When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
What I'm looking for is the ability to disable the start/stop yet keep the other economy features, such as 4/8cyl. Pressing the ECO button turns off the start/stop but it also turns off 4/8cyl and I've never seen sailing in any mode other than Comfort with the eco button engaged.
I might add that recently the start/stop had quit working but 4/8cyl was working. I wasn't able to test sailing. Took it in for service and they said the battery was bad and replaced it. Now the start/stop has started working again.
Most engine wear happens on start up. So why would you want to keep stopping and starting your engine. The manufacturers have introduced this to save fuel and for the environment. The amount of fuel saved is negligible. I always have mine switched off.
2019 E 450 4 Matic T-model, 2014 Jag F-Type vert, 2004 Volvo V70R
Originally Posted by Bay Leaf
Most engine wear happens on start up. So why would you want to keep stopping and starting your engine. The manufacturers have introduced this to save fuel and for the environment. The amount of fuel saved is negligible. I always have mine switched off.
I don't think the manufacturers did it of their own volition. I thought it was done for EU regulatory reasons.
Most engine wear happens on start up. So why would you want to keep stopping and starting your engine. The manufacturers have introduced this to save fuel and for the environment. The amount of fuel saved is negligible. I always have mine switched off.
You're right about the wear, but I believe they implemented that annoying "feature" strictly to meet legislative requirements regarding automotive mileage and for advertising purposes (i.e., better mileage). I have mine permanently turned off.
That doesn't just turn off/on the start/stop function. It also turns off eco mode when you're driving. On the AMGs it enables/disables the ability to drop into 4cyl mode from 8cyl mode and I think it also affects the sailing mode.
Google Mid-city engineering. They make a little chip you wire into the bus that automatically turns off eco mode when you start the car. No software changes, but it is a hardware fix. Works fine on my 2017.
Most engine wear happens on start up. So why would you want to keep stopping and starting your engine. The manufacturers have introduced this to save fuel and for the environment. The amount of fuel saved is negligible. I always have mine switched off.
The engine wear happens when starting a cold engine. There is no appreciable wear when starting an engine that is already at operating temperature. ECO Start/Stop does not function when the engine is not at operating temperature. That includes coolant and oil temperature. FWIW Eco Start/Stop has activated in my car only a dozen times in more than 3 years. It won't activate if the AC is active and the temperature is above what is set. That is a year around condition in Florida. Who knows, it may be the same with heat which I've never had to use.
While I don't like the Stop/Start "feature" either, I doubt wear due to low oil pressure has anything to do with it. When an engine is cold, oil is thicker, and has had time to drain down off of wearing parts, at least to some degree. There is certainly no oil pressure in the system. But when a warm/hot engine stops, the oil is thinner, it will take some time to drain off of parts, and the oil pump, while not creating pressure, will keep oil in the lines for a while. I seriously doubt any additional wear occurs at this time.
I personally don't like the engine stopping and starting because it's obvious to me and my passengers (E450 here), just "seems cheap", definitely will wear on the starter and battery, and saves so little fuel as to be discounted. At least for individual drivers. 0.1 mpg may mean something to MB Corporate, but not to me.
I was surprised to see what stopping at a single red light had on fuel mileage for my typical 1 to 2 mile trip.
MPG when I stopped at the red light - 21.2 mpg. MPG when light turned green and I resumed - 18.0 mpg.
Red light duration (typical for my area) was 3 minutes 30 seconds.
I was surprised to see what stopping at a single red light had on fuel mileage for my typical 1 to 2 mile trip.
MPG when I stopped at the red light - 21.2 mpg. MPG when light turned green and I resumed - 18.0 mpg.
Red light duration (typical for my area) was 3 minutes 30 seconds.
A "typical 1 to 2 mile trip" will take, on average, 2-4 minutes. It would not be a surprise that sitting an additional 3.5 minutes (what kind of lights do you have????!!!) would reduce mileage substantially.
What seems funny to me is that while the stop/start does do its thing, as allowed, and has operated on my 2-3 mile trip to Walmart, after I park there, in nice cool weather not requiring AC, transmission in park, the system will NEVER shut down then. Seems there would be a lot more to be gained then. And yes, I could/should shut off the engine at that time, but just saying.
My 1-2 mile trip each day at 15-20 mph takes about 15 minutes including stops at 2 traffic lights. In our metro area all traffic lights are dynamically controlled and favor the roads with the most traffic. The longest time I was stopped at that intersection was 5 minutes.
My 1-2 mile trip each day at 15-20 mph takes about 15 minutes including stops at 2 traffic lights. In our metro area all traffic lights are dynamically controlled and favor the roads with the most traffic. The longest time I was stopped at that intersection was 5 minutes.
All I can say to that is 1) I'm sorry. And 2) You might consider walking, if a 1 mile trip takes 15 minutes. ;-)
One method I did think of was to remove the fuse that protects this system but I couldn't find it in the fuse list. It would probably be a shared fuse anyway.
OBD module from vladimircdi on ebay. A bit pricey but his stuff works, I bought a carplay activation module from him and it worked without any issue. Just send the vin before to make sure it will work/ you buy the right thing.
It is supposed to make the start stop "sticky" so it will stay in the position you last left it even after when you turn the car on and off
In ECO mode as the AC recycles on and off the engine will automatically turn on.
Engine mounts wearing out: This is interesting as I never heard or thought about it. Can you give us your source for premature engine mount failure because of ECO mode.
The engine and transmission mounts in my 2015 SL all failed. Car is a 2015 with just over 22k miles. Fortunately I bought it as a CPO so they were covered. Don't know if the first owner used the start stop but I turn it OFF with the push of a button every time I start the car. Am I to understand you cannot turn it off in the newer models?
Porsche Cayman S, Mercedes W213, Nissan Titan, BMW X5, Chevrolet Suburban
Originally Posted by rmorin49
The engine and transmission mounts in my 2015 SL all failed. Car is a 2015 with just over 22k miles. Fortunately I bought it as a CPO so they were covered. Don't know if the first owner used the start stop but I turn it OFF with the push of a button every time I start the car. Am I to understand you cannot turn it off in the newer models?
You can turn it off. You just have to do it each time. I hated having to remember to do it so I purchased the ECO Engineering module before I brought my car home from the dealer. Very happy with it and I can select all the dynamic settings anytime I want with no issues.
11-01-2020, 03:32 AM
