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Cruise control is an electronic system that automatically controls the speed of a vehicle. Using a series of sensors, an onboard computer determines the vehicle’s speed and makes adjustments to the throttle position. Driving at constant speed uses less energy than driving at sudden interchanging speeds.
Traffic Conditions
There’s no sudden pressure on the throttle caused by accelerations which could trigger more fuel injection. Your engine will keep operating in the set RPM range, and the torque range remains the same which results in less fuel spent. It’s not effective at all when you’re in stop-and-go traffic, and using it on back roads to maintain 35 mph isn’t particularly useful or desirable, either. During World War II, when gas was rationed and the national speed limit dropped to 35, there was a flurry of activity from inventors looking to maintain a constant speed automatically.
Yes, driving with cruise control can help you save on gas
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, using cruise control when driving eliminates the need to constantly use the accelerator, either when speeding up or slowing down.
Factors Influencing Fuel Efficiency
No matter what you’re driving, though, keep these benefits in mind when determining whether to use cruise control on your next drive. Usually, such road conditions change instantly when driving, requiring you to be careful and drive in response to the current situation at hand. And since cruise control cannot master these changes immediately after they occur, it is advisable to turn it off when driving in such conditions. Similarly, the US government agrees that speeding, accelerating rapidly and braking immediately wastes a lot of gas. In fact, such aggressive driving at highway speeds can reduce your gas mileage by approximately 15%-30%.
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This consistency makes your driving smoother and even contributes to smoother traffic flow when multiple vehicles use cruise control. Cruise control is a feature allowing the driver to set a predetermined speed, which the system’s computer maintains until the driver adjusts the speed, taps the brake, or disengages the system. In other words, once set, the cruise control system automatically controls vehicle speed, relieving the driver of that responsibility. 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.
An automatic transmission used to represent a gas mileage penalty, but that’s not the case any longer. If anything, an automatic is a wash, and in most cases, an automatic will provide better fuel economy than its manual counterpart (if if it’s even available) will. With the same 2.0-liter engine, the 2022 Honda Civic with a six-speed manual suffers a 3-mpg combined penalty versus the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The automaker contributed a turn signal stalk-mounted switch with a pushbutton to set the speed, but the feature was fundamentally Speedostat cruise control for decades. Other cruise control systems used vacuum-operated throttle servos to adjust the throttle position.
The major purpose of cruise control is to help you maintain a set speed without outside interventions. The cruise control system reduces the driver’s vulnerability to leg cramps due to long hours of driving. When old cruise control systems accelerated back up to the required speed when you pressed “resume,” they basically floored the gas until the car got back to the required speed. This aggressive acceleration used a fair amount of gas, so modern systems accelerate in a slower, smoother, and more controlled manner that’s considerably more frugal. Another great benefit of using cruise control is to help youavoid speeding tickets. It’s easy to get carried away in fast-flowing trafficand go over the speed limit.
With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, drivers are looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Many believe cruise control can help save gas by maintaining a steady speed. Unnecessary braking can have a negative impact on fuel efficiency, especially when using cruise control. When you encounter a downhill slope, cruise control can sometimes apply more braking than necessary, which leads to wasted energy. To optimize fuel efficiency, it’s important to be aware of the road ahead and disengage cruise control if you anticipate the need to brake.
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The throttle controls the speed by regulating how much air is taken in by the engine. A small computer behind the dashboard or under the hood controls the cruise control. While some might argue that cruise control improves fuel economy (a 2007 CNN Money report noted that it could save as much as seven percent), Sinclair thought otherwise. Of course, cruise control isn’t usable in every situation, but it’s definitely a great feature to use during a long drive if you have the option.
This is a situation that may make you even more sleepy and less alert, increasing the risk of an accident. During the run-in or break-in period of your new car, which is between the first 1000km – 3000km depending on the car’s make or model. You should drive your car at variable speeds with varying revolutions per minute (RPM).
Many drivers are fooled into thinking that their vehicle’s transmission is being damaged when a vehicle’s cruise control causes an engine’s RPMs to spike during downshifting. In truth, this is not the case at all, as reasonably-timed downshifting is an accepted, and perfectly safe method of quickly decelerating any vehicle. Yes, in many cases, cruise control use can actually increase a vehicle’s fuel economy by as much as 5%-15%. While this might be surprising to some, there is good reasoning behind this decrease in fuel consumption.
Cruise control is not recommended in bad weather conditions, like rain, snow, or icy roads. These situations require delicate control over your vehicle, something cruise control can’t provide. Using it in such conditions can increase the risk of losing control or hydroplaning.
By paying attention to vehicle maintenance, tire inflation, and minimizing wind resistance, you can further enhance the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. These considerations, combined with the benefits of using cruise control, can help you achieve optimal fuel economy and save money at the pump. Wind resistance, also known as aerodynamic drag, can have a significant impact on fuel efficiency, especially at higher speeds. When your vehicle encounters resistance from the air, it requires more energy to maintain its speed, resulting in increased fuel consumption. However, in urban areas or congested roads with frequent stops and starts, cruise control may not provide the same level of fuel efficiency. In these situations, the constant adjustments required by the traffic conditions can negate the benefits of using cruise control.
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