Does the traction control AND stability control reduce MPG or only one or the other does? Not sure if I should drive with only TCS off or if I should drive with AdvanceTrac off completely for better MPG?

Second I saw a video regarding anti-roll, but obviously this is geared towards SUV's I presume.


P.S. This is not a @#( measuring thread, I simply want to know the technical aspect of how TCS and Stability Control work when on or off. Please keep opinions on how others drive to yourselves. No negativity please!

 

I'm going to contact a friend who works for the supplier to try and clear up some info on this.

 

Thanks Overboost. I keep hearing that TCS/ESC does affect MPG and I'm hearing it does not affect MPG. I know it affects power, but I'm not entire certain how the system actually works.

If anyone has info on this and doesn't want to post here, plz PM me.

 

I don't know why anyone would want to hide things from the thread. I will post my findings later.

 

I just got off the phone with someone who works at the supplier for our TCS. I confirmed with them that the brakes DO NOT drag during normal operation or during accel/decel cycles. There is a specific diagnostic routine that occurs after X amount of key cycles that may be felt, but it doesn't drag the brakes. I also asked them about the nature of the system and they made it clear - it's a reactive system. If an event occurs and the system has to activate, you will see the light flash. The system is more reactive to prevent false activations from happening.

Hopefully this clears up the confusion.

 

Good stuff. Thanks for checking.

 

Thanks for looking into that, good to know this

 

Not really.

First, of course it's a reactive system, computers cannot predict the future yet, so it has to react to input.

The question is, what types of input cause the system to react and engage. To understand that you must first understand that TCS is not a single system, but is actually 3 seperate systems that work together, and any one of the 3 can engage the brakes.

The first system is a simple wheel spin sensor. The most basic traction control. If ANY wheel spin is detected it will apply the brakes. It will continue to ride the brakes until you've achieved a speed where the system feels that wheel spin is no longer possible. The problem here is it's virtually impossible to go around a corner in a Mustang without spinning the rear inside tire. Even at slow speeds and slow acceleration there will almost always be some wheel spin. It's just the nature of the live axel rear end and Ford's limited slip differential. So, the wheel spin sensors will detect slippage at the rear tire while cornering and apply some brake to control it, and this will happen almost every sharp corner you take.

The second system is an Electronic Stability Control system. This is where things start getting complicated. This system monitors the suspension, so if it detects a wheel that is lightly sprung (ie, not getting good contact with the ground) it will apply the brake on the opposite corner to flatten out the car. It also monitors the steering wheel, so if you give the wheel a quick jerk it will apply brakes to keep you from spinning. While it does work with the Traction Control System, this system does NOT require wheel spin to activate, it will try to level out the car via braking regardless of if there is a loss of traction or not.

The third system is the real killer for a sports car. The Roll Stability Control. This is a gyroscopic controlled system that will activate any time it detect sudden body lean. This system can be set off by driving in a straight line down a significantly uneven road. For instance, an old asphalt road which semis have used for years with deep ruts that alternate sides will set the system off as the car rolls from one side to the other as it passes through the ruts. It can also be set off by quick changes in direction, such as driving a slolam course. It does not detect the road surface, it only detects sudden changes to the angle and direction of body roll, so ANYTHING that causes the body to roll suddenly can set off the system.



All of these systems are reactive. The important question is, what are the thresholds that set them off, and how often do you reach those thresholds during normal driving?

Because of one specific road exiting my neighborhood, I am virtually guaranteed to set off the Roll Stability Control system every single time I leave my house. I have to make a left turn while cresting a sharp rise in the road, and as soon as I come over the top and the body suddenly leans the opposite direction AdvanceTrac applies the brakes every single time. It can be quite frightening when morning rush hour traffic is bearing down and the harder you try to accelerate the more AdvanceTrac applies the brakes.




With AdvanceTrac, the Sport mode will disable the basic traction control and electronic stability management, but the Roll Stability Control system can only be disabled by completely disabling the AdvanceTrac system.

 

Another question: Do ESC or TCS ever intervene in any way without the dash light coming on? If not, then mine rarely ever kicks in.

 

Very good info. Thanks

 

It shouldn't.

 

YES.

TCS especially WILL engage without the warning light coming on. Absolutely.

For instance, if you're doing a straight line launch then the warning light will only come on if you've EXCEEDED the Traction Control limits and are spinning the tires despite the TCS. (ie. in manuals it will flash if you spin the tires shifting gears)


For example, if you go to this video and read the comments you'll see the owner say that the car bogged down on the start with traction control on, and that it doesn't happen with traction control off. Clearly the TCS is applying the brakes yet there is no warning light.

 

So for launch, turn off TCS only, or disable AdvanceTrac completely?

 

Well, I did a little 0-60 test today with sport mode on and I had a lot more wheel spin than I normally do with it completely on (which worked out great). I'm still babying this car (it only has 2k miles) so I didn't push the redline but I got 0-60 in 5.1, best time with it on was 5.2... the difference wasn't in the time so much, but how the car felt to me. Maybe I'll try it with it off and see if that really makes a big difference...

 

While all the info posted others is informative and good, the real point here is - it's dumb to turn off any of those systems in day-to-day driving, whether they take off 1% of your gas mileage or not. The systems exist for a reason, and unless you're Randy Pobst or Ken Block, they're going to keep you from getting into serious trouble on the road. So leave 'em on.

 

I said something similar to this and got crucified by "experts". I agree with you though, no sense inciting a panic about a system designed to save your (and others around you) life in a situation.

 

Safe to say only fully disable at the track or somewhere on a closed road. Otherwise proceed with caution...

 

Funny thing....to keep the best mpg.....I read TCS/ESC off.....but one must not hot rod the car......but with the nannies off.....I can play and then the MPG's go down... ...or leave the nannies on and drive like grandma and get better MPG's... ....then I read one cannot turn sharp corners in town without spinning the inside tire......so leave the nannies off... :I ...if I leave them on I cannot drive like the pros......and after all, driving a Mustang, I must drive it like the pros do at the track or I will never be able to merge with traffic... .. .....I am so confused.....

I guess I will just keep driving mine as I have....turn things off when I want to, drive hard or like grandma based on my judgement, and have a blast in the car. After all, I have only been driving legally since 1966....lol.

 

just treat your mustang like a horse, and not a donkey

 

I want to add that although so many drivers gods think these systems are only for people that don't know how to drive, even "experts" could benefits in emergency situations. Things like applying more braking force to certain wheel could help you steer in the middle of a emergency maneuver. Even professional drivers loose controls of their high powered cars - granted they are usually driving very fast.