I have started to use the Autobox 'Sport' mode lately when driving on our windy, up & down, minor A and B roads.

I have not used this mode very much, except for overtaking, in my 8 years of FL2 driving, and think that I have missed a trick.

Using this mode keeps the gearbox more alive and the car seems to flow better in all the twists and turns.
Counter-intuitively I find that it is more relaxing to drive and easier to avoid brake use.

On main roads and wide open stretches I still am content to let the 'Drive' mode know best.

I now wonder how many other FL2 drivers bother to use the autobox over-rides.

Being old fashioned, I still use the engine (in a selected lower gear) to control my longer downhill descents. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Welcome to the Sport! side of the box Ian,
as an advanced driver we are expected to use all aspects of the gearbox
it was something I hadn't used until my original assessment and instruction,
now in the right conditions it can liven up the drive.
Dave DAVE.

I use the sport mode a lot especially when towing as the auto mode hangs on to lower gears up hill unnecessarily, plus engine braking down hill is safer. Common sense isn't very common.
_______________________________
2007 Land Rover Freelander2 I6 hse Auto

The petrol engine is good enough sticking it in drive but I use it for those long steep declines.
 Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Better for towing too.........

Any difference in fuel consumption Ian?

 If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Potential problem for old forgetful folk (like me)is thinking you have gone into reverse but shoot forward in 1st.  MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

JulesK wrote:

Any difference in fuel consumption Ian?

Thanks Ian  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

After 12+years of FL2 SD4 driving I have just noticed this in the FL2 Repair Manual.

Tachometer

Indicates engine speed in revolutions per minute (x 1 000).

In normal driving condition the engine is most fuel efficient between 2000 and 3000 rev/min

Does this explain why I never seem to find an detectable difference in fuel consumption when I use Sport Mode to get a smoother drive on the 'up and down', twisty cross-country roads we have around here.

In Normal Drive Mode my engine settles around 1500 rpm, and has to do multiple auto changes as my speed changes with the bends. (the enormous torque of the FL2 takes care of straight gradient changes) FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I would suggest that 2000-3000 rpm refers to a petrol engine, economic driving normally is around max torque, so the diesel would be about 1700- 2300rpm. having said that modern high power engines tend to cruise at the legal limit at lower rpm especially with 8 or 9 speed boxes. My old Daimler SP250 2.5l V8 in the early 70's fuel crisis achieved 34mpg at 60mph with a gearing of 20.3 mph/1000rpm, when it dropped to the 50mph limit my consumption dropped to 30mpg. This was mainly motorway from the start of the M3 to Gosport my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

I use Sport in 20 mph areas. That 2000 to 3000 revs ideal is wrong for the SD4 unless you use manual and put it into a lower gear

You are correct that maximum efficiency occurs in a Internal Combustion Engine at its Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEF) which normally coincides with Max Torque.

My SD4 has very good torque between 1500 and 3000 rpm, But, running in normal Drive Mode the Autobox likes to plod along in the highest gear - i.e. about 1500 rpm.
As my SD4 seems to delight in proving to me that it can manage inclines at that engine speed I find that the resulting vibrations not always pleasant. Everything runs much smoother in 'Sport' at or about 2000rpm.

Also I would suggest that below 1500rpm the efficiency is falling of rapidly.

SD4




TD4



(Thanks Jules for the images https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic36463.html )

PS When I first started driving Car Road Tests used to quote BMEF, Gearing, Piston Speed. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)