TX2RUNNER1997

does the ECT button only change the transmission's shift points and firmness? nothing to do with A/F mixture and/or ignition timing?

cause usually most cars from the factory run rich (maybe anywhere from 10-12:1)

theoretically, if the mixture is leaned out, then it results in more power and a complete combustion....right? might just be pulling this outta my ar$e, but i THINK on forced induction engines that max torque occurs with about a 13.2:1 ratio....not sure about NA engines

so it would just make sense to me that since the ECT button helps with power increase.....it might be leaning out the mixture a little bit

hell i might be completely wrong but i at least make sense to myself

Mark

surf4runner

X2
i started doing this a few months ago and i enjoy the performance difference. my mileage went up initially then down then back up to stabilize about 0.5 mpg better. this would be about an 18 tankfull evaluation.
it shifts (up & down) later, so maybe thats explains some off the variances ive seen. more hiway vs city, and vice-versa

TRDOLMAN

Sorry Mark but the ECT feature only raises the shift points in the tranny and even then only slightly. It has nothing to do with shift firmness, A/F mixture, or ignition timing.

Running with the ECT button on makes no noticable difference in gas mileage on my truck. My engine has been "bolt on modded" pretty much to the max however------

Beartracker

With my 2.7 ,01 ,4x4 extended cab, Tacoma with 31.5 tires I can get 19 mpg all day long in the summer and that's off the highway. I live on top of a mountain and can't go anywhere from here without climbing several
mountains everyday. 19-20 mpg isn't bad for that terrain and I'm happy with it and the 22-23 mpg I get on the freeway. This is with the elbow mod and it doesn't change a thing if it's off or on but what does change things is winter gas....try about 16-17mpg all winter! Pisses me off!!!

TxDox21

I have been trying this ever since I saw this post and so far the results have been pleasing. Has anyone else been trying this and getting similar results?

4RUNN!N

After reading this thread a few days ago, I drove till this day with the ECT on. So far, I feel delayed shifting which is great because I hate how my 4R shifts so early, and merging on the freeway is easier as the gears are held longer. I will be filling up soon and I'll be back with gas mileage results.

4Runna

It took me 8 years to finally use the ECT button. I never used it, EVER. The only time the ECT Power light would come on was when I accidentally hit it. So after reading this post, I left it on for the last full tank. Just for shiggles. Now, I have only used it on one tank so far, but here are the results:

More power when merging & acceleration up hills
25 more miles (used to get 250, last mileage before refill was 275)

Variables:
50/50 mix of highway and city driving
It's 90 degrees in Vegas and I have A/C on all the time
Regular Unleaded 87 octane from Chevron
stock 98 4Runner Ltd 4WD

Is there anything else about my 'Runner I should know about that I haven't used in the last 8 years?! LOL!

TxDox21

I I checked my mileage yesterday and was getting about the same if not a little better gas mileage. I have really been enjoying the added acceleration!

I think the reason I hardly ever used it before was because I had gotten really bad gas mileage with it do to me feeling like I had to floor the gas pedal! I do not think I will ever be turning off the ECT again.

X-AWDriver

This is my 5th tank with it on and I'm at 125 at a half tank with mostly city driving.

Tanto

I also turned on my ECT and I have been pleased with the results. I though that I would see my mileage sink since the acceleration is markedly improved but I think I'm getting better mileage like you other guys have reported

garrett1478

i wouldnt rely on the fuel gauge to check your mileage. a lot of the time i'll get ~140 to the first half and ~60-70 to the second.

i'm going to have to wire me up an ECT switch

btw, with the ECT on, have you noticed about what RPM it will shift at now?

Tanto

That all depends on how heavy my foot is, my friend.

It does shift about 400 rpms higher at WOT.

Beartracker

If you guys want to really see if there is any difference in using your ETC then you have to test it in this manner. fill the vehicle up and write down how many gallons it took and your mileage or set your trip meter to O. Drive the same rout every day and at the same speed for about 100 miles with the ETC off. Now fill up again and divide the gallons it took to fill up by the miles you have driven and see what you get.
Now re-set the trip meter and turn on the ETC , drive about the same distance at the same speed and fill up again and re-check miles per gallon.
If you change the driving rout in any way it could give you a false reading due to driving on a different terrain or more or less stops and starts.
It always amazes me how people feel they can check there gas mileage by looking at there gas gage. In most cases you are just kidding yourself as many gas gages are off a little anyway and you have no idea just how much gas is left in the tank unless you run out every time,lol. Mike

X-AWDriver

That's why driving results are an average since everyday driving will never be exactly the same but with my driving being relatively consistent between a little highway and then mostly city driving my mileage did truly go up an average of 1mpg using the ECT.

X-AWDriver

Ok,my mom finished her 2nd tank in her '99 Limited using the ECT and she got a little over 20 more miles a tank (over 280 vs her normal 260) ,I myself am still seeing over 240 a tank so far even with alot of city driving.

Simon

Yep, I turned mine on about 2 months ago after reading a similer thread and have had good results. Can get over 300 miles in between fill ups.
-Simon

Octane

I used to drive from time to time with the ECT in "PWR" mode and it really killed my milage.
The 3.0L V6 sure sounded sweet with the revs up around 5000 rpm all the time though.

marko3xl3

From my observation this is what's happening (in case anyone cares).

Considering our 4Runners' shiftpoints are so low, many times the tranny upshifts one (this is especially true when merging onto the freeway) and all of a sudden you loose some acceleration, which you greedely want back, and therefore push the skinny a little more therefore dumping more gas into the engine without upping the RPM or downshifting again (which is bad for the engine, and kills MPG). ECT prevents that by not upshifting as quickly and therefore using less gas at higher rpms.

I am assuming that there are other instances where similar things like that happen with ECT, so my conclusion is that ECT only helps you gain MPG which you could really do yourself if you drive smart.

Personally, I only use the ECT button when I want it (say hello to the big 5 tach needle), because I barely ever need (see: smart driving ) it.

X-AWDriver

I think the ECT heps out on the highways when you hit hills and such and does prevent the early downshift and it does depend on your driving style. I figured my mom's "mellower than mine" driving style would hinder any benefits from the ECT but I was surprised and she plans on using it all the time now.