Normal vs Sport for longevity?

[testudosupra]

This is going to sound silly but is either mode better for the engine in the long run? I actually enjoy driving in normal mode, although sport is obviously more thrilling.

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[BMWAF]

This is going to sound silly but is either mode better for the engine in the long run? I actually enjoy driving in normal mode, although sport is obviously more thrilling.

My car is almost never in comfort mode. Having said that, I honestly don't think there is a huge difference between the two, other than exhaust noise.

 

[puzzled]

I'm in Sport mode 99% of the time. No issue.

If I was in normal mode all the time, rather just drive something else..

 

[concept]

This is going to sound silly but is either mode better for the engine in the long run? I actually enjoy driving in normal mode, although sport is obviously more thrilling.

There are cars out there that have owners' manuals that state that prolonged use of Sport mode is not recommended (My 2014 Mazda 2.5 S GT was one), but I don't recall reading anything similar in my Supra manual.
I never start out in Sport mode after a cold start, mostly because I want the car to warm up as I drive at fairly low speeds.

 

[Funkjaw]

The mode that encourages you to put more load on the engine is the mode that will theoretically be "worse". Also take into account Sport mode disables Auto Start-Stop while in Normal mode you have to disable it manually.

 

[testudosupra]

I'm in Sport mode 99% of the time. No issue.

If I was in normal mode all the time, rather just drive something else..

Yeah I think you’re in the large majority but I personally enjoy both. Sport also feels more exciting when you’re switching from normal, imo.

 

[testudosupra]

The mode that encourages you to put more load on the engine is the mode that will theoretically be "worse". Also take into account Sport mode disables Auto Start-Stop while in Normal mode you have to disable it manually.

There are cars out there that have owners' manuals that state that prolonged use of Sport mode is not recommended (My 2014 Mazda 2.5 S GT was one), but I don't recall reading anything similar in my Supra manual.
I never start out in Sport mode after a cold start, mostly because I want the car to warm up as I drive at fairly low speeds.

Have you heard about anything regarding transmissions also being put under stress due to constant shifting? It’s cool to see how rapidly the gears shift up and down but I just wonder if the constant switching has an effect as opposed to utilizing fewer gears.

 

[concept]

Have you heard about anything regarding transmissions also being put under stress due to constant shifting? It’s cool to see how rapidly the gears shift up and down but I just wonder if the constant switching has an effect as opposed to utilizing fewer gears.

The majority of the time my car is in Normal mode is when I am cruising on the highway. Being in Sport mode during this time is advantageous only if I were to be looking for someone to race. Otherwise, there is no advantage to Sport mode, only the disadvantage of getting less fuel mileage at higher engine speeds.
Gas here in CA is $5/gallon.

 

[Timmy_Jones]

This is going to sound silly but is either mode better for the engine in the long run? I actually enjoy driving in normal mode, although sport is obviously more thrilling.

Trade it in and buy a corolla, better in the long run

 

[DR.COKE]

Mine is bimmer coded to start in sport mode. in city and highway the rpm stays higher and less lag between shifts. You get less MPG in sport mode for sure but I didn’t buy the car to drive under 3k RPM.
regarding engine longevity, I wonder if it’s better to drive normal mode always under 5k RPM like a Corolla but oil change every 10k miles 0-20 as directed by manufacture or sport mode daily redline with oil change every 5k miles 5-30 as directed by enthusiast here.

 

[FLtrackdays]

Have you heard about anything regarding transmissions also being put under stress due to constant shifting? It’s cool to see how rapidly the gears shift up and down but I just wonder if the constant switching has an effect as opposed to utilizing fewer gears.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Neither one of them are optimal, imo. The comfort shifts way to early and the sport mode too late (and loudly downshifts) in town. So I always did manual mode and used the paddle shifters, until… I found out there’s a transmission tune you can buy and put her somewhere in between. So I got the XHP tune and really like it.

https://www.supramkv.com/threads/xhp-reviews-and-feedback.13166/page-50

 

[jmikes]

Theoretically sport mode puts more strain on the car; but this would be very minor strain. At the end of the day, the B58 engine and ZF8 transmission are both extremely reliable and can take a hell of a lot of abuse. I would worry about what it'll do for your fuel economy (as you find yourself driving the car harder and at higher revs because fun) more than anything else.

 

[Vertex]

So for the sake of saving gas this is what I've done with mine.

I coded the car to always start in sport mode because after the recall was done I was unable to code out the auto start/stop feature. I've got all of the settings set to sport with the exception of transmission which I keep on normal unless I'm on a race track, autocross, or just trying to have fun driving around. I always keep everything else in sport mode and the car still drive amazingly and super comfortably

 

[rwense]

I doubt there is any significant change in terms of longevity.

Think of it this way, would engineers willingly include a mode that reduced vehicle life-span significantly? Let alone without warnings?

 

[BillyLong42]

I would think what would make a difference is the Start/Stop feature. Minimizing engine cycles over the life of the vehicle would likely see a difference. Most people have that coded out anyway.

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