2018 ES 350 FWD. I'm starting to drive in eco mode more. Is it bad in anyway for the car and how much more mpg can I expect??

 

Not bad, just useless.

 

If you drive a road trip, you might save 1 MPG. In the city, it really doesn't matter with stop-n-go traffic...other than you don't have quick acceleration to do what you need to do. I have tried to determine the difference and it really isn't much.

That said, I drive in ECO mode on road trips 'cause it makes me feel like I'm saving something...and SPORT mode in the city 'cause I prefer the steering feel (real or not).

 

it must do something ..... transmission shifting points ? reduced power steering assist. Its the largest button on the center console, it has to do.something !

 

On the ES, it only reduces throttle response and A/C function. That said, if you mash the pedal to the floor, it makes no difference in acceleration. I always switched to sport mode, mainly for the stiffer steering wheel. Oh, and I liked the red dash.

 

Eco will give you less throttle response compared to normal, and the shift points will be lower in the RPM band. The best I can tell, holding the gas pedal down 50% in Eco is like holding the pedal down 40% in Normal, if that makes sense.

 

Eco on an es350 is an oxymoron. It’s the wrong car of choice if you’re into eco driving.

 

This is not the case on the ES. It's documented somewhere on the forum, as this question has been brought up several times in the past.

 

I actually like the throttle response in Eco better than Normal, (probably because I have a heavy foot) so I use that mode all the time. Probably get around 1 mpg better mileage as a result. In stop and go CA driving, normal and sport tries to put too much power down to the front wheels when making lane changes on the highway from a complete stop, and I get too much torque steer and non-Lexus behavior.

 

Active ECO (you act to turn the **** and the car Acts differently) modifies the throttle response,
shift points, HVAC operation and cruise control response. A/C seems to have the greatest effect
on actual MPG, you can simply press the throttle harder and negate any gains the throttle or cruise
control mapping tried to provide.
Note: Passive ECO is the green letters that pop up on the occasions you are actually driving "Economically"
or "Ecologically" and you are rewarded with a gold star for your restraint.

 

It does not modify shift points on the 6th gen ES. Some Tech Specialist you are.

 

Nice catch, knowing I saw it somewhere I have attached excerpts from TIS...
GS 350's Drive Mode affect the shift points, ES 350's do not.