Gas prices messing with your monthly budget? We recently found that 56% of Americans drive less to ease the strain on their wallets. So, if you are a car owner nervously tracking the recent trends across the country, a few tips on fuel-efficient driving could offer some relief. Let’s find out what your car’s Eco drive mode can do to help. How much gas can Eco Mode save?
2022 gas prices in the US are among the highest in the last five years, averaging $4.07 per gallon! Did you know Californians spent $6.43 for every gallon in June 2022? Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington are the other states with steep gas prices. Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, and South Carolina spend the least, but not less than $3/gallon. In a nutshell, it doesn’t matter what part of the country you drive in, every visit to the gas station will stretch your budget by a few bucks.
Read More: Average Spend on Gas per Month and How to Save
So, if you haven’t already, get acquainted with a few fuel-saving tips and tricks. But first, find out how your car can help – it’s time to push that Eco Mode button. But is it safe? How does it affect the car? How much fuel can you save? Find out:
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What is Eco Mode in a car?
Eco Mode, or Econ Mode in some cars, is short for “economical mode.” By the way, it’s okay if you thought it had something to do with “eco-friendly” because it does to some extent.
The Eco Mode in cars is a fuel-saving feature that most manufacturers offer. Chevrolet, Toyota, Volvo, Honda, Ford, and several other popular brands have added Eco Mode to their vehicles. However, not all cars on the road at present have this feature.
The fuel-saving effects on the car’s performance vary from brand to brand. However, the common result of driving in Eco Mode is a reduction in throttle response and less frequent gear shifts. Depending on the make and model, you’ll also notice lower AC output and interior lights dimming.
What does it do to the car?
What does Eco Mode do to save fuel? Simply put, it reduces the pressure on the engine, improves fuel economy, and reduces emissions. When it’s on, the engine control module of your car activates a program that prioritizes efficiency over performance.
Here’s what happens when you drive most cars in Eco Mode:
- The throttle is less reactive; you can’t accelerate quickly
- Transmission to higher gears occurs sooner; gears change less often
How do you turn it on?
Most cars have an ‘Eco Mode’ button near the steering wheel; you can switch it on when the conditions are right for relaxed driving. In addition, some cars have automatic fuel-saving features; you can switch them on or off by going into the settings. See your car’s user manual for more details.
Now, for the big question…
How much gas does eco mode save?
Ford estimates that you can reduce fuel consumption by up to 5% using their EcoMode. Other popular car manufacturers make similar claims. However, the effects on fuel economy are negligible if you do not use the Eco mode right. Aggressive driving habits like sudden acceleration, frequent breaking, etc., will take away from the benefits of fuel-saving mode.
So, whether your car has an Eco Mode or not, driving with a light foot can do wonders for fuel economy. Coasting when possible and accelerating gradually to reduce gear transmissions also help save gas. Overall, the lesser the pressure on the engine, the better the gains for fuel economy.
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Does it make your car slower?
If you often drive at a relaxed pace – say under 45 mph, you won’t notice a lot of difference in the car’s speed when driving in Eco Mode. But it does slow down acceleration and affect the vehicle’s performance if you are used to more aggressive driving.
Eco Mode is great for city driving, especially on streets where the speed limits are low. So, give it a try when you are not in a hurry to get around town or waiting in stop-and-go traffic. However, it’s best to turn off your car’s Eco Mode when you’re merging into traffic or in bad weather. Look out for rough roads, uphill drives, and highways – keep the Eco Mode off anywhere you need to accelerate quickly or change gears frequently.
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Celine is your ‘Need-a-car-because-I’ve-got-places-to-be’ friend. With 10 years of experience in travel & lifestyle writing, she’s always searching for the latest user-friendly features in a car. While she’s not relaxing on a long road trip or catching the next flight for a weekend getaway, you’ll find her home huddled up with a good book or a new show and armchair traveling into distant lands or fantastic worlds.