Can anybody explain to me the difference between normal operation (default ECT state in the middle) and Power Mode (ECT PWR)? In manual it just says "power mode" for powerful acceleration and driving in mountainous regions. I tried it today on a straight road in PWR mode and it felt like car was accelerating faster with less strain to the engine, while in normal mode acceleration felt a little harder. Would it make sense to drive in PWR mode all the time or will it affect the gas mileage? Or, should I just set it to normal for everyday driving?

Since I picked up my car (GS350 AWD) only 2 days ago, haven't had to drive it much and only got about 70 miles on it. Yesterday we had too much rain, and spend most of the day eating turkey anyway This morning I did more driving and felt like every time I push the brake all the way down and than release it, I hear at the moment of brake pad release sort of a mechanical thump for a split second. Kind of a hard to describe. Maybe its because break pads are brand spanking new and also cause of all the rain we got, etc. Anyway, just curious if you guys know what I'm taking about or anybody has experienced that with their new ride from the start?

 

ECT should control transmission shift points only. It will hold gears longer and try to maintain or hold the car in a lower gear so you are closer to the sweet spot in the RPM range. As a result, you will have better acceleration and less downshifting or hunting when going uphill. It doesn't have anything to do with engine output but because it holds higher RPMs and lower gears, your gas mileage will suffer.

 

Perfect explanation!!! Thanks!!! Will keep it on normal.

Regarding breaks, I probably didn't describe it correctly. What I felt wasn't really a thump. Just comparing to every other car I previously have driven, I did "feel" the release for that split second. Probably too early to judge yet about anything since I'm still in break in period.

 

I've got about 7k on my GS 300 AWD and hear/feel the same rear break mechanics if I haven't driven the car in a few days. It only does it the first time I put the car in reverse to back out of my garage...and it doesn't even do it every time.

 

Got it No complains today. It was just a combination of a brand new car right off the lot and lots of rain through the day. Absolutely love the car!!!

 

Has anyone done any non-scientific tests to see impacts on gas mileage with ETC on verses with PWR on?


Whitelexus - Perhaps what you're describing is the ABS doing its "everything ok check".

 

I'm not noticing any significant difference in mileage in PWR mode, and other posters here have said the same thing. It probably burns more gas during harder acceleration, but cruising on the highway it won't likely have any impact.

 

I don't see any difference at all in terms of mileage differance on my GS300 AWD with regular or power mode.

 

I leave mine in power mode all the time now because I see no difference in mileage. Most of my driving is on highway so I think that would make it more difficult to spot a change in fuel consumption ;-)

 

I don't even know what the mpg would be in normal mode, haven't used it in 9000 miles, since probably the first tank of gas.