I think I've only used ECT maybe 2-3 times. I couldn't really tell the diff but it's probably just that I wasn't paying enough attention.

The times I did use it was just to beat some ricer off the line so I was flooring it.

My guess is that when you floor it completely ECT doesn't make too much of a difference. Either way your rig is gonna stay in gear longer.

 

i have a 5 spd, and therefor no ECT.
im assuming its similar to tow/haul on GMC's.
but to seriously answer your question....
if it does wait to shift at higher RPM's, then you won't gain gas mileage. the tow/haul on GMC's also elimates 4th gear, i believe. if this is the case, then you really dont want to use it on the highway unless your towing something really heavy, and not going very fast.
you won't get better gas mileage when you have ECT on. think of it this way: the higher the RPMs, the more gas you use.

it shouldnt harm anything driving around town with ECT on. just waste some gas. it might be a little bit harder on your engine because of the higher RPMs, but thats what they are made for, right?

 

I know this thread is about the ECT feature, but I have to agree with Jalaber on the topic of A/C. If you constantly have your A/C turned on with the fresh air from the outside, your rig is constantly having to "condition" the hotter air that is coming in. But, if you use the recirculation feature, the air has already been cooled that is moving through the system, which in turn would lead me to believe that the compressor won't need to be used as much. These are just my thoughts, but I could be off base.

 

ECT will allow you to go into 4th gear, it just shifts more aggressively. If you were to turn overdrive off, it would prevent you from going into 4th gear (I believe). Overdrive would be good for towing and what not. I think of ECT as more of a "sport mode".

 

Since this thread started a couple of days ago, I have been running my 4Runner with the ECT on. Man, it sucks up the gas but it definitely feels ALOT more responsive with it on. I guess its the combo of the ECT, deck plate, and exhaust. Anybody care to second that notion?

Later.

 

like i said, im a standard guy.

but it will get you more power, that is what it is designed to do, right?

also, i didnt know there was an overdrive as well. my mom has a saab 95, 2001 or 2002 i forget, its also a standard. but the auto version has a sport mode, and that seems like a good comparison to ECT. ECT sounds like a fun thing to have and i think i would have it on, but i'd have to see. in general i dont like running at high rpms. if i need more power, i can just downshift. so i might leave ECT off, id have to try it out to tell though.

as far as shifting into 4th gear, i wasn't sure about that on toyotas. but in my dads gmc, it won't go to 4th, and it also shifts higher. (in tow/haul mode (aka tow/haul ass mode))

so it sounds like it is really up to you if you want to use ECT or not. also, you dont have to either use it or not use it. you can switch it on and off

 

I second that LSU, I've been running with ECT on since I got my new exhaust and although it sucks up the gas it definitely makes a big difference, and I like it

-Braden

 

I leave mine off except for on long uphills.