After the PCM software update/recalibration - observations by Hybridbear

[hybridbear]

Little off topic, did they physically remove the camera, or it still mount on the light and not monitor it.?

Most of the cameras were physically removed, only a few are still mounted but inactive. What's more concerning now are all the license plate readers, there are TONS around here now.

[acdii]

Ever watch Person of Interest?

 

They have their eyes one you!

[DeeCee]

Ever watch Person of Interest?

 

They have their eyes one you!

Great show. With all the NSA stuff in the news lately the Person of Interest theme becomes more real.

[acdii]

Great show. With all the NSA stuff in the news lately the Person of Interest theme becomes more real.

I wonder where the show will go this season. So far it has been quite interesting. They almost completed the back story last season.

[Aquineas]

I think Ford could perform another MPG optimization as well that, from my observation, they don't appear to be taking advantage of as much as they could. There are many times when, for whatever reason, you're cruising along with the ICE running. Maybe it's a slight hill, maybe it's getting up to speed. I noticed that when you're on full throttle the car will operate in hybrid mode, with torque assist being provided by the electric motor when you're on the ICE. But it appears that Ford could be a bit more aggressive about utilizing the electric assist when the ICE is running (hybrid mode), ie not just when you're on full throttle. It would seem to me that if you are on low to moderate ICE and need more torque and the batteries have juice, and you're at an operating speed that's within the range of the electric motor, the FIRST thing the car should do is turn on electric motor (while keeping the ICE as is) and wring as much out of the electric motor before opening the throttle more of the ICE. In other words, use up the hybird torque before you give it more gas, rather than waiting until someone guns it.

Edited August 19, 2013 by Aquineas

[acdii]

Not good since you have to then replace that energy you used, which comes from either braking or ICE. The EV assists as needed, when needed. The system is doing a pretty good job at it now after this last update.

[Aquineas]

Not good since you have to then replace that energy you used, which comes from either braking or ICE. The EV assists as needed, when needed. The system is doing a pretty good job at it now after this last update.

True, but isn't the benefit of hybrids that electricity is cheaper (and more easily generated) than petrol? It takes 4-5 good long stops to be nearly full on my battery from being at 20 percent. As such, I don't look at electricity as the resource that's most beneficial to conserve. Use it at every opportunity, especially while working to get the CVT into the more efficient ratios for higher speed.

[acdii]

It depends mostly on your driving, and the car isnt smart enough yet to know when you will be stopping long enough to recharge. It would be wasteful during my trips since I usually drive 55, uphill, a lot.

[jcg1005]

It is hard to tell what is really going on under the hood, but I am certain the electric motor is supplying assistance far more often than we believe or can see. I need to play around with the views (I use Empower almost exclusively), but on a moderate incline at highway speeds, especially when the battery is full or nearly full, you can see that the ICE is being assisted. I notice this because the instant MPG will hover at or above 40, where if you were on the same section of road at the same speed with a much lower charge, the result would be instant MPG in the 20's.

 

Not very scientific. I don't leave the big screen on much to see more. For some of us, a LOT more detail would be very enlightening (or empowering) :)

[jcg1005]

Another note on this topic is the change to the Climate control.

 

For one - I have noticed the fact that the fan actually turns completely OFF at speed and allows the outside airflow to act as the fan. The cabin is actually significantly colder when set at the same value as before the update when at speed.

 

However, and these drive me crazy and were NOT changed:

 

- If you have the car set to AUTO and turn the A/C button OFF, I want the car to use outside aid/heat to maintain temperature. In the morning, when it is 55-60 degrees out, I do not need air conditioning, thank you. I don't understand why they insist on using the air conditioning compressor so much to adjust humidity.

- Tied to that - OK, so if you are on AUTO, the A/C will run when IT wants too. Fine. I will do it manually. OH YEAH? Not so much - My windows are fogging ever so slightly so I want the outside air to gently circulate through the defrost ducts without and air conditioning. You know, like I have been able to do in every car I have every owned? Nope. Put the defrost as a selection, even when mixed with the panel or floor, and the air conditioning compressor instantly turns on.

 

Now - If the system is smart enough with the new efficiency to actually let me leave it on AUTO, never touch it, and not impact my fuel mileage, fine. However, I don't think so, since I DO NOT NEED AIR CONDITIONING when it is 55 degrees outside!!

 

Maybe I am too old school on this one and should just leave it on Auto, but... apparently I am not! :)

[acdii]

Set at anything auto of otherwise, if its 55* out and it is set at 70* then it will run the ICE to provide heat.

[corncobs]

Interesting observation about this topic on the last trip. The few times a looked at climate consumption it was always sitting at .5 kW. This morning it was obviously already hot and humid we drove about 2.5 miles looking for a diner and it returned 45 MPG. That was on 35 MPH streets very slow and a lot of it in EV.

 

Now driving back to the hotel 1.7 miles I only saw 35 MPG so I think short trip MPGs have improved but there is still a cut off between good and bad result at around past 2 maybe 3 miles.

[terryb]

My numbers from the vacation run from TX to PA to WI to TX and points between are

Trip 1 Total miles 7/29 to 8/19 was 3738 Only 57.6 EV miles indicated.

Time on the road 76:21

Average speed 49 MPH ( lowered slightly by a little time and distance from last week at home)

Average fuel consumption rate 39.6 MPG (did not calc. fuel burn for this week because of fuel loss in pump change out)

Max hwy. speed was 85 MPH.

 

 

Short trips last week were still all over the place from 29 to 42 mpg.

Edited August 20, 2013 by terryb

[Twinkle]

Thanks everyone for all the posts. I am a brand new FFhybrid owner. I have had my car just over one month. I received a letter from Ford on the update and I have an appointment for my car this Wednesday. So far, I have been doing ok with mpg. The car has about 1k miles on it. At most I got it to 43.5 mpg. But living in Southern California I am having a hard time keeping it at 62 mph on the freeway. It's almost killing me. I really have to dig deep and find my inner Buddha.

This morning on the way to work I drove like 75 mph and then slow on the way home. Total average was 41 mpg.

My commute to work is mostly freeway.

 

So I think I will wait on the update and see how it pans out in the long run. Plus want to see how HybridBear's long distance trip goes

[lolder]

Don't worry about keeping it below 62 mph. It's not advantageous to use EV at highway speeds.

[B25Nut]

Don't worry about keeping it below 62 mph. It's not advantageous to use EV at highway speeds.

 

Prof. Lolder, my FFH, with the new update, is acting the opposite of what you have been saying it should. When I see EV time at 65-75 mph, my trips have consistently been 6 mpg better than I've seen before the updates. The results have been so good that the thought has entered my mind that Ford has programed the MPG display to give false high readings, just to make us feel good. But I know that can't be the case.

Before the update I was at 37.2 mpg. The 150 miles since have averaged 43.8 mpg, with no change in how or where I drive. Temperatures have ranged from 85-97 degrees. I have also found my FFH goes into EV mode easier with less use of P&G.

[hermans]

 

Prof. Lolder, my FFH, with the new update, is acting the opposite of what you have been saying it should. When I see EV time at 65-75 mph, my trips have consistently been 6 mpg better than I've seen before the updates. The results have been so good that the thought has entered my mind that Ford has programed the MPG display to give false high readings, just to make us feel good. But I know that can't be the case.

Before the update I was at 37.2 mpg. The 150 miles since have averaged 43.8 mpg, with no change in how or where I drive. Temperatures have ranged from 85-97 degrees. I have also found my FFH goes into EV mode easier with less use of P&G.

Same here. My highway and in town mileage has gone up. In my wife's car she has also seen an increase in mileage on her eight mile to and from work.

[B25Nut]

I think I'm seeing better mileage since in the past, when I was crusing at 65-75 mph on a stretch of highway with a very slight downgrade, the ICE was forced to run. Now I get miles of all EV factored into my MPG that I didn't have before. This tells me that at highway speeds, the 2013 FFH ICE is more effecient at charging the HVB than it is providing power directly to the wheels. This seems to go against physics and what Lolder has said, but I can't think of any other explanation for my results.

[Eddie Sessum]

Interesting observation about this topic on the last trip. The few times a looked at climate consumption it was always sitting at .5 kW. This morning it was obviously already hot and humid we drove about 2.5 miles looking for a diner and it returned 45 MPG. That was on 35 MPH streets very slow and a lot of it in EV.

 

Now driving back to the hotel 1.7 miles I only saw 35 MPG so I think short trip MPGs have improved but there is still a cut off between good and bad result at around past 2 maybe 3 miles.

 

When on the hwy if the compressor turns all the way down and the engine fan turns off under the hood it uses around 0.5kW. It will still ramp up to 5kW if it needs it. Hwy stays alot lower tho.

 

Set at anything auto of otherwise, if its 55* out and it is set at 70* then it will run the ICE to provide heat.

 

I havent had the car in the cold but your saying under 55* it will leave the ICE on even if i turn it to "low" on the temp and just run it as bringing in outside air?

 

 

Another note on this topic is the change to the Climate control.

 

For one - I have noticed the fact that the fan actually turns completely OFF at speed and allows the outside airflow to act as the fan. The cabin is actually significantly colder when set at the same value as before the update when at speed.

 

However, and these drive me crazy and were NOT changed:

 

- If you have the car set to AUTO and turn the A/C button OFF, I want the car to use outside aid/heat to maintain temperature. In the morning, when it is 55-60 degrees out, I do not need air conditioning, thank you. I don't understand why they insist on using the air conditioning compressor so much to adjust humidity.

- Tied to that - OK, so if you are on AUTO, the A/C will run when IT wants too. Fine. I will do it manually. OH YEAH? Not so much - My windows are fogging ever so slightly so I want the outside air to gently circulate through the defrost ducts without and air conditioning. You know, like I have been able to do in every car I have every owned? Nope. Put the defrost as a selection, even when mixed with the panel or floor, and the air conditioning compressor instantly turns on.

 

Now - If the system is smart enough with the new efficiency to actually let me leave it on AUTO, never touch it, and not impact my fuel mileage, fine. However, I don't think so, since I DO NOT NEED AIR CONDITIONING when it is 55 degrees outside!!

 

Maybe I am too old school on this one and should just leave it on Auto, but... apparently I am not! :)

 

Im young and want the old school button to turn off the compressor and give me outside cooled air. I believe this issue is more of a bug as turning off the ac button (unless in defrost mode) should kill the compressor no matter what temp, humidity, etc.

 

 

Don't worry about keeping it below 62 mph. It's not advantageous to use EV at highway speeds.

 

Not a benefit to use full EV at highway speeds. I can say doing 70mph if you come up on a bridge or a hill even just giving a 20% boost from the elec motor helps you up the hill and uses alot less power. Than the downhill ride it should get alot of charge back.

[jcg1005]

Set at anything auto of otherwise, if its 55* out and it is set at 70* then it will run the ICE to provide heat.

 

I'm not worried about that. Once the car is warm, which this time of the year is fast obviously, providing engine heat to the cabin would have no negative impact. In fact, perhaps positive, since a little heat would be delivered inside, and maybe the shutters would stay closed longer!! :)

[hybridbear]

Now it's been a few weeks and I can't say that I see any improvement in city driving. I have done limited highway driving but haven't seen any improvement there either. However, when my wife drives her MPGs have gotten way worse. It used to be that I average around 60 MPG when I drive and she averages in the low 50s and we would work out tank averages around 55 MPG. However, in the couple weeks since the update her driving has been averaging only 40-45. I've reset the MPG on the Empower screen when I know she's going to be driving next and both last week Monday-Wednesday she averaged only 44 MPG in around 100 miles of driving and now this week yesterday and today she's averaged only 42 MPG. Overall I don't like the update most because of the change in the coolant temp gauge color going from blue to white to now being white all the time. I don't like that change above all else.

[SamJ20112]

Just purchased a 2013 FFH Ti two days ago. Discovered today that it came with the updated PCM software as baseline. Transitioned to EV mode at 70mph! Less than 400 miles on the odometer so far, but computer showing average mpg 43.8 for 280 miles since last fill-up. Expect that number to be higher than computed at next fill-up (our C-Max is always about 5% on the optimistic side), but is on a par with C-Max at that low odometer reading. Now, at 4000 miles, C-Max getting 45 mpg (computed, not computer, with the old software!) Very encouraging.

[corncobs]

Here are some observation that I can not figure out my FFH just likes to behave against what I would expect.

 

 

 

I had to "convince" my FFH to switch to EV by dropping the set speed -2 and right back to the before. It would go into EV mode no problem and stay there for quite some time since US 17 is fairly flat.

The other odd thing is the instant display even at 55 MPH a barely saw 40+ MPG with a "full" SOC.

 

Either is really about the additional load I have in the car right now or it really doesn't like to drive faster than 55 MPH do long periods of time.

 

Maybe when I get back I will stop by the dealer and see if they could hook up their updating PC again.

[GrySql]

it really doesn't like to drive faster than 55 MPH do long periods of time.

 

Maybe when I get back I will stop by the dealer and see if they could hook up their updating PC again.

You must be double jointed to get pictures that good while driving, I tried and failed - well, actually, my wife screamed as we crossed the center divider.

Anyway, I acted nonchalant as I put my iPhone away.

 

I had a 2/3 SOC at 55mph and was getting 30mpg's, or less - odd behavior. Going faster made the mpg's go up.

I have a small trip coming up and will try different settings but this update is certainly interesting.

 

 

[djminfll]

Here are some observation that I can not figure out my FFH just likes to behave against what I would expect.

I had to "convince" my FFH to switch to EV by dropping the set speed -2 and right back to the before. It would go into EV mode no problem and stay there for quite some time since US 17 is fairly flat.

The other odd thing is the instant display even at 55 MPH a barely saw 40+ MPG with a "full" SOC.

Either is really about the additional load I have in the car right now or it really doesn't like to drive faster than 55 MPH do long periods of time.

Maybe when I get back I will stop by the dealer and see if they could hook up their updating PC again.

You must be double jointed to get pictures that good while driving, I tried and failed - well, actually, my wife screamed as we crossed the center divider.

Anyway, I acted nonchalant as I put my iPhone away.

 

I had a 2/3 SOC at 55mph and was getting 30mpg's, or less - odd behavior. Going faster made the mpg's go up.

I have a small trip coming up and will try different settings but this update is certainly interesting.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. Even after the PCM update, I still do best on the highway when I keep the ACC on 62mph.