Is It Normal For Eco To Get Slippery?

[JBryant]

Just playing with your mind in title, but have a question. Various opinions posted about what mode gives best mpg, but my question is what is the difference in them? I know tow/haul and it has been around for years. Sport is fairly self-explanatory. But what is difference in eco, slippery and normal. Please, not a bunch of technical stuff with x to the third power divided by y causing the whatchamacallit to cause the doodad to affect the thingamadad, etc. - just a simple answer in layman’s terms. Is slippery better; is eco better; is normal better for fuel economy, especially on hybrid?

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[paneubert]

People say Slippery is best for MPG since it smooths out a lot of throttle response. As they put it, "decreases throttle response and adjusts the transmission’s shift points".

Apparently enough so that it beats out Eco Mode.

https://www.drivingline.com/article...standing-fomoco-s-late-model-driving-systems/

Normal

For everyday driving, Normal is an all-around-type drive mode that suits most travel that will take place on pavement. It’s also the default drive mode for our Explorer ST, meaning every time we cycle the ignition it starts in Normal. It was designed to provide the perfect balance between comfort, performance and convenience, and in our opinion it delivers (we spend 90-percent of our time in Normal mode). Plus, in our experience it returns the best fuel economy, save for the purpose-built Eco driving mode.

Eco

If you’re looking for maximum fuel economy (i.e. minimize fuel consumption) Eco drive mode is the self-explanatory answer. This mode alters throttle sensitivity in a noticeable manner, offering a very linear pedal feel—which lends itself to the driver not being quite as tempted to use all 400 of the SUV’s ponies. Some Explorer ST owners have reported seeing 10-percent better mpg over the performance-friendly Sport mode, but in our time behind the wheel Eco mode has proven most effective in city driving. Its fuel efficiency benefit seems to disappear at highway speeds.

Sport

When it’s time to play, Sport mode gets the nod. In it, you get a very touchy go pedal and a transmission shift schedule that’s vastly different. In the case of our Explorer ST, each gear is held out longer, leaving higher rpm available at all vehicle speeds. This driving mode is fun, but it will definitely land you at the gas pump more often. Sport mode, along with disabling traction control, is what we’ll be using when we make it to the drag strip. In addition to the sensitive accelerator and shifting changes, the steering is also made to feel a tad heavier in Sport mode.

Slippery

Designed for snow or ice-covered roads, Slippery drive mode decreases throttle response and adjusts the transmission’s shift points. In an effort to maintain traction, Slippery mode alters the Intelligent 4WD system’s power distribution between the front and rear axles. There is no more rear axle bias in Slippery mode, but rather a 50/50 split. According to Ford, Slippery mode also optimizes vehicle stability controls to further help curb wheel spin. We haven’t used the setting in our own Explorer ST on snow or ice yet, but we did try it out during a torrential downpour. In our opinion it shined in those conditions.

Trail


For adventures off the beaten path, Trail mode is intended to perform well on muddy, rutted, soft or uneven terrain. Accelerator sensitivity is throttled back to promote low-speed vehicle control and forward momentum is aided by optimized traction and stability control settings. Keep in mind that Mud/Ruts and an available Rock Crawl mode are available on Bronco models—and when combined with front and rear locking differentials (as well as a front stabilizer bar disconnect), you can bet a late-model Bronco is much more capable in the rough than our street-dwelling Explorer ST.

Deep Snow And Sand

Unlike Ford’s Slippery drive mode, this one is designed to give you plenty of wheel spin. In Deep Snow/Sand mode, you get optimized throttle response, traction settings and stability controls to help keep the vehicle digging forward, and it’s also an effective drive mode to use in sand. Depending on what your understanding of “deep” is, this drive mode is best reserved for snow drifts or accumulation you need to accelerate through quickly. At the same time, if you’re using this drive mode in an Explorer (like us) you need to be realistic about ground clearance and getting high-centered. For creeping through light snow, definitely revert to Slippery mode.

Tow/Haul

A lot of things happen when you select Tow/Haul mode in your late-model Explorer or F-150. Here, the transmission upshifts are moved higher in the rpm range to reduce the frequency of downshifting. But the most impressive feature is the engine braking that’s on tap in all forward gears. It’s extremely effective in slowing the vehicle beyond what the service brakes (or even trailer brakes) provide, and it’s an added bit of insurance when trying to slow things down on steep downgrades. A very-well engineered feature, in Tow/Haul mode the amount of downshift braking provided is predicated on how hard you press the brake pedal.

 

[RonFLA]

There are several really good posts on the search function of this forum but to keep it simple:

You purchased a hybrid to presumably save on gas and most agree that:

Slippery is the best mode for that because it limits “Regen.” and smooths out harsh throttle response.

ECO does the same thing but with heavy regen.which Is not ideal for flat land driving, since it doesn’t capture as much energy as regular old “Costing”.

Normal is a blend of all these features, neither being ideal for saving gas but not depriving you of a little more performance.

I got tired of messing with it and just leave it in Normal mode and still average good mileage (34.4 per Fuelly).

 

[JBryant]

People say Slippery is best for MPG since it smooths out a lot of throttle response. As they put it, "decreases throttle response and adjusts the transmission’s shift points".

Apparently enough so that it beats out Eco Mode.

https://www.drivingline.com/article...standing-fomoco-s-late-model-driving-systems/

Normal

For everyday driving, Normal is an all-around-type drive mode that suits most travel that will take place on pavement. It’s also the default drive mode for our Explorer ST, meaning every time we cycle the ignition it starts in Normal. It was designed to provide the perfect balance between comfort, performance and convenience, and in our opinion it delivers (we spend 90-percent of our time in Normal mode). Plus, in our experience it returns the best fuel economy, save for the purpose-built Eco driving mode.

Eco

If you’re looking for maximum fuel economy (i.e. minimize fuel consumption) Eco drive mode is the self-explanatory answer. This mode alters throttle sensitivity in a noticeable manner, offering a very linear pedal feel—which lends itself to the driver not being quite as tempted to use all 400 of the SUV’s ponies. Some Explorer ST owners have reported seeing 10-percent better mpg over the performance-friendly Sport mode, but in our time behind the wheel Eco mode has proven most effective in city driving. Its fuel efficiency benefit seems to disappear at highway speeds.

Sport

When it’s time to play, Sport mode gets the nod. In it, you get a very touchy go pedal and a transmission shift schedule that’s vastly different. In the case of our Explorer ST, each gear is held out longer, leaving higher rpm available at all vehicle speeds. This driving mode is fun, but it will definitely land you at the gas pump more often. Sport mode, along with disabling traction control, is what we’ll be using when we make it to the drag strip. In addition to the sensitive accelerator and shifting changes, the steering is also made to feel a tad heavier in Sport mode.

Slippery

Designed for snow or ice-covered roads, Slippery drive mode decreases throttle response and adjusts the transmission’s shift points. In an effort to maintain traction, Slippery mode alters the Intelligent 4WD system’s power distribution between the front and rear axles. There is no more rear axle bias in Slippery mode, but rather a 50/50 split. According to Ford, Slippery mode also optimizes vehicle stability controls to further help curb wheel spin. We haven’t used the setting in our own Explorer ST on snow or ice yet, but we did try it out during a torrential downpour. In our opinion it shined in those conditions.

Trail


For adventures off the beaten path, Trail mode is intended to perform well on muddy, rutted, soft or uneven terrain. Accelerator sensitivity is throttled back to promote low-speed vehicle control and forward momentum is aided by optimized traction and stability control settings. Keep in mind that Mud/Ruts and an available Rock Crawl mode are available on Bronco models—and when combined with front and rear locking differentials (as well as a front stabilizer bar disconnect), you can bet a late-model Bronco is much more capable in the rough than our street-dwelling Explorer ST.

Deep Snow And Sand

Unlike Ford’s Slippery drive mode, this one is designed to give you plenty of wheel spin. In Deep Snow/Sand mode, you get optimized throttle response, traction settings and stability controls to help keep the vehicle digging forward, and it’s also an effective drive mode to use in sand. Depending on what your understanding of “deep” is, this drive mode is best reserved for snow drifts or accumulation you need to accelerate through quickly. At the same time, if you’re using this drive mode in an Explorer (like us) you need to be realistic about ground clearance and getting high-centered. For creeping through light snow, definitely revert to Slippery mode.

Tow/Haul

A lot of things happen when you select Tow/Haul mode in your late-model Explorer or F-150. Here, the transmission upshifts are moved higher in the rpm range to reduce the frequency of downshifting. But the most impressive feature is the engine braking that’s on tap in all forward gears. It’s extremely effective in slowing the vehicle beyond what the service brakes (or even trailer brakes) provide, and it’s an added bit of insurance when trying to slow things down on steep downgrades. A very-well engineered feature, in Tow/Haul mode the amount of downshift braking provided is predicated on how hard you press the brake pedal.

Thank you. I guess it is kind of opposite of tow haul and that makes a lot of sense.

 

[ejouie]

It really depends on how you are driving it. On the hybrid, it's a matter of matching the braking regen to your situation.

Coasting to a stop is the most efficient way to stop. Easy to do with no other cars on the road, nearly impossible with unpredictable stop and go traffic. Using the traditional brakes is the most inefficient way to stop. You want to avoid this for best economy. Allow the regenerative braking to stop the vehicle by leaving enough stopping distance.

Here is my understanding from reading on this forum for the hybrid:

ECO: Best used in stop and go traffic
-increases braking regeneration
-decreases coasting
-combine with "L" for one pedal driving

Slippery: Best used on highway cruising
-decreases braking regeneration
-increases coasting

Normal: Best used with moderate traffic
-medium braking regeneration
-medium coasting

On the EcoBoost it's a much easier decision due to the lack of regenerative braking. Switch it to ECO and coast as much as possible instead of using the brake pedal.

 

[JBryant]

It really depends on how you are driving it. On the hybrid, it's a matter of matching the braking regen to your situation.

Coasting to a stop is the most efficient way to stop. Easy to do with no other cars on the road, nearly impossible with unpredictable stop and go traffic. Using the traditional brakes is the most inefficient way to stop. You want to avoid this for best economy. Allow the regenerative braking to stop the vehicle by leaving enough stopping distance.

Here is my understanding from reading on this forum for the hybrid:

ECO: Best used in stop and go traffic
-increases braking regeneration
-decreases coasting
-combine with "L" for one pedal driving

Slippery: Best used on highway cruising
-decreases braking regeneration
-increases coasting

Normal: Best used with moderate traffic
-medium braking regeneration
-medium coasting

On the EcoBoost it's a much easier decision due to the lack of regenerative braking. Switch it to ECO and coast as much as possible instead of using the brake pedal.

Pure gold. Exactly what I was looking for. Now, your solution to my forgetting LOL.

THANKS

 

[Darnon]

ECO: Best used in stop and go traffic
-increases braking regeneration
-decreases coasting
-combine with "L" for one pedal driving

You don't really need to switch to Eco for "L" to be effective. However I usually use both in combination because Eco has the strongest effect on limiting how aggressively the cruise control wants to maintain/accelerate up to speed (I can't be assed to do the whole 'pulse and glide' dance).

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