Is Cruise Control Bad for Your Engine?
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In this way, the cruise control system will take care of maintaining a constant throttle for you. It gives a significant boost to your journeys, improves your fuel efficiency, and is good on gas-powered cars too. Though it’s best to not activate your cruise control when driving up or down most hills, it can come in handy under the right conditions. Also, it’s best to not use your cruise control in warmer weather when the roads are wet from the rain. But when going up or down hills, the cons far outweigh the pros regarding the use of cruise control to save gas.
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Is Adaptive Cruise Control Safe?
Cruise control is best used on long, straight stretches of road, like highways, where you don’t need to stop frequently. It’s great for maintaining a constant speed, which can prevent speeding tickets and improve fuel efficiency. However, avoid using cruise control in heavy traffic, bad weather, or on curvy or hilly roads.
What is a Speed Limiter?
Drivers with arthritis or foot pain find relaxing their feet on the car’s floor much less strenuous. By maintaining a consistent speed, it helps your car use fuel more efficiently, especially during long drives on the highway. This efficiency decreases when roads are hilly or you’re stopping and starting a lot, like in city driving. Unlike regular cruise control, Adaptive Cruise Control uses advanced sensors and sometimes cameras to watch the road ahead.
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Fewer speeding violations
While having a long trip, you may be tempted to rely too much on this feature and just relax. Your vehicle may lose control due to poor road conditions and inclement weather. Using cruise control on a relatively flat and low-traffic road will not ruin your vehicle’s CVT transmission.
Increased fuel economy
If the car in front slows down, this system slows your car, too, maintaining the safe gap. When the road clears again, Adaptive Cruise Control speeds up back to your set speed. This means you can turn this feature on even in moderate traffic, a huge step up from traditional cruise control.
There are several types of cruise control systems, but all cars come with the standard version, including vehicles with a manual gearbox. The most common variation is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), an improved cruise control system. Also, you can set the cruise control using the cruise switches; ON, OFF, RESUME, SET/ACCEL, and COAST, which are mostly located near the steering wheel. This feature is helpful when you’re driving long distances on an open road and eases foot fatigue. Cruise control is a convenient feature that many drivers rely on for a smooth and hassle-free experience on the road. However, have you ever wondered if using cruise control regularly can impact your car’s performance?
Can Cruise Control Be Dangerous?
This feature doesn’t completely protect you from accidents even while enabled, so always remain alert. Many cruise control systems share the same sensor inputs as the car’s transmission. This leads some people to believe using the features too much affects the engine. In most vehicles, adaptive cruise control even applies the brakes if the vehicle in front stops quickly. But if the car changes lanes, the function speeds your vehicle back up to the original setting.
Benefits of Using Cruise Control
In fact, utilizing the system can be quite dangerous if you’re not careful. So, if the car in front of you slows down, you'll need to step in and adjust your speed manually. This trusty system comes standard on most cars and is great for saving some fuel on those long road trips. Yes, Adaptive Cruise Control can improve safety by maintaining a safe distance from the car in front of you.
Types of Cruise Control Systems
Using cruise control is similar to using a car speed limiter because it helps you maintain a consistent speed. When you keep shifting between the gas and brake pedals, you not only put a lot of pressure on your car but also reduce your fuel efficiency. If you spend a lot of time in traffic, you’ll notice how low your mpg average drops.
Hence, car manufacturers have come up with a mechanism or system that allows you to set the accelerometer at a specific speed and take the foot off the pedal. Under certain situations, you can use cruise control to save gas when driving up or down hilly terrain. Should this occur, you could find your car going much slower than other vehicles around you, creating a hazard that could lead to an accident. If you are very experienced using the cruise control function on your car, you may have few issues using it on hills. However, according to most car experts we’ve talked this over with, it is usually best if you refrain from using cruise control on hills.
Conventional cruise control doesn’t touch the brakes, and it only works with the throttle. In the right circumstances, it improves fuel efficiency and reduces wear on your vehicle’s engine/transmission by reducing the occurrence of rapid acceleration. If the road surface is snowy, icy, slushy or very wet, you’ll want to think twice about switching your cruise control on. In many cases with modern cars, it’s generally easier and more cost effective to just opt for a unit equipped with cruise control from the factory. Cruise control is widely available as standard equipment on most modern vehicles.
Super Cruise is a next-level driver assistance feature available on certain GM vehicles. Driving while fatigued is never a good idea, but even less so while using cruise control. Utilizing the system may add to your fatigue, as you give your vehicle more control of the journey.
Today, cruise control is rapidly becoming the standard on all new vehicles, providing drivers with increased convenience on their daily drive. Overall, the future of cruise control technology holds promise for creating a more seamless and enjoyable driving experience, with a focus on safety, comfort, and sustainability. Remember, these systems are here to make your drive smoother and safer, but they're not a replacement for your attention. Cruise control uses your accelerator like you do when you step on the gas. When deactivated, it is up to the driver to slow the car further. Additionally, having cruise control while driving winding roads or during inclement weather, where you may need to slow down frequently, is dangerous.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Justin Pritchard is an experienced motoring expert whose work is read and watched by Canadians across the country on a weekly basis. Below, we’ll answer some of the most popular Internet search questions about cruise control, so you can make the best use of this important system. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra and 2024 Toyota Corolla are old rivals in affordable compact cars.
As such, cruise control is better for your vehicle’s motor and transmission as long as you use it under the right road conditions. The excess increases and decreases in speed could cause the vehicle to consume up to 20% more fuel than if the driver manually controlled the speed. The biggest caveat is it can also reduce your reaction time while driving and impair your ability to safely steer, brake, or change lanes during dangerous situations. Unfortunately, using cruise control on anything other than on a clear, straight, and long span of the road will reduce its effectiveness and increase the likelihood of an accident. However, when used responsibly and in the right circumstances, cruise control can provide a comfortable and relaxing driving experience.
It can help prevent collisions by maintaining a safe following distance, reducing the stress of driving in heavy traffic. It also allows you to relax more without worrying about adjusting your speed frequently. But remember, even with Adaptive Cruise Control, you need to stay alert and ready to react if needed. Highways are typically long, straight roads with less traffic and few stops. By maintaining a constant speed, it aids in overall traffic management and reduces the risk of speeding.
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