirements, so I kinda dubious that it's doing anything special--otherwise, the OEM would want to make that special bit its always bit.]

 

[Sequoiasoon]

On my '17 Accord and '19 Pilot it also affects the Air Conditioning, again for reduced load. I believe it was in my owners manual that if higher AC is needed, turn off econ.

On Pilot is does affect throttle response. On my Accord I don't notice as much as I'm 6MT so different throttles when driving anyway. I haven't tried it in a while, maybe next long highway trip.

 

[AKhan87]

I've been driving the 2017 CR-V a LOT more the last 8 months (since dog) - this whole week I have it (wife gone).

I know what the ECON button is supposed to do. I feel it, cut power, change shift points, etc.

I don't see the MPGs change at all. If anything it's just over 34 with ECON OFF, and around 33 with ECON ON.

With it OFF it probably is just more user controllable, hence no difference.

Thoughts? Input??

I also saw reduced gas mileage and absolutely loathed the CRV with ECON button ON, it would actually get dangerous at times as the throttle response would become too slow.

I'm sure each instance varies, but I always thought it was just playing with throttle pedal programming. Instead of having say a linear response to input, it probably lowered the slope. But ... press hard enough and it will go WOT. So instead of a linear slope to the throttle pedal, it now becomes expoential.

I experienced this with the CRV as well.

[Something like that--I swear, on some Toyota's it was logarithmic, lots of tip-in and then... sadness. YMMV. Maybe on some cars it does more than just throttle mapping, but no matter what, the car has to meet all EPA requirements, so I kinda dubious that it's doing anything special--otherwise, the OEM would want to make that special bit its always bit.]

from owning a 14 Avalon, 16,17,18 ES350, ECO mode only had an effect on AC, I never really saw any difference in throttle response, I have driven this powertrain for about 150k miles including my 08 ES350. I saw a difference in gas mileage because of how it controlled the AC.

 

[Hohn]

The ECON button is sometimes self-sabotaging, because unless you let your driving style adapt to it, you'll burn more fuel on ECON. Why? Because you are more aggressive on driving to offset the perceived lack of response.

I've read the ECON on my 2022 Accord targets a slighly leaner AFR, closer to lambda=1, in addition to lowerng the air conditioning and some other parasitic reductions (lower oil pressure with the variable output pump?)

The best MPG I've achieved in my Accord have always come in Sport mode, ironically enough. This is because Sport allows me to lock the transmission in gear and prevent the normal downshifts the ECM wants to make on small hills where downshifts are unnecessary.

Using Sport mode with the manumatic, I can lock it in 10th gear at 60mph and it's barely 1500rpm. The engine has 270+ lb-ft on tap at that low rpm, so it never needs to downshift.

This tactic has achieved 40mpg multiple times on my 22.3 mile commute to or from work. (two lane US hwy).

At higher speed driving where the engine has more reserve power and doesn't necessarily downshift on every hill, the econ mode is likely to give perhaps slightly better results with the leaner AFR. But my experience thus far as that the slightly AFR isn't enough of a mpg gain to offset the losses of still having the PCM downshift on every little rise or hill. Sport mode's ability to lock in gearing (within RPM limits) offsets whatever disadvantage the richer AFR supposedly has.

As a bonus, the richer AFR of sport mode is probably a bit more LSPI resistant when giving the engine a bit of load at such low RPM.

 

[I<3oil]

The couple times I've tried it, yes, but only really in city. I got about .5-1mpg more over a 1-2 week period.

 

[Hootbro]

I only saw benefit on my Ridgeline using ECON primarily on long highway trips letting the cruise control do its thing. Anything that involved me using the gas pedal and it was a wash.

 

[AZjeff]

As a bonus, the richer AFR of sport mode is probably a bit more LSPI resistant when giving the engine a bit of load at such low RPM.

Hope you're right. Low rpm lugging under load is THE primary cause of LSPI correct?

 

[billt460]

I have a "ECO BUTTON" on my 2015 Jeep. I couldn't tell you if it does anything or not. If it quit working, I wouldn't know the difference. A light comes on when it's in "ECO Mode". For all I know the light that comes on draws more off the alternator than it saves in gas.

 

[Zee09]

I throw up way too many mpg pics and never use an Econ button
It zaps everything to the point you need more throttle to compensate
Especially in Hondas
A waste of time and in my travels it's a MPG loser and we all know how cheap I am on gas...
Plus when I want AC, I don't want no weak AC especially at stops

 

[Hohn]

I throw up way too many mpg pics and never use an Econ button
It zaps everything to the point you need more throttle to compensate
Especially in Hondas
A waste of time and in my travels it's a MPG loser and we all know how cheap I am on gas...
Plus when I want AC, I don't want no weak AC especially at stops

I personally love having the ECON mode on my accord because it acts a bit like a "valet" mode and reduces the tendency for wheelspin and other issues. It absolutely does create some sluggish response. But this also makes it much easier to drive smoothly. ANd it does actually deliver slightly better mpg in highly transient applications (i.e. slugging through traffic).

I believe it limits max boost to 15psi or vs 20.8psi of full-output sport mode.

ECON also requires you to plan ahead and exercise better driving habits because it is sluggish to respond. I find Sport mode encourages risk taking in term so pushing yellow lights or left turns and such.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Is it like the Toyota Eco button in that it lowers shift points until you push too hard on the pedal then it reverts to normal rather than lug?

I am pretty sure the Toyota one is there simply to remind you to accelerate slower, and if you insist on not - well - not.

Were you expecting a free lunch?

 

[Pablo]

Is it like the Toyota Eco button in that it lowers shift points until you push too hard on the pedal then it reverts to normal rather than lug?

I am pretty sure the Toyota one is there simply to remind you to accelerate slower, and if you insist on not - well - not.

Were you expecting a free lunch?

My MT Tacoma has no ECO button. No FREE RUNCH here!!

 

[billt460]

My 2018 Camry doesn't have a ECO button, but it has an ECO light in the dash. If you drive it like an old lady, the green ECO light will stay lit.

If you hot rod it, or simply try to pass, it will go out. The game is to drive it soft enough while trying to keep it lit. It's pretty much useless.

 

[Zee09]

I personally love having the ECON mode on my accord because it acts a bit like a "valet" mode and reduces the tendency for wheelspin and other issues. It absolutely does create some sluggish response. But this also makes it much easier to drive smoothly. ANd it does actually deliver slightly better mpg in highly transient applications (i.e. slugging through traffic).

I believe it limits max boost to 15psi or vs 20.8psi of full-output sport mode.

ECON also requires you to plan ahead and exercise better driving habits because it is sluggish to respond. I find Sport mode encourages risk taking in term so pushing yellow

I have the Hybrid version so I don't see the benefits you do.

 

[Zee09]

My 2018 Camry doesn't have a ECO button, but it has an ECO light in the dash. If you drive it like an old lady, the green ECO light will stay lit.

If you hot rod it, or simply try to pass, it will go out. The game is to drive it soft enough while trying to keep it lit. It's pretty much useless.

Same with the Mitsubishi Sport

 

[supton]

Were you expecting a free lunch?

My MT Tacoma has no ECO button. No FREE RUNCH here!!

Oh! I love free lunch!

Maybe we can petition to have this button turned into like the one on hand driers that gives free bacon?

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

I live in a warm climate and never use ECON mode because of it's affect on the AC. Other than roasting to death, I cannot detect any other other difference with ECON mode engaged.