Better Gas Mileage.....Why???

[txvmax]

I have a 15 Ultimate 5.0. I have found that I can regularly get 1.5-2mpg (2 on Hwy) better gas mileage if I drive in Sport mode versus Eco mode. Is this due to shifting points or holding gears longer. I've been experimenting over the past 4 months and it's true. Any ideas?

 

[LarryJM]

I have a 15 Ultimate 5.0. I have found that I can regularly get 1.5-2mpg (2 on Hwy) better gas mileage if I drive in Sport mode versus Eco mode. Is this due to shifting points or holding gears longer. I've been experimenting over the past 4 months and it's true. Any ideas?

While I've only had my Genesis for abt 2K miles, in the 15K miles Put on my 2013 Sonata Ltd I found I got about 1 to 2 mpg better by not running in ECO mode. I even did a test over several K miles with and without as a baseline. While more expected I also did a 3K mile test using premium vs. regular gas and found no discernable mpg difference.

With your report and my experience with my Sonata, I wonder if it's something in how the Hyundai Engineers have correctly assumed actual driving habits when developing the ECO mode strategy as far as shift points, accelerating factors, etc.

Larry

 

[Nikgen]

That makes no sense - in almost 2 years of owning a3.8 AWD G2, I've found that use of Eco or Normal provides better mileage than Sport in all types of driving.

Sport essentially keeps the engine in lower gears and winds up to higher rpm's before upshifting. If If I leave my car in sport mode on the highway, it never shifts up to 8th gear = less mpg than Eco or Sport.

 

[txvmax]

I agree if mine did the same thing regarding shifting into 8th. Mine does. All I can figure is that due to higher shift point and maintaining lower gears longer the car doesn't work as hard to maintain speed on hills etc... Just an observation. My salesman just shook his head and said "Yep it will". No explanation.

 

[Mark_888]

I agree if mine did the same thing regarding shifting into 8th. Mine does. All I can figure is that due to higher shift point and maintaining lower gears longer the car doesn't work as hard to maintain speed on hills etc... Just an observation. My salesman just shook his head and said "Yep it will". No explanation.

Maybe you are in the "Twilight Zone"?

 

[Mike B]

maybe pushing the drive mode recalibrates the trip computer, a placebo

 

[XPO439]

If I put mine in Sport mode, I lose mpg significantly. I don't know if it's the Genesis fault or my lead foot.

 

[rogerlange]

If I drive in sport mode. I can actually see the needle move. Probably my fault, if im in sport mode I usually have the peddle to the metal.

 

[SuperKing]

It's the way you drive. I found in my Sonata 2.0T, I got better fuel economy with ECO off. ECO on kills throttle response enough for me to hit the pedal harder to get the same acceleration off the line.

 

[Beardie]

My 2011 Sonata stays in Eco mode, so I just keep it there. My new Genny doesn't. It reverts back to normal mode, so I rarely remember to put it back into Eco. I guess it doesn't really make all that much difference??

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[LarryJM]

It's the way you drive. I found in my Sonata 2.0T, I got better fuel economy with ECO off. ECO on kills throttle response enough for me to hit the pedal harder to get the same acceleration off the line.

Yours along with what I reported on my 2013 non turbo Sonata sort of emphasizes what I was saying about what sort of specific conditions are used in the ECO mode programming that makes it's mileage worse if you don't adhere to those conditions closely. I could even see the ECO mode being there specifically for maximizing EPA mpg numbers, even knowing that the normal driver will never see this benefit because driving and meeting those conditions is near impossible, especially when one doesn't know specifically what they are.

I do find it interesting that three of us have reported this dichotomy all with three Hyundai vehicles each with a different drivetrain. I wonder if those dismissing this are doing accurate mpg estimates or simply relying on the dash "lie-o-meter".

Larry

 

[5 Timer]

I can't comment on my mpg in town, because I've never checked it and don't do much in town driving. The wife's Toyota is the in-town daily driver.
I don't have the patience to drive the Genesis in town in Eco mode. A character flaw I will admit to.

However, during highway cruising, I use the Sport setting. I prefer the steering feel from that setting and once I settle in at a steady speed the trans does shift to 8th gear.
As discussed in the other thread regarding real world MPG, I was surprised at the mileage for a V8 when considering the the use of the Sport setting, higher speeds being driven and how porky the Genesis is.

Conversely, my wife's Toyota with a 4 cyl, is constantly changing gears and working hard when pressed out on the highway and gets only marginally better mileage (while fatiguing the driver).

 

[Nikgen]

Yours along with what I reported on my 2013 non turbo Sonata sort of emphasizes what I was saying about what sort of specific conditions are used in the ECO mode programming that makes it's mileage worse if you don't adhere to those conditions closely. I could even see the ECO mode being there specifically for maximizing EPA mpg numbers, even knowing that the normal driver will never see this benefit because driving and meeting those conditions is near impossible, especially when one doesn't know specifically what they are.

I do find it interesting that three of us have reported this dichotomy all with three Hyundai vehicles each with a different drivetrain. I wonder if those dismissing this are doing accurate mpg estimates or simply relying on the dash "lie-o-meter".

Larry

I've measured actual mpg - but the "lie-o-meter" would give a relative difference anyhow! I guess the key is that, if I have the car in ECO or Normal, I don't expect it to respond like in Sport mode so I don't push it in those modes.

 

[Seejay]

I think all of us watching the instantaneous MPG "lie-o-meter" has noticed that it tracks the the throttle plate position (gas pedal) in most instances. Any thing you do to reduce intake manifold vacuum is very bad for mileage. Carburetor, TBI, port injection, direct injection, it makes no difference.

In the good ol' days, hyper-milers used an intake manifold vacuum gauge. YMMV.

 

[SuperKing]

Yours along with what I reported on my 2013 non turbo Sonata sort of emphasizes what I was saying about what sort of specific conditions are used in the ECO mode programming that makes it's mileage worse if you don't adhere to those conditions closely. I could even see the ECO mode being there specifically for maximizing EPA mpg numbers, even knowing that the normal driver will never see this benefit because driving and meeting those conditions is near impossible, especially when one doesn't know specifically what they are.

I do find it interesting that three of us have reported this dichotomy all with three Hyundai vehicles each with a different drivetrain. I wonder if those dismissing this are doing accurate mpg estimates or simply relying on the dash "lie-o-meter".

Larry

Ironically, my 5.0 does gets better mileage in ECO mode. All that torque gets me the acceleration that I'm looking for off the line so I can go easy on the throttle. However, because it doesn't keep the setting, I don't remember to hit the button half the time. It's not a big deal, if I cared about MPG, I wouldn't have bought a 5.0. My gripe is the tank size. It could be a tad bigger so I could go at least a full week without fuelling up.

 

[Alwaysforward]

5.0 gets better mileage in Eco mode in town driving. On the highway once up to speed, I have seen no difference between sport and Eco. I think that once your in 8th gear it doesn't matter. Just my 2 cents.

 

[pmckechnie]

I can't comment on the mpg in sport mode but I did check and my 2016 3.8 does not change into 8th gear, well at 80 mph and below. I wouldn't think the mileage would be better in 7th gear on the open road. The 5.0 could easily do better in sport because of the throttle position for the power needed. I have an old MB 126 gas car that the mileage went up about 2 mpg when I adjusted the shift points higher.
We just got back from a 8000+ mile trip in our Genny and averaged 28.129 mpg calculated, all in normal mode. That was interstate, city, and state roads. We like state roads because there is more to see. We are planing a trip to the outer banks in a few months. I will try (if I remember) eco and see how it does. It will be 1000 mile round trip and should be a good test.

 

[AustinTX]

I can't comment on the mpg in sport mode but I did check and my 2016 3.8 does not change into 8th gear, well at 80 mph and below. I wouldn't think the mileage would be better in 7th gear on the open road. The 5.0 could easily do better in sport because of the throttle position for the power needed. I have an old MB 126 gas car that the mileage went up about 2 mpg when I adjusted the shift points higher.
We just got back from a 8000+ mile trip in our Genny and averaged 28.129 mpg calculated, all in normal mode. That was interstate, city, and state roads. We like state roads because there is more to see. We are planing a trip to the outer banks in a few months. I will try (if I remember) eco and see how it does. It will be 1000 mile round trip and should be a good test.

That's good data. And amazing mileage > 28 mpg is phenomenal, I once got 23 when driving from Austin to Houston, usually below 20 on my 3.8 RWD.

I did check, and my car shifts into 8 in SPORT mode, when (legally) doing >70 mph on the freeway. It does shift down immediately though when accelerating, the RPM jump significantly when I push the gas pedal in SPORT mode - no so in ECO mode ...

I think cruising on the highway at 75 mph should be little difference between ECO and SPORT, I think the difference will be in how the car gets there.

 

[txvmax]

After reading all the responses so far (thank you) I did a more in depth test. Same route same time of day (so traffic would be equal). I drove until an indicated 3 miles left in tank. Put 5 gallons in and drove route in Eco mode ( 91 miles - 18.2 mpg). Then back to 3 miles indicated and 5 gallons but in Sport mode (99 miles - 19.8 mpg avg). This was combined city/highway. I kept car under 3,500 rpm as to try and keep things equal. So...works on my car, not scientific but any gain is worth it. I tried to keep acceleration the same and speed was 75 on highway. 8th gear is not an issue in sport mode for me. I also prefer the stiffer steering in sport as well. So get in.. Activate auto-hold then go to sport. In my instansance over a full tank it does pay off.

 

[Aquineas]

txvmax, that's interesting info. Do you happen to know if you've had the V8 ECM recall?