Does cruise control use more fuel?

vikingaero

When I look on Google, most of the studies in the States show that using CC saves fuel.

cyclonebri1

I think I am smarter, and can anticipate better than the computer that controls a CC system. You can't take the driver out of the car:j, well, not yet:eek:

jeferey

I have cruise control and use it loads. I do however practice some hypermiling techniques and knock it off if there is a decent hill to go down, I then lift off the accelerator and use no fuel (most modern cars do this). Going up hills I slow down slightly either using the pedal or pressing my cruise control button to slowly 'bleed' speed. I manage to average over 50mpg and the manufacturer's stats say I should get 44.
Mine works from about 25mph and I also use it around town when I can - great for sticking to the speed limit especially with all these cameras about.
I would definitely look to get it in my next car .
I would say if used in conjunction with a sensible right foot it will save you fuel and aggro / stress.

System

Hintza wrote: »

What speed would you like people to overtake you at?

At a speed that allows them to complete the manoeuvre in a timely manner and not pretend to be an artic and take a mile to overtake.

Highway Code, para 163

move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake.

cyclonebri1

!!!!!! wrote: »

At a speed that allows them to complete the manoeuvre in a timely manner and not pretend to be an artic and take a mile to overtake.

Highway Code, para 163

Nice one !!!!!! :beer:

Lum

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I thought the idea of cruise control was that you didn't use your right leg, only for braking. Set the speed and hang you leg out of the window so to speak :cool:

That was my point. I've done so much long distance driving that I now suffer from cramps when trying to hold the accelerator in one place for a long time. Then I end up varying speed or needing to stop and stretch the muscles.

As a result I save using cruise control because I don't have to do that. just put the CC on, feet up (not literally) happy days.

Mine also manages to keep a speed constant enough that you can't see the needle move. Only time it breaks from this is on steep downhills where you would end up accelerating even with zero throttle. CC can't apply the brakes for you. What it will do though is keep that throttle at zero until your speed has dropped back to your set value, so you still gain the fuel saving benefit of that hill, providing you don't brake.

At the end of the day, brakes waste more fuel than the accelerator. The accelerator ultimately converts fuel into movement, which is useful. The brakes convert that movement into heat, which is not useful.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

!!!!!! wrote: »

At a speed that allows them to complete the manoeuvre in a timely manner and not pretend to be an artic and take a mile to overtake.

Highway Code, para 163

Comprehension not your strong point, I'm guessing.

sunshinetours

!!!!!! wrote: »

At a speed that allows them to complete the manoeuvre in a timely manner and not pretend to be an artic and take a mile to overtake.

Highway Code, para 163

Think you may find that refers to non motorway roads. Try para 267 and 268 for relevant bits on motorway overtaking - no mention of
passing quickly

I find cruise control useful for long journeys and especially useful when driving on foreign autoroutes which sem often to be less crowded

mrbadexample

!!!!!! wrote: »

It may or may not use more fuel but the morons who set their cruise control and end up crawling past you on the motorway at 1/2 MPH faster than you really wind me up.

!!!!!! wrote: »

At a speed that allows them to complete the manoeuvre in a timely manner and not pretend to be an artic and take a mile to overtake.

Highway Code, para 163

This refers to single carriageway roads. You said "on the motorway", so you need this bit:

Driving on the motorway

Overtaking

267

Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe and legal to do so. Overtake only on the right. You should

• check your mirrors
• take time to judge the speeds correctly
• make sure that the lane you will be joining is sufficiently clear ahead and behind
• take a quick sideways glance into the blind spot area to verify the position of a vehicle that may have disappeared from your view in the mirror
• remember that traffic may be coming up behind you very quickly. Check all your mirrors carefully. Look out for motorcyclists. When it is safe to do so, signal in plenty of time, then move out
• ensure you do not cut in on the vehicle you have overtaken
• be especially careful at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance

Which doesn't mention anything at all about how quickly you should overtake. :whistle:

Idiophreak

wazza wrote: »

You have to apply brakes which automatically disengages the cruise control. When you press resume does the cruise control make the car accelerate harder than normal hence using more fuel?

Guess that depends how hard you "normally" accelerate, doesn't it..?

Seriously, though, in my experience, a good driver will get little benefit out of cruise control, but I expect poor drivers see quite a saving from it. If you can't maintain speed by yourself and keep 65-75-65ing, a steady 70 will save you money.

It's just about using the cruise sensibly...hold at the cruise speed, look ahead, if there's something slowing down, cancel the cruise (no need to brake), wait for your speed to match the car in front, reset the cruise speed. As the car in front accelerates, notch up a couple of mph on the cruise, nice and gentle...No need to use the resume button at all, besides lazyness.

scotsman4th wrote: »

What I hate is the morons that DONT use it but if someone overtakes them, speed up to get back past.

Hate them so much. I'm cruising at (say) 70, literally cruise up to the back of someone, go to go past them, they look across and go "oooh no, not today!" and speed up to match my pace...so I'm along side them doing exactly the same speed. People behind me thinking "why doesn't this guy get a move on and get past.." - so I either have to put my foot down and get past (then slow down and probably have the idiot come back past me) or ease off, drop in behind them and watch their speed start falling down again..and repeat...aargh!

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I thought the idea of cruise control was that you didn't use your right leg, only for braking. Set the speed and hang you leg out of the window so to speak :cool:

Two options - one, just "hover" your foot over the accelerator - fine, but gives you really bad cramp in your leg holding your foot up like that for any period of time. Two, put your foot flat on the floor - good, but you don't feel you'd be able to react as fast if you needed to brake. I tend, therefore, to mainly use cruise when I'm on the motorway or similar - less chance of a deer running out and so on...