AppleFan1

Unlike a few of you here that do not like the ECO option, I do use it all the time in the city. However, I am confused about how exactly it's suppose to operate. In my car, it seems as if the ECO light on the Driver's Info Screen does not turn green until I come to a complete stop and be stopped for at least for 30 seconds. Usually, it then stays green for a long time and the engine stops as soon as I come to a complete stop. If I do not stop for at least 30 seconds, the ECO light will usually stay yellow on the Driver's Info Screen. Is this normal or is there something wrong with the ECO function on my car?

SteveVukelich

Yes it is. Yellow means that not all of the conditions are satisfied to turn the engine off. These can be: temperature outside, temperature inside, engine temperature, engine load, etc. Green means that all of the conditions are met, and the next time the car stops the engine will put one of the cylinders at top-center for an easy restart. Sometimes, the green icon will turn yellow; for example, this happens in the heat of the day when the a/c needs to work (it is not electrically driven and requires the engine to be running); some residual cooling is available for a short time with just the electric fan blowing.

nyca

I drive a loaner car with this mode recently - worst thing I could ever imagine. Every time I pulled to a light, I could feel the engine stalling and my natural inclination was to release the brake and give it some gas to keep the engine running.

hyperion667

you forgot how the sun and moon are currently aligned with Venus.....because that also plays a role in how the eco S/S is activated

LovinMercedes

This is correct but you are forgetting about the solar affect the moon has on the radiating temperatures of the sun, which are at the polar ends, and taking into consideration the spherical effect of the G-forces produced.

AppleFan1

"When the moon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars"

Seriously though, I don't mind this feature at all. One hardly hears the engine turning off and on. I honestly don't fully understand why some of you hate this. What's the big deal?

AppleFan1

So what if the engine stalls? If you have it on Distronic Plus, you don't need to do a thing (no foot on the brake no nothing). The engine will restart as soon as the car in front of you starts to pull forward and if you pull the Distronic lever, your car will move with the traffic again. I find it rather seamless to use the ECO feature with or without the Distronic Plus activated.

AljoGaviola

Just never liked the ECO thing. I know it saves fuel but if that was a concern, probably wouldn't have bought the S550.

AppleFan1

Steve,

Thank you for clarifying for me the way the ECO function is suppose to work. I appreciate it.

AljoGaviola

My concern for the ECO function is the extra wear on the starter especially on city driving. First time I drove it felt like a Prius.

hyperion667

LOL!
I guess it doesn't bug me either.....I usually press sport button anyway