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Manual car drivers should be wary of using one button that could ultimately wear out their engine, a vehicle mechanic has warned.<\/p>\n
Scotty Kilmer, who has built a 5.8-million strong army of followers on YouTube, issued the warning in a recent clip that has received thousands of likes.<\/p>\n
The car mechanic, who has enjoyed a career spanning more than 55 years, uses his pearls of wisdom to prevent fellow drivers committing common errors.<\/p>\n
His video drew attention to the small button that exists in almost every car, with the acronym ECT inscribed on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens when you push them?\u201d he asked, \u201cDoes it mean that rockets are going to fire off and you\u2019re going to tear down the road? No!\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more… <\/strong> \u2018I\u2019ve been a mechanic \u2013 here’s the dumbest thing you can buy for a used car’<\/strong><\/p>\n He continued: \u201cECT stands for electronically controlled transmission, so it will shift later to give more power.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, the upshift in the power mode will occur later when the vehicle is at a higher speed, depending on the throttle opening.<\/p>\n When you push the button a light should appear on your dashboard, indicating that the transmission will shift to give you more power.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it work? Yes!,\u201d noted Kilmer. \u201cYour engine goes to higher RPMs for more power, but of course, you get worse gas mileage and it will wear things out slightly faster because it\u2019s spinning faster.”<\/p>\n Experts at the Honest Mechanic Colorado echo this warning, pointing out that increased wear and tear are a common side effect of the feature.\u00a0<\/p>\n The most obvious downside of the button is an increase in how much fuel is burned, so drivers looking to improve their mileage should avoid it.<\/p>\n Because the power button is designed to increase the speed at which the engine runs, it will also ultimately wear down the engine and other components of the vehicle.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the olden days, if you had a standard transmission, you\u2019d shift it yourself and rev it up more,” added Kilmer. \u201cThis does it automatically with a computer.”<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6CM7jyTHauk?si=BYnZQEpXEqwz4w9a<\/p>\n Viewers appeared grateful for the tip, with hundreds rushing to the comments to thank the mechanic for his invaluable insight.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I\u2019m starting to think of getting rid of my manual car, these videos make me think twice,\u201d one viewer wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cI use the ECT button on extra cold winter days to warm my engine faster in my 2000 4runner. Works like a charm,\u201d wrote another.<\/p>\n Another pointed out: \u201cThat looks like a James Bond car button.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/24\/590x\/secondary\/Car-4962157.jpg?r=1694798491699\")
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