I think the real dummies are you and I posting who the dummies are
I would like to thank you 8AA for making my previous point. The OP asked a simple question in a short 3 part sentence. All of us who haven't read the manual ( I don't even know where mine is ) and don't care to read it, sat back and read 8AA findings, posting of the actual manual instructions, and he/she even took the time to load up a passenger in the car to determine how S-Flow actually works. All the while I watched some football, a supercross race, ate a few meals, and made some condescending and inappropriate posts in this thread and others. This is a great Forum, thanks 8AA. I'm sure some of the techies and former IT guys will break down each bullet point in the manual into some mind numbing detail in future posts and debate when the " S Button " should be pushed or not pushed. Looking forward to it, NOT.
Clearly there is value in this thread, if for no other reason than you acknowledging this obvious fact.
Apologies, obviously I missed it. Didn't miss the 'former IT guy' comment though.
No, it's a reflection of my name actually. I'll assume that's another attempt at 'being humorous', as it doesn't make a whole lot of sense otherwise. All good regardless.
interesting. In my 2020 Hybrid XSE I don't have to touch the button, it turns off automatically when the car senses I have passengers in the back seat (I assume through seat or seat belt sensors).
I have car seats in the back installed with seat belts, so it would be on all the time. I like the switch.
I don’t think the other poster is correct. On my 2021 Prime at least, S-flow engages automatically based on seat sensors. I don’t have to manually push it.
I’m pretty sure I get the purpose of the system but it seems like a complicated technical solution in search of a problem. I used to manipulate it manually but these days I just ignore it. Can’t tell the difference in my comfort level. I’m guessing this was one “gee whiz” feature an engineer got by the design overlords. Well, at least we don’t have pop out door handles or all touch screen menus controlling every function running through a center screen.
It’s not a comfort feature, it’s an energy saving feature. No need to crap on the engineers.
It’s alleged to be an energy saving feature that adds nothing as far as I can tell. What is clever about it? So it detects whether there is not a person sitting in a seat and then reduces air flow to that area? What energy is saved? The a/c is still running, except the overall air flow is reduced to part of the interior
Many of us have the dual zone climate control, and there are two zone sensors, one of the driver's side and one for the passenger's side. I can set different temperatures for each side and the car does a good job at keeping each side where you set it.
I have dual zone as well, and of course the s mode can shut off air. That’s what it does. I just can’t imagine it makes much difference whether deployed or not, as if some vents are shut off the remaining operational ones just have to work harder to keep the overall cabin at set temperature. In other words, it may “work” but it doesn’t achieve any demonstrated benefit. I ignore it now and it nether makes me happy or unhappy, just a feature I wouldn’t have purchased voluntarily but I get as part of the package.
Since the a/c is electric, I don’t believe an increase of 2-4 mpg is possible using either of those settings. The a/c electric draw is low, and does not directly affect gasoline consumption as there is no belt, and mpg relates to the ICE. I can imagine a tiny improvement in efficiency from these measures, but not large enough to calculate in trip miles per gallon, especially since daily trip variables such as speed and traffic are much greater. If you use the eco DRIVE mode that makes a real difference as it affects response and fuel usage. And I don’t, and don’t plan to, as I enjoy using occasionally what this vehicle has, which is 302 hp. Otherwise, I’d have purchased a Prius.
