S or W mode

[minyak]

Hi,

Is there any harm in continously using the W (winter) mode on the auto boxes during summer driving? I know W pulls in 2nd gear and generally feels smoother....but is it ok using it in normal driving, is fuel consumption/performance affected? Any input would be great...

cheers

 

[pammy]

I would expect it to make your engine labour and burn more fuel, it will also affect your ability to pull away.

Why would you want to run it in W in anything other than icy conditions?

 

[Rory]

My (W203, C270CDi) is marked C (Comfort) and S (Standard) but it's the same thing - starts in 2nd in C and changes up at lower speeds etc. I tried both and, on such a low revving engine anyway, S seems better. One specific problem with C is that, if you need to accellerate a bit quicker than anticipated (out of a junction, for example) it will still drop to 1st, but it does it with quite a jolt.

 

[KLee]

But what about on the pre-facelift models where we have E or S. I thought E=economy and so leaving it on always is perfectly fine as it was more frugal on petrol and smoother (if that is what you like). Is this correct?

 

[minyak]

Hi,

Yes, I think (thought) they were similar, hence having it on W or E mode would be more economical and smoother...anyone else care to clarify?

 

[RichardM]

One thing I don't like about W or C is that it pulls away in second gear, which means more revs, which in a diesel means more noise!

 

[esox]

Minyak,ive been driving my CLK230Kompressor in "W" for the last two and a half years with no problems-i prefer the more relaxed feel in normal driving.
The Kompressor engine is more than capable of pulling away in a sharpish fashion in second gear.
If you fully depress the pedal to activate the switch it automatically pulls away in first anyway.
Only when i want to drive in a sporty manner do i switch to "S" where the kickdown is more responsive and the engine changes up at the redline-6000`ish.(in W changes are made @5300rpm)
If there was ANY risk of harming any part of the drive train rest assured that it would be mentioned in the owners handbook and i have never seen any reference to this.

 

[guydewdney]

i have heard that you shouldnt use W unless theres ice on the road - it overheats the box... i leave mine in S (standard) - and let the adaptive brain make the changes smoother as required...

im sure i heard the ice thing from someone who picked their car up from the factory and the salesman was vey insistant about this.

 

[pammy]

Minyak,ive been driving my CLK230Kompressor in "W" for the last two and a half years with no problems-i prefer the more relaxed feel in normal driving.

Would you not get this from just not using so much of your right foot in "S" mode or just use the tip on the box to start in second if that's what you like to do.

 

[Satch]

i have heard that you shouldnt use W unless theres ice on the road - it overheats the box... i leave mine in S (standard) - and let the adaptive brain make the changes smoother as required...

im sure i heard the ice thing from someone who picked their car up from the factory and the salesman was vey insistant about this.

Correct, especially in hot weather & heavy traffic. You get more fluid shear in the Torque Converter which generates extra heat

That said, I find the W or C setting does make things a bit calmer & smoother if just pottering around on open A & B roads, but if you do have to boot it a bit then I sometimes get a sudden and unseemly lurch forward as the box tends to shift down two or more gears.

 

[Paul Grainger]

I leave my car in 'W' permanently. It's a smoother ride without the 1st to 2nd change, but the biggest single advantage is that the car won't run back if you take your foot off the brake on steep hills (traffic light starts, junctions etc)

Paul G

 

[JFleming]

I have a facelift W203 and I was told S or C was Sports or Comfort. I'm an old git so I drive in comfort which doesn't rev the crap out of it and my wife drives in S and its a lot more nippy!

 

[esox]

I have a facelift W203 and I was told S or C was Sports or Comfort. I'm an old git so I drive in comfort which doesn't rev the crap out of it and my wife drives in S and its a lot more nippy!

When my missus asks about the W or S switch i say"Oh,nothing dear,just something to do with the hydro-pnuematic electro changeover gubbins i think"

 

[JFleming]

Haa - should've thought about that!! Fuel would certainly last a lot longer - and I'd probably not shake as much when I'm the passenger!

 

[andy_k]

When my missus asks about the W or S switch i say"Oh,nothing dear,just something to do with the hydro-pnuematic electro changeover gubbins i think"

and you think that fools her?

 

[esox]

The most important aspects of having an auto are apparent when your wife drives the car;
a)when she parks it she will not be able to leave it in gear,and so avoiding the embarrasing lurch when you get back in and turn the ignition key:-(
B)when she is driving and you the passenger you will avoid the scenario whereby she still has top gear left even though you are doing about 65 on an A-road and in your mind you are thinking"OK,change gear,change gear now,CHANGE BL***y GEAR!!!"

Or is it just me?

 

[Stratman]

B)when she is driving and you the passenger you will avoid the scenario whereby she still has top gear left even though you are doing about 65 on an A-road and in your mind you are thinking"OK,change gear,change gear now,CHANGE BL***y GEAR!!!"

Or is it just me?

No, it's not just you (or your wife). Mine has a great reluctance to change into top in her Corsa, yet once she is actually in fifth, she will stay in it even when she is going so slowly the engine is trying to tear itself from its mounts. I did once try to explain about rev ranges and gears, but her mind was quickly elsewhere (probably handbags and shoes)

 

[andy_k]

just checking my calendar - it seems that mine says "2005" whilst esox' and stratman's seems to be stuck on "dark ages".

I'm surprised you let the "little woman" drive the car but I suppose it's OK if she's finished the housework first.

Whatever next????

She'll be wanting to vote and have an opinion



Andy

 

[pammy]

I'm saying nowt

 

[minyak]

So, if the latest C is for comfort mode which is suppose to be equivalent the the W (winter) mode, then any justification for additional wear and tear whilst using it continously shouldn't arise ???? It looks to me that these settings are then merely down to driver preference, and not necessarily down to icy road conditions and the like..??! If not, why did merc change the name from W to C for the current models??