Can Cruise Control Help Save on Gasoline Costs in Your Car?
For drivers looking to save money on gasoline, cruise control may be a useful tool. In this article, we will explore whether cruise control can indeed reduce fuel consumption in various driving conditions and situations.
Does Cruise Control Save on Gasoline?
Yes, in general, cruise control can save on gasoline. One user, driving a Diesel Isuzu pickup truck, has noticed a significant improvement in fuel efficiency by using cruise control on a flat road. They observed that switching to cruise control improved their fuel consumption by about 10% compared to gentle throttle control.
What Are the Exceptions?
While cruise control can be beneficial, there are situations where it may not be the best choice. In hilly terrain, for instance, the car may frequently downshift when encountering upgrades. In this case, easing off the gas and letting the car slow down gradually might help maximize fuel efficiency. However, if the upgrade is long, keeping the cruise control engaged might be a better option.
Flat Road Scenarios
On a straight and level road, cruise control can definitely help save on gasoline. By maintaining a steady speed, it helps minimize the need for constant acceleration and deceleration, both of which can consume additional fuel.
Why Is Cruise Control Less Effective in Some Situations?
The reason why cruise control may not always be the most efficient is that it lacks the foresight that a human driver has. It cannot anticipate upcoming stops or hills. When driving, especially on level ground, releasing the throttle slowly in anticipation of upcoming stops uses less fuel than allowing the engine to continue running at full throttle. Cruise control also provides more gas when accelerating, which further increases fuel consumption compared to gentle throttle control.
Conclusion
Fuel consumption can vary depending on the driving conditions and route. On long journeys on motorways, cruise control can be particularly useful by maintaining a constant speed using the most efficient gear ratio. Crucially, it adapts to minor grades and hill inclines, keeping the vehicle at the exact speed set by adjusting fuel accordingly.
However, an attentive driver can still achieve better fuel efficiency in hilly terrains, as frequent shifts in throttle use can compensate for the lack of anticipation by cruise control. High speed and quick acceleration reduce gas mileage, and traditional cruise control can’t anticipate hills like a human can.
Modern semi-trucks and more advanced vehicles, however, use predictive cruise control, integrating GPS data to adjust to elevation changes. As such, human drivers might find it difficult to achieve the same level of fuel efficiency.
For drivers on fairly level terrain, cruise control can still provide better gas mileage than manually managing speed. By reducing the frequency of throttle use and maintaining a steady output, cruise control helps minimize fuel consumption.
Remember, the key to maximizing fuel efficiency is maintaining low speed and gentle acceleration, especially in urban driving conditions or on roads with frequent traffic lights and stops.