Software Updates from Ford to improve MPGs

[terryb]

I'm talking with my service manager to see how quickly I can get it scheduled. Hopefully won't have to delay vacation lift off. Currently scheduled for 7AM Monday, with the possibility of a call tomorrow.

Edited July 26, 2013 by terryb

[keithsm2]

I am scheduled for an oil change and a software update tomorrow morn.....i have several trips planned. Dallas to OKC and Dallas to Charleston WV. so...should be intresting.....Hoping for a 40mpg tank!! maybe on the second trip......speed kills me in texas and burning heat

[expresspotato]

Come on! Let's see everyone?

 

- Do you get an extra bar of EV on the Empower screen to allow EV at up to 85 MPH (136 KM/h)?

- Are you actually able to EV it at those high speeds?

- Can you see the grills closed when starting up on a cooler day / evening?

- Does your AC still consume a whopping 5 KW on the energy consumption display on a really hot day when you first start the car?

 

Let's see the bulletin / TSB!!!

[neod192]

Come on! Let's see everyone?

 

- Do you get an extra bar of EV on the Empower screen to allow EV at up to 85 MPH (136 KM/h)?

- Are you actually able to EV it at those high speeds?

- Can you see the grills closed when starting up on a cooler day / evening?

- Does your AC still consume a whopping 5 KW on the energy consumption display on a really hot day when you first start the car?

 

Let's see the bulletin / TSB!!!

I drove 2 miles on the highway so far. Saw the EV threshold at 75MPH and was even in full EV mode @ 70. Didn't check the other 2 things.

 

When i picked it up my clock was about 10 min slow, EV+ locations were deleted, but the avg mpg wasn't reset. I have a longer (33 mile one way) trip tomorrow, so I'll experiment more.

[neod192]

I drove the same 2 mile trip again and accelerated up to 87 MPH, then I had to slow down to get off the highway (and my wife was telling me to slow down even though a van had just passed me going close to 100) . The EV was helping the whole time (including over 85), but it didn't go to 100% EV. I'm guessing it was because of the high demand I was on it. I forgot to check the instant MPG to see if it was any higher than 20 .... MPG for the trip (which ended with 1.5 miles @ 55) was 36 ...

 

So does EV typically assist over 62 MPH, or was happening bc of the new software? I can't remember ....

Edited July 27, 2013 by neod192

[aaronj1159]

It assists over 62. Usually just indicated by a down arrow beneath the battery icon.

[rfruth]

Is the traction battery being used more (among other things) ?

[expresspotato]

I saw this over in the C-Max forum and found it funny. Quoted from another member there:

 

 

 

I'd like to volunteer to rewrite Ford's press release as follows:

 

At Ford Motor Company we are always striving to improve our products. We are happy to announce the following changes to our Hybrid Vehicles:

 

• At the initial release of our 2013 models we made sure to maximize fuel economy on the EPA test so we limited electric only propulsion to 62 mph, the max speed on the EPA test. While this was good for advertising, we forgot that this limit negatively impacts normal freeway driving fuel economy so we are now changing the limit to 85mph so the hybrid system will actually help fuel economy on interstate highways at normal freeway speeds. This was no big deal since the Energi models already had that speed limit.
• We equipped our hybrids with Active Grille Shutters but forgot to program them to reduce aerodynamic drag under most driving and temperature conditions or to help the engine warm up quickly. In fact, we had no idea what they were supposed to do, only that Chevrolet advertises them all the time on the Cruze. We are reprogramming the Shutters so that they will actually do something, including faster warmups in cold weather, during air conditioner use and when the engine coolant temperature is higher.
• Our Hybrids are equipped with electric radiator fans but we forgot to tie the fan speed to coolant temperature or any other useful parameter. We are now reducing the electric fan speed as a function of coolant temperature to minimize the fan's energy consumption which we should have remembered to do in the first place.
• Someone noticed that it takes forever for our Hybrids' engines to warm up and in some cases never actually reach proper operating temperatures. Many owners have resorted to Duct Tape or other Southern Engineering schemes to block off grille openings to promote faster warmups and proper operating temperatures. After only twelve months of production, we finally noticed this and are now shortening engine warm-up time by up to 50 percent to enable electric-only driving and engine shutdown at stops sooner after cold starts.
• Our Hybrids' air conditioner compressors run most of the time, not necessarily related to demand for cold air. We are now optimizing the climate control system to minimize use of the air conditioning compressor and reduce the energy used in cold weather operation.
• We are confident that these changes and the secret changes implemented as part of the previous 3.5.1 upgrade will help improve customer satisfaction and help us sell more of these cars at profitable prices instead of having to give them away to the rental companies.

 

[corncobs]

That's is cool he should send this Ford just for fun.

[neod192]

I took another short (12 mile trip) this morning, starting with a cold engine. While EV kicked in at about the same place as before, I never saw "Cold Engine" as one of the reasons the ICE was running on the Hybrid screen. Outside temp was about 65F. I set ACC to 45 MPH (speed limit was 50) and has a few stops along the way.

 

I even turned on the A/C just to see where the energy consumption was and it was sitting at the first bar (most likely due to the low outside temp). When I turned on the A/C yesterday it was between the 2nd and 3rd line (outside temp of 75).

 

Total MPG for the trip was 48.5 MPG, which is very close to what I used to get in very similar conditions.

 

I'm going to have four 33 mile trips on the highway later today, so will post those results tomorrow as well.

 

Good news: the update doesn't seem to have broken anything. Bad news: so far it drives almost the same.

[Aquineas]

For those that have gotten the update, how long did the update take? Or perhaps more relevantly, how long was your car in service for?

Edited July 27, 2013 by Aquineas

[MaineFusion]

I just took my Fusion Hybrid in for its first 10K service and was informed of this PCM update. While waiting for the service to be completed, I googled for information about it and found this thread.

 

Three days a week I have a roundtrip commute of around 100mi. I've been setting my cruise control to 63mph as this was the maximum speed my car was willing to drive in EV mode. I'm very excited about being able to drive in EV mode at the speed limit. It is something I have been wishing for since I bought my Fusion. I'm also excited about the other tweaks this update includes.

 

Being able to drive at full highway speeds in EV mode is something that will make my Prius owning friends very jealous.

 

For the past 2,000 miles I've been averaging 50.4mpg. I can't wait to find out how much my fuel economy improves with these changes. Now if they'd just fix it so that I could actually put at least 11.5 gallons of gas in my 12.5 gallon tank because right now I only seem to have 10.5 gallons of usable tank. I'm dreaming of being able to get a 600 mile range on a tank of gas.

 

I'll be sure to report back how this software update improved things.

[MaineFusion]

For those that have gotten the update, how long did the update take? Or perhaps more relevantly, how long was your car in service for?

At this moment, I'm at home waiting for the dealer to call me that my car is ready, but the dealer said the software update itself takes about 40 minutes.

[Bryan Burch]

Took 45 minutes for my update. No real changes noticed. It's 90 degrees, so the shutters are open. It did kick in EV mode at 72mph on a downhill stretch of highway on the way home. Taking a road trip tomorrow, will report my fuel mileage when I return. For the record, my car averages 38.3mpg.

[keithsm2]

I'm pissed. Talked to service on phone on Friday about getting update and oil change. Take it in this morning. Talk again about update and oil. After getting it home I look at paperwork and no mention of update. Call them up. Service manager says yep got done. I say are you sure? No mention on paperwork. So he talks to his mech. And comes back with no update avail for my car!. I bought it back in April. Can't trust anyone these days

[corncobs]

Keithsm2 does the PCM update service action show up in ETIS for your VIN?

It does for a lot of people if it does I would print it our and stick it in their face!

[keithsm2]

is it hard to look up? I dont know the site !

[keithsm2]

Found it. Thanks. Shows its needed!! Would the dealer not have it???

[corncobs]

Found it. Thanks. Shows its needed!! Would the dealer not have it???

I was thinking about that and it could be that they only looked at the TSB that improves cold weather handling of the 12V battery which only applies to cars between Feb & Mar/Apr.

 

Here is the link

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/7062-tsb-13-6-23-hybrid-and-energi-cold-weather-charging-improvements/

 

Anyway they should know about this PCM update since a letter went out to dealers informing them about the update. At least some people said that after they were contacted by their dealer.

Edited July 27, 2013 by corncobs

[airbusguy]

My update shows due in ETIS but not on the Ford Canada site - was watching while the service tech brought up my VIN. I suspect that owners are notified in stages, as opposed to a mass emailing.

[keithsm2]

My update shows due in ETIS but not on the Ford Canada site - was watching while the service tech brought up my VIN. I suspect that owners are notified in stages, as opposed to a mass emailing.

Probably so...... But if someone comes in and requests the update.... They should at least take the time to investigate it...... I'll be going back Tuesday with letter in hand

[neod192]

I asked my dealer to run an OASIS report and that's how they found it. My dealer called it a recall.

 

After three 30 mile trips today I can say that EV at high speeds (70 MPH) will only kick in when slowing down or going downhill. The power demand is just too high for EV to actually kick in on level roads and constant speeds. Overall MPG seems to be the same: 42, 38 and 40. The 38 and 40 were during rain.

[hytibill]

62 to 85mph??? really?? hard to believe..

 

The manual says that the cutoff for the EV mode on the Energi is 85 mpg so it's not unprecedented. Of course, the Energi also has a much larger battery than ours so perhaps it wouldn't make sense to push that speed increase onto the FFH.

[1551retired]

Has anyone actually received a letter from Ford regarding this update?

[hermans]

Over the years I have never received a letter from Ford regarding a TSB. You normally find out about these when you take your car in for service....or if you are on these forums. Then your are usually the one who tells the dealer about. I've done this a few times.