MPG gain in sport vs. Its inherent extra wear on components

[McLeadslinger]

I think In standard drive mode the engine and trans is probably under more stress since the transmission likes to hunt for gears and lug at city driving speeds (less that 50mph).. this was my pre-tune observation with my truck anyways. With that being said, I hated sport mode and the way the RPM’s would hang after acceleration.

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[Jacob]

I think I'm slowing down...around 82K today...I drive in S mode in stop/go traffic...on a steady highway with cruise on, I'll have it in D...if it's a little hilly, I'll have it in D tow... ?

Shoot I thought I was doing good at 53k…..

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[D Fresh]

This assertion is bullshit.

NOBODY is getting better mileage in S.

I'm in process of expirementing with mileage and shift patterns.

I have seen better mileage in tow than D with my driving style, however currently testing S and it's shaping up to be a couple MPGs less than D. I knew this would be the case, but wanted to test S as well.

 

[AdamHarris]

Some of y’all want to talk about this transmission “hunting.” So to you, any time it shifts at ALL it’s “hunting” huh? This powertrain does not “hunt.”

And why does anyone give a damn if it skips gears? Turn your gearshift indicator off and you won’t even know!

 

[D Fresh]

And why does anyone give a damn if it skips gears? Turn your gearshift indicator off and you won’t even know!

If you can't feel the difference between D and Tow, you shouldn't be driving.

The lugging of the engine is pretty annoying. And can be harmful depending on terrain.

On top of that, tow mode returns an extra 1.5 mpg for me.

Drives better, and runs cheaper. Win, win. What's not to like?

 

[AzScorpion]

stop saying Sid has "no problems"

you havent torn down his engine and measured the wear on it, so you really have no idea

Has it broke down or been in the shop..NO so he's had NO problems!

I think driving mostly in S for 80K+ miles is a good indication that it's trouble free. Besides this isn't the first vehicle Ford has with S mode and if it were giving other ones problems you bet they'd have it taken out by now.

 

[the5Gmartian]

My “S” mode is about 20mpg less than “D”

 

[Msfitoy]

Has it broke down or been in the shop..NO so he's had NO problems!

I think driving mostly in S for 80K+ miles is a good indication that it's trouble free. Besides this isn't the first vehicle Ford has with S mode and it were giving other ones problems you bet they'd have it taken out by now.

Yes indeed...why are people freaking out using S mode like it's a grenade? I'd say I've been in S mode probably 95% in the 82K we've racked up and I assure you everything is AOK...I have a transmission filter replacement and fluid flush coming in Spring...probably right around the 90K mark...I'll be sure to document that for sure... ?

 

[Langwilliams]

People thinking sport mode is crazy high RPMs have never driven a 3 speed auto car with 3.55 or 4.10 gears on the highway.

I've read what sounded like credible reports of getting 1 to 2 MPG less in sport than drive from some of the guys that track MPGs closely on here.

I have the Livernous tune an I have never felt the truck "hunt for gears". Around town at 35/40 mph it lags at 1400 rpms. Sport mode kicks it all the way up to 2500 (for me). If I'm going to be going running non highway speeds for any amount of time I put it in tow mode an that kicks it up to 1900-2000 RPMs at 35 mph. For me sport mode is for having fun in short bursts, 2500 around town is a little high IMO.

 

[Floyd]

This assertion is bullshit.

NOBODY is getting better mileage in S.

I'm in process of expirementing with mileage and shift patterns.

I have seen better mileage in tow than D with my driving style, however currently testing S and it's shaping up to be a couple MPGs less than D. I knew this would be the case, but wanted to test S as well.

I was going to comment, but you have said it all!

 

[awd.nv]

Too tired to read everything in here but the difference is that the load on the engine is lower in sport mode than it is in drive. So, all things considered it is not just an RPM difference for calculating wear and tear vs MPG gains. I am not educated enough to figure out the equation. Just keep in mind the load is less at 2500rpm/45mph than it is at 1500rpm/45mph.

Me personally, with the recommendation from others in here, I prefer tow/haul for normal driving as well as towing. Sport mode I only use if I need to do something hairy or have fun. Tow/Haul is about the middle of drive and sport. It also deactivates the auto off feature.

I also do not do this for MPG but I do think my MPG are more stable in tow mode ONLY due to the way I drive. I like driving with a light foot so any time I need to pass in drive, I need to step on it to get the downshit otherwise it is super sluggish. In tow mode if it isn't already in the right gear, it only needs to drop 1 gear rather than 2 for example.

(edit: I do not really think this trans hunts either, skipping gears is not the same thing. The 1-3 skip I actually do not mind for daily driving but I get annoyed how quickly it tries to put the truck in 8-9th gear when I am going 45mph. That is why I like Tow mode)

People thinking sport mode is crazy high RPMs have never driven a 3 speed auto car with 3.55 or 4.10 gears on the highway.

I've read what sounded like credible reports of getting 1 to 2 MPG less in sport than drive from some of the guys that track MPGs closely on here.

I have the Livernous tune an I have never felt the truck "hunt for gears". Around town at 35/40 mph it lags at 1400 rpms. Sport mode kicks it all the way up to 2500 (for me). If I'm going to be going running non highway speeds for any amount of time I put it in tow mode an that kicks it up to 1900-2000 RPMs at 35 mph. For me sport mode is for having fun in short bursts, 2500 around town is a little high IMO.

haha, my 66 Mustang at the time had the 3spd manual and 3.80s in the back. 65mph was 3000rpm and about 4000rpm for 80mph. It was my daily for a while so it got its share of fwy driving. Granted that was a freshly built motor back then but it was also hammered on the dragstrip with 6500-7000rpm shifts and still runs fine today about 12yrs later. She has had a T5 swap for probably the last 8yrs now though.

I am sure that 4 banger in the Ranger is built at least as good as my v8 was so I have zero worries about RPM. I just hate how it hangs at 4-5k sometimes after I smash on it.

 

[CB750F]

LOL, better mpg in S mode, I don't think so.
Well, I drive like an old man except when I red line it.
As for wear, well, just do proper maintenance, all should be fine.
Remember what Phil said, it's tested for 150k miles(?) for general public?
Also, shit happens, some have issues at 18k mikes & want to sell their
piece of junk while others go over 80k in S mode with no issue.
I'm hopping I'll be lucky & do 200k miles with normal maintenance.

 

[outdoorphotog]

In "D" with 7x as much upshifting and downshifting compared to being in "S", your transmission may not last as long by using "D".

 

[ControlNode]

People thinking sport mode is crazy high RPMs have never driven a 3 speed auto car with 3.55 or 4.10 gears on the highway.

Or a Honda with a 5spd JDM transaxle... 60mph = 3400rpm. My engine's (B20Z) redline was 6700. Test drive was a road trip from NC to PA with only 17 miles on the swap the night before I left. I was going 80MPH on the highway at ~4500 in a car with no carpet or sound insolation. Everyone at the car meet kept asking why I'm yelling.

 

[mgallo13]

i have no idea how related the 2 motors are, if at all, but i drove the snot out of the 2.0L in my Focus ST 80,000 miles before i traded it in for this truck and the biggest issue I had was 1 CEL due to shitty gas from a bobo fuel station (i'm assuming) in the Catskills. Highway speeds (6spd manual) were right around 2k on the tach.

Again, literally comparing apples to oranges here but I cannot imagine sport does too much if the engine is still in its normal operating temp zone...

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