L-300 Traction Control?

[WGRG3]

Why is this feature always on? I find when I turn it off I get better gas milage. Like 1-3 miles per gallon! So why is the TC in the on position all the time, instead of being on as needed?

 

[SnoMan]

Why is this feature always on? I find when I turn it off I get better gas milage. Like 1-3 miles per gallon! So why is the TC in the on position all the time, instead of being on as needed?

Strange, MPG should be no different unless there is something wrong with it. It merely monitors ABS wheel speed sensors and applys brakes to proper wheel when drive slipage is detected. It should make no difference in normal drive unless it is defective or you spin tires a lot .

 

[marx404]

What Snoman says, it is "Traction Control", it works with ABS and is by default on whenever you start your car. If you like to peel out alot or have a very heavy foot, perhaps, but not likely would it affect your gas mileage.

 

[WGRG3]

]28, 2007, 8:48am (PDT+3) From:
] (SnoMan)

]Strange, MPG should be no different unless
] there is something wrong with it. It merely
] monitors ABS wheel speed sensors and
] applys brakes to proper wheel when drive
] slipage is detected. It should make no
] difference in normal drive unless it is defective
] or you spin tires a lot .

So why do they give you the ability to turn it off, if they expect you to leave it all the time? Why is there even a button on the dash to control it? All I know is I drove a certain distance with it on and I got 21 mpg. then I drove the exact same distance with it off, and I got over 23mpg.

 

[marx404]

In case you get stuck and need to spin your wheels on purpose, you can override the TC. Most Chevy trucks with TC also have this feature. If it is affecting your mileage that much, you must have something defective, have it checked out.

 

[Steph]

wrote in 3315.bay.webtv.net:

]28, 2007, 8:48am (PDT+3) From:
] (SnoMan)

]Strange, MPG should be no different unless
] there is something wrong with it. It merely
] monitors ABS wheel speed sensors and
] applys brakes to proper wheel when drive
] slipage is detected. It should make no
] difference in normal drive unless it is defective
] or you spin tires a lot .

So why do they give you the ability to turn it off, if they expect you to leave it all the time? Why is there even a button on the dash to control it? All I know is I drove a certain distance with it on and I got 21 mpg. then I drove the exact same distance with it off, and I got over 23mpg.

Sometimes you need to turn it off to ALLOW the wheels to spin. For example, I was on very icey uphill road and the cables in my tires were working but there was a bit of slippage while the chains bit into the ice. With TC on, the car "helpfully" reduced my wheel speed - unfortunately this meant in a very short distance I was going nowhere, with my wheels not spinning and the gas pedal nearly to the floor.

I switched off traction control, and slowly accelerated, allowing the wheels to slip a bit and bite into the ice and I slowly was able to gain speed again.

.... it also is nice to turn off and show your passengers how trying to accelerate quickly just spins the wheels, then slow down and turn it back on and repeat and push them into the seat <g>.

As for your observed improved economy....
ummm less gas in the tank, lighter vehicle, hotter tires, increased tire pressure, more concscious about the leaded right foot, A/C working harder or less?

On or off in basic driving neither ABS or it's compliment, Traction Control, affect your MPG. Now Overdrive, or 5-th or 6-th gear selection will affect your MPG, as will whether your AC compressor is running.

 

[WGRG3]

]Aug 29, 2007, 7:45am (PDT+3) From:
] (marx404)

]In case you get stuck and need to spin your
] wheels on purpose, you can override the TC.
] Most Chevy trucks with TC also have this
] feature. If it is affecting your mileage that
] much, you must have something defective,
] have it checked out.

Thanks, I think I will. I have noticed a 'huge' amount of brake dust on the front tires. Or I should say more brake dust then usual! So I wonder if the brakes might be causing all this. It just seemed strange that I would have such a differance in mpg with the TC off.