Snow mode = more fuel efficient? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

karbon · 09-21-2012, 11:45 PM

In the auto, Snow mode makes it so that the lowest gear you can access in either D or M mode is 2nd. Many luxury cars start in 2nd gear from a stop. For cruising, lately I've been putting snow mode on for what I think would be improved fuel efficiency.

What do you guys think?

Does this make sense? Am I harming the car in any way by neglecting 1st?

ahausheer · 09-22-2012, 12:11 AM

What luxury cars start in second and what do they do with first?

DaJo · 09-22-2012, 12:31 AM

karbon · 09-22-2012, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahausheer

What luxury cars start in second and what do they do with first?

BMWs, for one. I think some Lexus models do it too.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=382455

Turbowned · 09-22-2012, 09:36 AM

I feel like I've heard about Prius owners doing this... I don't think I'd want to start in second, rather just go easy on the gas pedal from a stand-still.

Zaggeron · 09-22-2012, 10:17 AM

If you redline it before every shift, starting in 2nd might save you some gas -- of course if you are doing that you likely are not concerned about gas.

But, if you normally short shift to 2nd anyway right after you get going, then the gas savings are likely very minimal and certainly not worth whatever strain you'll be putting on the transmission by being in the wrong gear. Just leave it in auto mode, the car will pick the best gear and you'll probably get the best gas mileage that way

serialk11r · 09-22-2012, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbowned

I feel like I've heard about Prius owners doing this... I don't think I'd want to start in second, rather just go easy on the gas pedal from a stand-still.

Prii don't have gears, they're effectively continuously variable.

Anyways, no starting in second is not going to save gas because now you're unlocking your torque converter in 2nd which needs more engine torque to start, and the more torque the torque converter transmits through fluid coupling the greater the "slip" and the more energy you lose.

If you want to save gas, get out of first sooner by pulling the upshift paddle, accelerate normally/quickly, then shift to the highest gear possible or let the auto tranny take care of that for you, since the car locks the torque converter in 2nd gear and up. If you don't want to deal with the paddle shifting, press lightly on the gas when you're starting from a dead stop.

Wasting gas is using more power than you need (and then slowing down), driving around with unlocked torque converter, or being light on the throttle in a lower gear than you need.

GNS · 09-22-2012, 07:13 PM

Sounds like you're putting unnecessary strain on the transmission for minimal gain in fuel efficiency. I wouldn't do it.

fatoni · 09-22-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GNS

Sounds like you're putting unnecessary strain on the transmission for minimal gain in fuel efficiency. I wouldn't do it.

how does that put more strain on the transmission?

serialk11r · 09-22-2012, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatoni

how does that put more strain on the transmission?

It doesn't.

09-21-2012, 11:45 PM	#1
karbon Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: DGM BRZ Location: United States Posts: 84 Thanks: 59 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Snow mode = more fuel efficient? In the auto, Snow mode makes it so that the lowest gear you can access in either D or M mode is 2nd. Many luxury cars start in 2nd gear from a stop. For cruising, lately I've been putting snow mode on for what I think would be improved fuel efficiency. What do you guys think? Does this make sense? Am I harming the car in any way by neglecting 1st?

09-22-2012, 12:11 AM	#2
ahausheer Re-member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: Toyota camry Location: S. Cali Posts: 1,001 Thanks: 98 Thanked 292 Times in 152 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What luxury cars start in second and what do they do with first? __________________ Nothing decays like progress, and nothing preserves like neglect.

09-22-2012, 12:31 AM	#3
DaJo FT86Club Vancouver Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: BRZ Sport-Tech; Drove: MR-S, AE86 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 391 Thanked 1,178 Times in 633 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	__________________ 1984 AE86 BT 20V 5MT 2007-2012 2000 MR-S 5MT 2010-2012 2013 BRZ Sport-Tech 6AT Since '12 (OEM+ STI tS Build) 2015 Lexus IS250 AWD F-Sport 2 2015-2018 2018 Lexus NX300 F-Sport 3 Since '18

09-22-2012, 10:17 AM	#6
Zaggeron Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: '13 BRZ Limited '10 370ZR Location: Austin Posts: 221 Thanks: 16 Thanked 48 Times in 36 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you redline it before every shift, starting in 2nd might save you some gas -- of course if you are doing that you likely are not concerned about gas. But, if you normally short shift to 2nd anyway right after you get going, then the gas savings are likely very minimal and certainly not worth whatever strain you'll be putting on the transmission by being in the wrong gear. Just leave it in auto mode, the car will pick the best gear and you'll probably get the best gas mileage that way __________________ 2013 GBS Subaru BRZ Limited 6MT 2010 PG 370z Roadster: Sport/Touring 6MT

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09-22-2012, 07:13 PM	#8
GNS Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: . Location: Ontario Posts: 350 Thanks: 28 Thanked 223 Times in 105 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Sounds like you're putting unnecessary strain on the transmission for minimal gain in fuel efficiency. I wouldn't do it.

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