Hey i have an ef fairmont on gas and was wondering does the econ/pwr switch affect gas or not?

I've heard this before but I can't quiite see how that would be? If you think about it, in Power mode you rev out further causing the car to consume more fuel before it ends up at cruise speed. In Econ mode, the transmission changes earlier into the next gear so I'd have thought you're saving more fuel this way?
Fourth gear is the same ratio whether in Power or Economy mode so how do you gain an extra bit of distance out of a tank?

You get there quicker.. In a manual, it isn't too healthy running in 4/5th gear at 40km/h. That is pretty much what economy tries to do.

Man, how do you get it down that low, do you have to do a lot of stop and starts at lights or not?!!?

I rekon thats were most of my fuel is going, stopping and starting all the time.

Have to agree with one drone here. Running the car in eco/power won't make much difference to the longevity of the transmission. It's mainly up to maintance and driving style.

lukieman, you've definately not got the rigth car for a delivery man. The I6s can be very economical - on the highway.

But stopping and starting with a 1200KG+ car (not sure what an EA weighs) with a thirsty 4L is not the way to economy.

My EL, returns a city economy of between 12.8-13.5 L/100 (and I've got a lead foot, and shift kit). and Highway economy down to the 8-9.

well i have an eb2 and i do 4ook's every 4 days that is my shift. i drive 30 or so k's in stop start traffic and 20 or so k's of freeway. i haver peak hr on the way or way home from work.
i drive in pwr in the stop start traffic and econ freeway i am able to get 200k's outta quater of a tank thats (23ltrs) but mind u i have had a rebuild port n polish stage 1 cam and custom made headers. b4 that was done to the car i was getting 13ltrs to the 100k's. and that was giving the car a little go here and there. i drive so the frde is comfertable for me.

I disagree, i have spoken to 3 mechanics now 1 of which works for FORD and they have all confirmed that driving in economy shortens the life of the box no matter what driving style. Although obviously driving style has an effect in any mode, also factors such as towing etc...

The FORD Mechanic said there is no doubt that is shortens the life although the actual amount can vary from 30,000 - 60,000km less depending on a range of factors.

easy way to fix this prob, buy a manual and change whenever u want too

Based on your previous post pyro, I think this may be based on the line pressure in the gearbox. i.e. reduced line pressure for those 'lazy' shifts that economy mode produces, effectively more slippage in between gears and therefore more friction-related heat.

One thing everyone here will agree on is that heat kills BTR 4 speeds.

Similar theory to the shift-kit.... argument goes that quicker, firmer shifts result in less slippage in box and therefore less heat. Economy mode is essentially the opposite of a shift kit - gears change at lower revs with lower pressure flowing through the VPR (s5) solenoid.

Well, that's all i can think of...

4th gear is 4th gear. Spending 'more' time in OD will not harm a box (altho there may be more differential in the converter which would result in more heat)... so it must be something to do with the way it 'gets' to 4th gear... i.e. the shifts themselves. I'd also say TCC engages earlier with econoomy mode which may cause extra wear n' tear.

One thing i would focus on is driving in the appropriate style. i.e. if you're in economy mode with the box then treat the accelerator economically - giving it stick is going to cause crappy, slushy shifts under high load which anyone can see (even feel) is not good for the box.

I agree 100%.....


4.9 EF Futura: Your right regarding the friction etc... i think that was the basis of the theory, but i am backing it up with practice and others experience (although not my own).

Well it's always simple enough to switch it to "power" when you want to treat the engine like a little b**ch... it's what it's there for. The only problem I find is that I can't just slam the pedal to the floor and hope for an early gear change in "power" mode because it'll just redline.

To throw another side into the argument, i have done a bit of trialing with my box. I picked up an extra 30 kms out of a tank of fuel around town on POWER.

Also, it sits in 3rd at 60 km/h in ECONOMY, 4th in POWER

The reason it chews more fuel in econ, in my car anyway, is that you need more throttle to keep the car going at the same speed, the extra drag on the engine (i though from the locked up converter but maybe not) means you need more accelerator to go the same speed, using more fuel.

Sit at 60 on a flat peice of road and hold your foot in the same sopt, and switch from one mode to the other. If you go to econ, you will start to slow down, meaning you have to open it up to stay at 60. Opposite if you go to power.

I stand corrected. I am sure that if you went to Ford with a dead gearbox and claimed it was the economy mode that they'd just laugh at you and hand you he receipt for a new gearbox.

Manual conversions are easier said than done. Especially if you're looking at higher rwkw outputs, or even if you have a V8. $2500 for a second hand T5 that are rarely for sale?? lol I'll be right...

Yeah but you know that manual is better Drone. Would any one like to tell me how many T5 boxes they have blown up cause this whole not being able to handle power idea is bull s**t in my oppinion. I have not seen a manual box give way due to excessive power, only due to rough gear changes and smashing syncro teeth. Whilst Im asking, any one wanna say how many autos they have smashed too?