C7 ECO Mode
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Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Troy, Ohio
C7 ECO Mode
My car is a 2017 Corvette GS Convertible. It has the management activation system, and it works fine going back and forth from 4 to 8 cyl and vice versa in all the different modes. The owners manual says it works more aggressively in the ECO mode. What does that mean?
Le Mans Master
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I believe the parameters to go into 4 cylinder mode are different in ECO. It will spend more time there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2020
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From: NW Georgia
If you run the car in Eco mode, it will go into 4 cylinder mode more often than it will in the other modes. The AFM system shuts down the lifters and firing on 4 of the 8 cylinders making it run on half the cylinders instead of all 8. I personally don't think it is good for the engine or the transmission over the life of the car. It is more noticeable in a car with an A8 transmission. A car with a manual transmission will only run in 4 cylinder mode if you put it in eco mode. Most people buy a Range Device from Range Technologies to keep it in V8 mode all the time. If I wanted a 4 cylinder vehicle, would not have bought a Corvette.
Last edited by seniorstorekeeper; Mar 21, 2021 at 07:25 PM.
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Do yourself and especially your C7 a favor, and install a Range Devise so it will never go into V4 mode. I assume you didn't purchase your C7 for the economy.
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Never experienced how the AFM operates with an automatic transmission but when I switch to ECO mode with my M7 car AFM only operates in 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th gears. In 4 through 6 the engine will go into 4 cylinder mode and hold it in that mode for a while. Even under slight acceleration. Not so in 7th. In 7th any slight upgrade (including coming out of a small dip in the road surface will throw the engine into 8 cylinder mode). I run in Eco mode a lot with my M7 and can save about 1 MPG using it when on long drives where I set the cruise and hold a steady speed.
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When, I go to just south of the Oregon Border, I have the Steering set to Sport, the top up, the Magnetic Ride set to Tour, and the Econ Mode on.
I keep up with the flow of traffic, it is 70 MPH past the Grapevine. The average speed is probably 80 to 85.. if I have the Cruise Control set, it will usually stay E4. I average 28, when I hit the long flat, it goes to 32.
I feel no hesitation when I want to pass anyone.
I keep up with the flow of traffic, it is 70 MPH past the Grapevine. The average speed is probably 80 to 85.. if I have the Cruise Control set, it will usually stay E4. I average 28, when I hit the long flat, it goes to 32.
I feel no hesitation when I want to pass anyone.
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If you run the car in Eco mode, it will go into 4 cylinder mode more often than it will in the other modes. The AFM system shuts down the lifters and firing on 4 of the 8 cylinders making it run on half the cylinders instead of all 8. I personally don't think it is good for the engine or the transmission over the life of the car. It is more noticeable in a car with an A8 transmission. A car with a manual transmission will only run in 4 cylinder mode if you put it in eco mode. Most people buy a Range Device from Range Technologies to keep it in V8 mode all the time. If I wanted a 4 cylinder vehicle, would not have bought a Corvette.
I went with a Range AFM Eliminator to keep the car from going into 4 cylinder mode.
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When, I go to just south of the Oregon Border, I have the Steering set to Sport, the top up, the Magnetic Ride set to Tour, and the Econ Mode on.
I keep up with the flow of traffic, it is 70 MPH past the Grapevine. The average speed is probably 80 to 85.. if I have the Cruise Control set, it will usually stay E4. I average 28, when I hit the long flat, it goes to 32.
I feel no hesitation when I want to pass anyone.
I keep up with the flow of traffic, it is 70 MPH past the Grapevine. The average speed is probably 80 to 85.. if I have the Cruise Control set, it will usually stay E4. I average 28, when I hit the long flat, it goes to 32.
I feel no hesitation when I want to pass anyone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
M7 here. I would never run in the "Eco" mode. Its a Vette. One more MPG gain is negligible. Not worth the risk of banging the trans back and forth between four/eight cylinders.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Texas
We have used ECO mode sparingly on our 2016–mainly on road trips where we happen to take stretches of interstates. The cylinder deactivation stuff seems to work seamlessly and allows for some very good fuel economy for such a powerful motor. We deem it pretty cool tech. Not concerned about any long term effects on the motor/trans, because we seldom keep any car long term.
We trudge on.
We trudge on.
Last edited by Wetrudgeon; Mar 22, 2021 at 11:23 AM.
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Same experience I had when I owned my 15 Z51 A8.......for four years, 38,000 miles, and many road trips. I had never heard of the Range device until I started reading about it on this forum. I take it that some owners had engine problems because of the shift between eight and four cylinders??? I would love to see the percentage of those with problems vs those without any issues.
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