Ok, I'm a new Ford owner...2020 F150 XLT. When is the best driving conditions to use Eco Mode?

 

On long highway runs. Or driving around town with an unloaded truck as long as you don’t mind some performance loss.

 

Alright. Thanks Brad. Will give it a shot sometime.

 

Any time you want the truck to give you reduced power with the hopes of increasing fuel economy. That’s the only requirement to use it.

 

It's a gimmick and not much else, leave it in normal mode and spare yourself the anxiety of trying to save a cup full of gas.

 

I'm with this response. I tried it once, the lack of throttle response is not for me. I'll use my right foot to manage fuel usage in normal mode.

 

I am driving a 2020 2.7 ecoboost that does not get any better gas mileage than my old 5.0 2011 did so what gives? Ford claims all of these big EPA numbers and improvements to the truck in terms of aerodynamics, smaller-displacement turbocharged engines, lightweight aluminum bodies, and the list goes on and on. Real-world numbers do not reflect the claims made by the company. I see stuff like eco mode as BS just like all of the rest of it. The trucks are big, heavy, and thirsty machines and are basically the same as they were 10 years ago.

 

It's sad to see the opinions like 'gimik' etc used when the owner is of fixed mind.
The ECO mode modifies the shift skedual and skips gears from a start in an effort to save the driver some fuel mileage. Look at the dash to see this and the Tach.
Under light throttle ECO mode upshiftes 1 to 3 to 5 then depends on throttle application after that point.
You don't need all the gears to move the truck at a normal driving speed.
Only those who have to have max torque feel in the seat of their pants do this all the time. Seem to be an age related and ram *ss thing!
The wet/snow mode is very much the same but with a huge benifit in Snow by bringing in the ABS brake system and throttle limiting using sensor feed back signals.
This Mode enables the truck in 4wd mode to walk trough snow without hardly spining a wheel, and no locked rear. You as a driver are not good enough to do it from the driver seat and beat computer control you don't have. You can't even feel it working, it's that good.
Bottom line is the driver / owners have not caught up with advanced engineering and cling to old time thoughts thinking they know better and can defeat proven advaned systems.
Do your research, learn, or fall behind..
You have no other choice for the future.

 

Mine shifts to 1-3-5 in normal mode every day - that's not unique to eco mode.

I certainly don't consider myself a luddite and feel the other drive modes have their purpose.

 

So what your saying is that I am an outstanding driver? I was able to replicate the same mileage with a 2011 5.0 as I am now getting with a technologically advanced turbo v6 engine, I must not be as ignorant as you claim. Eco mode is okay in slow-moving traffic but try it on the highway in hills and see what you will need to do with your foot to keep up, you won't save a nickel in gas, you are attempting to move a heavy vehicle with a more subdued throttle response and something will give. I don't think that the lack of understanding about technology is the issue, the claims are false marketing-driven sales pitches that are just that.

 

It’s like those who say cruise control saves fuel. I consistently do better with my right foot. In fact I never use it unless I’m on a long lonely highway with no one in sight. Think West Texas or Wyoming.

 

Ok...you mentioned not having to lock the rear end. I'm a bit confused. How do you go about doing that?

 

I'm on my 3rd gen 13 truck and have used normal and tow-haul only, but I'm an analog guy trying to get by in a digital world.

 

I rarely use cruise because I believe that there is higher fuel consumption when a vehicle downshifts from 10th to 8th while climbing the slightest grade. I can do much better with my right foot as well.

 

To Hokie;
In Wet/Snow mode, do not lock the rear seperatly for 4wd. Leave it open.
Reason:
This mode uses the computer and ABS system to alternatly 'brake' a wheel that slips causing traction to be forced to the other side. An old trick on farm tractors
If you lock up the rear this cannot take place. Both would spin at that point, if locked up.
This also takes place on the front wheels. Most think the front is locked but not so because there are differencial gears in the front carrier that would let one wheel spin same as an open rear. The front lock only happens if both wheel have the same traction as on a dry road etc..
All slip is sensed by the ABS senors at each wheel that open fluid to the calipers as needed.
I know it's hard to believe but it works so well by keeping the wheels (just at max traction point) instead of letting a wheel spin and lose traction.
The computer control of this is so fast and precise you cannot duplicate it by yourself since you have no control over wheel spin in that same manner.
This operation is not well understood to the point the sales people don't even understand it let alone the owner.
Those who don't by it, try it and see.
I live 200 feet back in the woods and with 12 inches of snow and stock worn tires I walk right through the snow and never spin a wheel.
It's not a sales gimik of any kind.
Good luck.