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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain? 
10042 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 3:07 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Jul 07, 2008 5:16 pm)  All the sources out there providing "tips for fuel economy" always suggest using cruise control, something I use a lot mainly because it is convenient. I wonder if that can really have a noticeable effect on reducing gas consumption though... |
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Replying to: nippononly (Jul 07, 2008 7:07 pm) Cruise does help, a lot! Seems like the ole computer is way better at holding a steady speed than your right foot is. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Jul 07, 2008 7:07 pm) It might depend on the car and how the cruise control is designed. I've never used the cruise in my Intrepid for a long enough period to see if it saves gas, simply because I've never gotten out on a long enough stretch of empty highway to use it for more than a short while. However, I've had it actually downshift on its own, when going downhill, to keep from picking up too much speed! Now, whether it's running in top gear or 3rd, probably doesn't make any difference on fuel consumption while your foot is off the gas pedal. However, it's going to limit how far you can coast, which means you're going to have to put your foot back on the pedal sooner. And when going uphill, it's going to try a bit harder to maintain the speed its set on, whereas if I'm not using the cruise (and I'm not holding up traffic), sometimes I'll let the car lose a little speed on the hill. In addition to the design of the car, I guess your driving style is also a major factor. |
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...Auto sales in China have been largely unaffected by high global oil prices because government controls have kept retail gasoline and diesel prices at levels that are among the world's lowest. Automakers say sales of SUVs and luxury sedans are growing at annual rates of up to 100 percent. But when controls let the price balance against the market, watch out below! Regards, OW |
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Replying to: andre1969 (Jul 08, 2008 2:51 am) And when going uphill, it's going to try a bit harder to maintain the speed its set on, whereas if I'm not using the cruise (and I'm not holding up traffic), sometimes I'll let the car lose a little speed on the hill. The big enemy of economy is inconsistency (and of course, absolute speed). Where cruise helps is in being consistent. So in your example of losing speed on the hill, for most people they have to accelerate to regain that speed. It takes more energy to scrub off/add on than it takes to maintain.
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Replying to: ny540i6 (Jul 08, 2008 3:22 am) Well, let's say I had my cruise control set on 60, and came to a valley. My Intrepid would hold that speed going downhill, and at the bottom of the valley, would still only be doing 60. So it wouldn't coast as far up the other side of the valley. Then it would have to kick in harder to maintain that speed going up the other hill. With the cruise off, and coasting, it might get up to 70 mph by the time I'm at the valley floor. That will let the car coast up the other side further, as it loses speed. I'd have to give it a little gas to get up the hill, but, say I let it drop down to 55. I could always get back up to 60 at a gentle pace, once I'm back on level ground. It's going to take less fuel to get back up from 55 to 60 on level ground than it would have been to try maintaining 60 all the way up that hill. In a case like this, cruise control is going to hurt your fuel economy. Now I never read the Intrepid's owner's manual from cover to cover, as I think the script for "Gone with the Wind" is shorter. I think back in the day though, they said that using cruise control in hilly areas was not good for fuel economy. If you're on level ground, it's going to take more energy to scrub/add than it will to maintain, because it's you, the driver, controlling that with your brake and accelerator pedals. But in my example, gravity is playing a larger role. |
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Replying to: andre1969 (Jul 08, 2008 2:51 am) The reason for this is that even going up moderate grades, the engine never downshifts regardless of the incline since so much torque is available the engine just loafs along at about 1950 RPMS and inclines mean the engine might increase 100 RPMS or so, so in that regard the car is a real "economy" model.. Course I wouldn't dare mention the city mileage.
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Replying to: wesleyg (Jul 08, 2008 4:51 am) BMW 330xi = 22 mpg Tank to Tank for me. Heavy cruise control use. I am waiting for the US government to subsidize the price of our energy. Once the war is over in Iraq, there will be free capital everywhere to boost the economy. When in China, act like the Chinese. Regards, Regards, OW |
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Replying to: circlew (Jul 08, 2008 5:47 am) Don't get wrong, I'm not complaining, my first new car was a 1965 Chevy Impala SS with a 396. I've purchased about 38 new GM cars in the ensuing years, ALL of them with the biggest engine I could get, I think my time is running out. |
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| ...when I set the cruise on either my 1988 Buick Park Avenue or 1989 Cadillac Brougham, they return phenomenal fuel economy. My Caddy got such good gas mileage during the trip to and from the Carlisle All-GM show I was afraid the gas gauge was broken. I filled it on my return to Philly and it really did only use that little fuel! | |
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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain?
