" ECO " (economy mode) on VIC !!!

[ucla81]

My 09 challenger R/T never displayed that 'fuel saver mode' anywhere on the VIC or with the average MPG display, althought the owner;s manual said it will kick into 4-cyl mode when cruising. I've seen some discussion of others doing the same thing, wondering if the MDS is working, etc.

But....that car got rear ended and was repaired, but I got a good offer from out of state and sold it. Just picked up my new B5 R/T Classic (and it's awesome, btw...). Now THIS new car shows the letters "ECO" very frequently on the VIC between the compass and temp, usually when maintaining the same speed. When I check the average MPG, it will say "Fuel Saver Mode (or something like that) above the average MPG.

So why does this new R/T Classic do that, but the last R/T never did? Does this mean the MDS was never working as some here have suggested? Or did Dodge make a change that now makes the MDS work efficiently?

(FYI, I had to go 1300 miles from home to get this car, excellent deal, exact options I want. I'm halfway home with it, and average MPG is 27. I do take it easy the first 500 miles, vary speed, keeping it around 55-70 mph varying).

[Spyle]

I never get "ECO" letters in my R/T, and from what I can tell, the only time "fuel saver" shows up in the hidden menu is when my foot is off the gas and I'm coasting...

[STONEWHITE R/T]

Must be with Classics or certain build dates. I have the basic dash and Automatic. Build date 03-09-09.

[TommyGNR]

This eco mode issue seems to come up every once and a while on this forum. It seems like some cars have the display for eco mode and some dont. One theory is that 2009 R/T's built in 2008 dont have the ECO display and that is started showing up in R/T's built in 2009.

[ChuckG]

I have the ECO thing on mine. I also have the electronic convenience group. Build date is 4/17/09.

You also have to be using 5w-20 oil for the MDS to function.

[bm2492]

Originally Posted by TommyGNR

This eco mode issue seems to come up every once and a while on this forum. It seems like some cars have the display for eco mode and some dont. One theory is that 2009 R/T's built in 2008 dont have the ECO display and that is started showing up in R/T's built in 2009.

Yea, thats my understanding also, my car was built in August 2008 and it doesn't have the Eco/fuel Saver mode as a display within my Evic

[Masked Man]

Originally Posted by ChuckG

I have the ECO thing on mine. I also have the electronic convenience group. Build date is 4/17/09.

You also have to be using 5w-20 oil for the MDS to function.

re: "You also have to be using 5w-20 oil for the MDS to function"

Is that true?

You mean MDS can be "disabled" just by using a different weight oil???

Interesting if true.

[SteveRT09]

Look at the born on date on my car below... I have the electronics convenience package and ECO MODE shows up. It more likely depends on what display you have it set at. Just like when I showed a fellow R/T owner how to display his digital speedometer... He's had his car as long as I have and never knew it was there.

[ChuckG]

Originally Posted by Masked Man

re: "You also have to be using 5w-20 oil for the MDS to function"

Is that true?

You mean MDS can be "disabled" just by using a different weight oil???

Interesting if true.

That is correct...you need 5w-20 for the MDS to work. I first saw this over on the 300C forums a couple of years ago and I also believe that there was something mentioned about it on the R/T board. And Jack, the tech that works at Fredericks, mentioned it to me as well while getting my oil changed.

[shaky-2]

how do you get the digital speedometer on an R/T classic to work it is fully loaded ?