driving in no mode

? Being in normal mode OK? Sure.

I can't take mine out of ECO mode,,, just seems like I am doing something bad.

 

No Mode = Normal Mode. 99% of the miles on our Prius has been in Normal Mode.

SCH-I535

 

Those buttons only change the throttle pedal response, that's all.
Your right foot controls power and fuel economy.

Full throttle pedal = full engine power, no matter what you do with those silly switches.

 

That is incorrect. ECO reduces temperature threshold for coolant, allowing the engine to stay off all the way down to 114°F rather than the usual 145°F. There's an obvious efficiency advantage this provides in the winter for the heater. Also, ECO reduces the A/C draw, allowing for more efficient cooling in the summer.

 

Are you sure of these numbers?
I was always in normal. At the end of my street, I could see ~109° coolant on my Garmin ecorouteHD and the engine would shut down at the stop.
Is your reference to 'A/C draw' in the owner's manual?

Nice site btw! Your numbers look like you are not one of those hypermiling traffic obstructions! Thanks!
A PIP would not work for me. I have to go faster than 62 mph and farther than 13 miles. And those numbers are either/or, correct?

 

109°F is the rapid warm-up shutoff threshold. Turn on the heater or try driving beyond 10 mph and watch what happens. The engine will start... with the regular model anyway. The plug-in has an even lower threshold for certain circumstances.

And I have no idea of the 'A/C draw' is in the owner's manual. Most of that detail is not. You have to get it from other information sources, as we did when it was introduced.

 

Those thresholds are don't actually equate to much. They are mostly just argument points for enthusiasts.

My commute is 17 miles, 9 of which are at 70 mph. Overall MPG exceeds 150.

 

I question this, "ECO reduces the A/C draw, allowing for more efficient cooling"
Either that variable speed AC compressor is providing what you ask for or you turn down the temp or turn up the fan.
If it could be made to 'be more efficient' why not have it run that way all the time?

I'm pretty sure the ECO, PWR, and normal modes are just throttle pedal response curves.
They are there to trick you into thinking you are getting More or Less .

 

No, as stated above, it effects the AC and the heating.

 

ECO mode definitely affects the AC and the heating, including lowering the coolant temp for ICE shutdown. I use ECO a lot in the winter in the mornings for the lower ICE shutdown. ECO is also good for feathering the pedal for gliding.

It definitely affects the AC as it limits the use of AC at the top end. During warmer weather when the cabin gets hot it takes much longer to cool the cabin due to these limitations. It limits the speed of the compressor and the blower fan. For those that are more interested in mpg, this is a good thing. For me, I am more concerned about cooling the cabin quicker and keeping the HV battery temps lower so I never use ECO in the warmer months.