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However, its effectiveness can diminish in hilly terrains or congested traffic, where the system may need to overcompensate, potentially negating the fuel-saving benefits. So, the simple and correct answer to the question of does cruise control help you to use less gas is yes, but only in the right circumstances. It’s not going to help your heavy-duty pickup truck go from 15 mpg on the highway to 25 mpg, but it will help you use less fuel and save yourself a little money when you’re driving on the highway. We can’t ignore the effects of weather on cruise control performance, especially during rain or snow.
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However, away from the highway, using cruise control can actually mean using more fuel than if you were driving normally. If you reduce the number of times you ask your vehicle to increase the speed it’s moving those thousands of pounds, the less fuel you’re going to use, and this is where cruise control comes in. On hilly terrain, we must understand that our vehicle’s cruise control may cause more fuel to be consumed when attempting to maintain a constant speed uphill. Overall, it’s only both safe and beneficial in terms of fuel economy to use the cruise control system on roads where you can maintain the same speed level. You can just set up the optimal speed and drive in a higher gear on a lower RPM level.
Cruise control has improved over time
Hence, when you activate cruise control, you eliminate the “human” aspect of maintaining speeds. This ensures that there are no speed fluctuations that could lead to the car consuming more fuel than what’s needed. That alone could make a difference to a passenger who experiences car sickness. Adaptive Cruise Control is the newest form of cruise control in vehicles today.
Advanced Cruise Control Systems
With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, drivers are looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Aside from using cruise control when it’s safe to do so and generally maintaining the speed limit, there are many other technologies at work that help to save fuel. Although polarizing among drivers, automatic stop-start functions definitely save fuel, by eliminating the waste of idling at traffic lights. AAA tested the feature and determined that it resulted in a 5 to 7 percent increase in fuel economy. Similarly, stop-and-go traffic zones require a high level of concentration, as well as the need to monitor your speeds. In such areas, you might need to accelerate immediately or slow down instantly.
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For example, the feature is only fuel-efficient if used on flat roads or mostly level highways that do not have any traffic congestion. Besides the level roads, cruise control can also be used on steady uphills or downhill drives. Yes, using cruise control can save gas, especially when commuting at a constant speed on a highway.
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But even if you’re driving a vehicle with non-adaptive cruise control, it’s wise to keep it disengaged during bad weather. It’s less of an issue in a vehicle with adaptive cruise control, because most of the systems involved just won’t work in bad weather. Lasers and cameras are foiled by driving rain, road spray, and snow just the way your own eyes are, and these systems will automatically disable themselves in these conditions. As you may already know, most vehicles on the freeway are usually going anywhere between 75-90mph even though the speed limit is 65-70mph. Similar to tip #1, the slower you drive, the more cost-efficient you become and by doing so, you could be saving an average of 12-14% on fuel.
Consistent Speed
You may be tempted to cross your feet or legs (especially on a long drive) to stretch them out. But doing so severely impacts your reaction time when a situation calls for immediate braking. Visit AAA Gas Prices for a road trip planner gas cost calculator that you can use to find out how much you will spend on gas during your next driving trip or vacation. ” mapfreinsurance.com/blog/how-does-cruise-control-in-cars-work (accessed July 11, 2023). There are times when cruise control, adaptive or otherwise, is ineffective, and it can actually be dangerous in some circumstances.
Is cruise control bad for your card?
Continue reading to learn more about cruise control and fuel efficiency from the fuel delivery experts at HSO. For instance, ACC slows your vehicle when the person in front of you slows down. Without that function, you’re left to your own reaction time to slow the car.
Does Cruise Control Save Gas – Is It Efficient?
Some experts say that by maintaining a set speed, the automotive feature outperforms the average driver in fuel economy. But others point out that a driver can do better than cruise control when on hilly terrain. Instead of using the cruise control feature on such paths, target an average speed and then allow the vehicle to reduce speeds by 5-10 mph when going uphill. Following this technique helps to save on gas when driving through mountainous terrains, as compared to using cruise control. These research findings clearly demonstrate that, by maintaining cars at a constant speed, cruise control helps to save gas. The reason why cruise control can help to save gas is that when accelerating or decelerating by placing the foot over the pedals the engine uses more gas.
However, that’s not the case in vehicles that don’t have traction control, which includes most produced before it became mandatory in 2011. In those vehicles, the cruise control simply delivers more throttle when the wheels spin, resulting in a bad outcome for all involved. Whether gas is $5 per gallon or $2 per gallon, there’s no reason to waste any of it with all of the advanced technology at our disposal.
This article explores whether using cruise control can help you save money at the pump and when you should NOT be using cruise control. Both the cruise control and the accelerator are attached to the throttle with a cable. Both cables move when cruise control is on, which is why you might see your gas pedal move when cruise control is engaged. Sinclair said that consumers have long complained of vehicles falling short of the amount of money that they were supposed to save on fuel economy due to cruise control. Sinclair said his first experience with the feature was in 1985 following his purchase of a 1982 Mazda 626 with a manual transmission. He too wondered if cruise control saves gas but found it difficult to get an accurate analysis.
Systems of this type are capable of use in stop-and-go traffic, without driver intervention. When using cruise control, it is always advised to keep your feet near a vehicle’s brake pedal at all times. Both road and traffic conditions can deteriorate in moments, necessitating additional input upon a driver’s behalf. By paying attention to vehicle maintenance, tire inflation, and minimizing wind resistance, you can further enhance the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
It’s a bad idea to use the cruise control system while moving uphill or on busy roads. Especially if you are facing an elevating road that requires a higher power output, using cruise control is not advisable. Think of it this way – you might end up damaging the engine if the RPM level is too low due to the set cruise feature. The use of cruise control is not advised when driving in slippery conditions, such as those presented by rain or snow. This is due to the fact that road conditions can change in an instant when driving in these less than ideal conditions, thereby making it essential to drive in response to the situation at hand. Since designated speeds are maintained by way of PCM control when a vehicle’s cruise control is activated, the “human” aspect of speed maintenance is eliminated.
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