Auto Start
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Tuned
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 314
Likes: 9
From: SE WI
Auto Start
My "new to me" 2019 F150 XLT Supercab has the auto start feature.
[I did not know it did until I had my local locksmith program a duplicate key for me. In the process he had to reset the system and voila it mysteriously appeared.]
It seems to work as advertised, but I do wonder:
1 - Will it really reduce gas consumption and increase mpg?
2 - Does it put a strain on/reduce alternator/battery life while everything but the engine seems to continue in use while sitting at a stop light?
[I did not know it did until I had my local locksmith program a duplicate key for me. In the process he had to reset the system and voila it mysteriously appeared.]
It seems to work as advertised, but I do wonder:
1 - Will it really reduce gas consumption and increase mpg?
2 - Does it put a strain on/reduce alternator/battery life while everything but the engine seems to continue in use while sitting at a stop light?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 410
Congrats on your new truck, may it serve you well. You will find many mixed opinions on the Autostop. For me, the starters have to get extra wear, and certainly are not cheap. Sometimes things save pennies and costs hundreds, it's a left coast political thing IMO.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,472
Likes: 2,799
Auto stop start saves gas IF your stops are 7 seconds or longer.
You can search out the videos etc on the subject.
That's the trouble with it IMO especially where I live. I counted it out several times. Rarely am I stopped for more than seven seconds. 4 way stops? Never. Lights? I see them and slow down so I don't have to stop. Heavy traffic? Well, it's heavy and you're not always stopped for any time. Especially if you keep a respectable distance from the guy ahead.
Some intersections and train tracks--yes. I use it sometimes for those.
Some tests in those articles and videos do show a savings. YMMV.
You can search out the videos etc on the subject.
That's the trouble with it IMO especially where I live. I counted it out several times. Rarely am I stopped for more than seven seconds. 4 way stops? Never. Lights? I see them and slow down so I don't have to stop. Heavy traffic? Well, it's heavy and you're not always stopped for any time. Especially if you keep a respectable distance from the guy ahead.
Some intersections and train tracks--yes. I use it sometimes for those.
Some tests in those articles and videos do show a savings. YMMV.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 103
From: Staten Island, NY
My "new to me" 2019 F150 XLT Supercab has the auto start feature.
[I did not know it did until I had my local locksmith program a duplicate key for me. In the process he had to reset the system and [i]voila it mysteriously appeared.]
It seems to work as advertised, but I do wonder:
1 - Will it really reduce gas consumption and increase mpg?
2 - Does it put a strain on/reduce alternator/battery life while everything but the engine seems to continue in use while sitting at a stop light?
[I did not know it did until I had my local locksmith program a duplicate key for me. In the process he had to reset the system and [i]voila it mysteriously appeared.]
It seems to work as advertised, but I do wonder:
1 - Will it really reduce gas consumption and increase mpg?
2 - Does it put a strain on/reduce alternator/battery life while everything but the engine seems to continue in use while sitting at a stop light?
2 - Just me, but I had to replace the starter at 54K.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 314
Likes: 9
From: SE WI
I hear you, loud and clear. To me, all these tech features are just items looking to go bad and to drain one's wallet. I will let the feature run for 1 tank of gas to see the results, and most probably will then turn it off.
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 70
Likes: 35
Auto stop/start is a joke. It does indeed save fuel, but the amount saved over the lifetime of the vehicle is so negligible it’s certainly not worth the extra wear on the vehicle.
This is especially magnified if you take lots of short trips or live inner city where you may stop tons of times before the engine oil gets up to operating temp.
cold starts = engine wear
This is especially magnified if you take lots of short trips or live inner city where you may stop tons of times before the engine oil gets up to operating temp.
cold starts = engine wear
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,472
Likes: 2,799
It doesn't work until the engine temperature is up and cabin temperature is at the level it's set to.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Way too much overthinking on this issue IMO. I just leave mine enabled 99% of the time and let it do its thing. I got better things to spend my limited brain cycles on, lol.
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