does cruise control save gas? or waste gas?

[gkAeris]

does cruise control save gas? does it waste gas?

[BlkMaxima]

I think it wastes gas cause when it starts going up a hill it downshifts and floors it in an automatic but in a standard it is probly the same on gas as if you weren't using it!!

[tirebob]

It will usually save the average person a bit of gas because it is more consistent in speed, hence you are not on and off the gas as much, but if a person could keep their speed constantly consistent, the effect would be the same...

[QuasarCav]

Saves gas, keeps you at a constant speed.

Good for highway driving, the difference may not be much but you are using less gas.

[schurchill39]

i voted same but i suppose without cruise i would do alot more acceleration. So i guess it saves me some. Nothing noticable

[GTS Jeff]

Originally posted by CMSbob
It will usually save the average person a bit of gas because it is more consistent in speed, hence you are not on and off the gas as much, but if a person could keep their speed constantly consistent, the effect would be the same... :werd:

[biggie_82]

Saves gas mainly on the highway in my opinion where cruise control is mainly used.

If you drive an auto transmission and hit a really steep uphill is where it's questionable. To keep the speed limit the cruise control would downshift and next thing you know the tach shoots up. Not sure but I think the best thing to do in that situation is maybe climb the hill at a lower speed in order to keep the revs down.

[Redlyne_mr2]

On a completely flat surface with no wind, other cars etc Cruise control would save gas. However on normal highways you actually consume more fuel using cruise.

[Zero102]

Yep, cruise uses more gas.

The reason being, when you're travelling uphill, cruise will try to keep you at the same speed, instead of holding the same throttle position, or even easing up on the gas pedal a bit, which would give you the best mileage.

I took a 3500 mile road trip, and for about 2000 miles I used cruise, averaged 28mpg, for the remaining 1500 miles I used my right foot, and got about 31mpg. The only difference between me and the cruise control was going uphill.

On flat land, it should be the same either way, but on hilly terrain, I always shut cruise off, and allow my car to slow going uphill.

[ryder_23]

:werd: it does use more gas, mainly for the reasons stated above..

in a standard if u hit a hill, and she'll apply alot of gas, at usual highway speeds, its almost as if its boggin the engine in a way, its using alot of gas, for minimal rpm's.

[biggie_82]

Originally posted by ryder_23
:werd: it does use more gas, mainly for the reasons stated above..

in a standard if u hit a hill, and she'll apply alot of gas, at usual highway speeds, its almost as if its boggin the engine in a way, its using alot of gas, for minimal rpm's.


That really depends on the car and the gearing I think. For me, in 6th gear going at about 120 KPH I'm just a little over 3500 RPM so there isn't really a need for me to downshift to 5th.

Another thing is when I was driving an auto tranny and hit a hill my speed would drop and then the cruise would kick in with the downshift and trying to get the car back up to speed. With my manual tranny, it maintains the speed limit even when I hit the hill.

[bspot]

Depends on how strong the cars engine is, but as stated before going up a hill with your car floored in 5th is worse than using moderate throttle in fourth.

For those that slow going up a hill: You bastards then I have to take my cruise off when I'm behind you! :rofl:

[Redlyne_mr2]

Haha look at that poll, goes to show how many people on this car forum know nothing about cars. Haha:D

[BlkMaxima]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
Haha look at that poll, goes to show how many people on this car forum know nothing about cars.

LOL ya I wonder how many of them reallize there fools after they read the posts:dunno:

[tsi_neal]

I dont know about the guys that say it wastes gas, maybe you drive gutless cars...

with cruise on i can usually top 500km for 50L of gas, with it off im looking at about 450-475 (assuming all highway). About all that happens for me going up steep hills is ill go from about 8-10" vacuum to 2"vacuum - 2psi boost depending on the hill, or in other words light throttle.

Maybe with a girly right foot i could beat the cruise mileage, but with it on i can set it for 118 and forget it. with it off my speed is less consistant and im bound to speed a bit more.

those are my reasons for claiming it gets better mileage, well knowing from experiance.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by tsi_neal
I dont know about the guys that say it wastes gas, maybe you drive gutless cars...

with cruise on i can usually top 500km for 50L of gas, with it off im looking at about 450-475 (assuming all highway). About all that happens for me going up steep hills is ill go from about 8-10" vacuum to 2"vacuum - 2psi boost depending on the hill, or in other words light throttle.

Maybe with a girly right foot i could beat the cruise mileage, but with it on i can set it for 118 and forget it. with it off my speed is less consistant and im bound to speed a bit more.

those are my reasons for claiming it gets better mileage, well knowing from experiance.
Not enough experience obviously. The power of the car has nothing to do with it.

[tsi_neal]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2

Not enough experience obviously. The power of the car has nothing to do with it.

Experiance has nothing to do with anything. My driving habits maybe...

and how the cruise is calibrated from the factory makes a difference, some will dump gas some will ease into the gas. but if your motor is weak on power it takes more gas to maintain speed. Vehicles with more power and better cruise will be easier on gas.

and i routinely drive alot of highway miles, so ill use this disclaimer: EVERY time ive driven trips in MY talon Ill get a small but noticeable increase in fuel economy ~25-50km on ~50L of gas, taking into consideration my driving habits on and off cruise.

[hampstor]

so does it save gas or not?? I just do it so my leg doesn't cramp up on long drives :D

[bspot]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2

Not enough experience obviously. The power of the car has nothing to do with it.

Not true.

If your taking a 90hp econo box up a steep hill in 5th (assuming 5spd) with a manual transmission the cruise has to floor it. Your going to burn alot more gas than you would if you downshifted to 4th yourself and were lighter on the throttle.

If you have a 200+ hp car you will have no problem going up a steep hill in 5th gear under light to medium throttle.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by bspot


Not true.

If your taking a 90hp econo box up a steep hill in 5th (assuming 5spd) with a manual transmission the cruise has to floor it. Your going to burn alot more gas than you would if you downshifted to 4th yourself and were lighter on the throttle.

If you have a 200+ hp car you will have no problem going up a steep hill in 5th gear under light to medium throttle.
Overall a car with 90hp will still get better mileage than a car with 200 plus HP. Anyways thats besides the point, we both agree that cruise gives worse gas mileage.

[infamous]

the first thing that popped into my mind was the 300c with the multi-displacement system. when your under light cruise it shut's down 4 of the 8 cylinders and gives you 4 cylinder power. i'm sure that most of you already knew that, but that's my reasoning why i chose "saves gas"

[buh_buh]

cruise will give you worse milage, because its constantly making corrections to keep your speed constant. So you would actually save gas if you could control the pedal with your foot and do your best to save gas ie let off when going uphill and speed up when going downhill.
If your that concerned about saving gas, you should also drive with the windows up, no AC, least amount of crap in the car as possible, no electrical components, not to mention to never hit the brakes.

[Zephyr]

this goes to show how bad gas prices are getting when everyone is looking for loopholes to save that extra drop of gas

[bspot]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2

Overall a car with 90hp will still get better mileage than a car with 200 plus HP.

Match point. I guess I meant it hurts the lower powered car worse. Agreed though, if you have the discipline you can do a better job yourself. I use cruise on just because its more comfortable. When I hit really hilly sections though I take care of business myself. On most big highways you get stuck behind slow vehicles on hills anyways, so no point crawling up their ass and hitting the brakes.