Towing with cruise control

[Chris Parish]

I'm intrigued about the theory of worse fuel consumption using cruise control. I've never heard that before. Why should that be?

[Lzygo]

I would think (and I'm neither an mpg expert or geek) that cruise control is constantly drawing fuel to maintain the set speed and accelerating harder and more often then using the right foot with less time decelerating before picking up again. If you have onboard mpg comp and watch it between the two types of driving - when the cruise is on and accelerating the mpg shown drops far lower then when I acceleerate with my foot. I would agree that on a straight flat long road then things may be more equal but definatly get much better mpg using my foot.

[tykey]

Yes,but it's not only a theory.

The cruise control hasn't got the objective of reducing fuel consumption. So when it sees the speed dropping, it has to pump more fuel in, even when it's not appropriate from an economy point of view.

As Lzygo suggests, watch the onboard computer, if you back off the throttle a touch you will see a dramatic drop in fuel usage for only a couple of miles per hour, and you can soon recover this speed on the next downhill bit (again with a closed throttle)

It's particularly evident when you back off the throttle when going up inclines.

Do you remember Jeremy Clarkson driving from London to Edinburgh and back again on only one tank of fuel. He used this type of technique without cruise control.

[dodgyken]

I use cruise control pretty much all the time - across Europe where it is easy to maintain a steady pace I dial in around 140kmh-150kmh and just let the KMs fly be - it is easy - it is relaxing and for the 1mpg it costs I don't get too emotional.

As for towing - I sit on the naughty side of the fence. The Volvo will tow the 1800KG trailer with ease - and sits happily at cruise control speed that won't be mentioned - and will pull happily up hill at speeds that will make most of you wince. I wow in DRIVE with the cruise on - and the car is happy - around 27MPG for a 270mile tow trip at the weekend - mixed driving.

The entire rig is rock solid - not a wiggle in sight - which doesn't condone my behaviour.

Back to cruise - the only problem with it is that other people can't hold a constant speed - which means it is a pain to overtake!!

[Dazzlev70r]

Id like to know of a road in UK you can use the cruise ( at any speed) for more than 30 minutes lol

I use my cruise now simply to stop mind wandering and getting speeding tickets, its ideal for that as it goes

I can beat the cruise control though for economy both towing and solo as it goes
Clarkson run in that A6 was absolutley class, he did moan it was a lot harder to drive economicaly than at a fast pace
In that test he saved himself a good £50 of fuel, but took hours longer than he normaly would and had a mega stressfull drive
If i was going Scotland id pay the extra £25 each way and be comfortable

[dodgyken]

Originally Posted by Dazzlev70r

Id like to know of a road in UK you can use the cruise ( at any speed) for more than 30 minutes lol

It is a ballache in the UK - but still possible. Managed it for most of my M25/M1 run on Saturday.

I use my cruise now simply to stop mind wandering and getting speeding tickets, its ideal for that as it goes

Agree

I can beat the cruise control though for economy both towing and solo as it goes
Clarkson run in that A6 was absolutley class, he did moan it was a lot harder to drive economicaly than at a fast pace
In that test he saved himself a good £50 of fuel, but took hours longer than he normaly would and had a mega stressfull drive
If i was going Scotland id pay the extra £25 each way and be comfortable

Absolutely. Yes manual driving is more economical - but quite frankly if you want budget driving - you buy a £300 car drive it until it's dead and replace. If you want to drive economically - you can do - and for SHORT distances I can manage it. But for 100 miles +, I hit the throttle - and I don't stress over 1 or 2mpg.

Scotland return with no air-con or cd-player - at 55mph??? Sod that for a game of toy soldiers!!

[Chris Parish]

I find cruise control good for 50mph speed limits on motorways where left to my own devices I start off with the best of intentions but just keep getting faster - and for when my right knee starts hurting.

I've used it in the USA where you can set cruise control and then go and make a cup of tea....

[Dazzlev70r]

Originally Posted by Chris Parish

I've used it in the USA where you can set cruise control and then go and make a cup of tea....

Then sue there arse for not stating you still have to steer and controll the vehilce


No i do like old Clarkson as it goes, No demist of windows just think what diffrence this will make to economy whilst towing

The worrying thing for me with cruise and towing is the control of the vehicle, my foot can react if need faster ( lifting off / on pedal)
I found on my range rover that on an incline it would kick down to maintain speed and couldnt read the road and the fact i might be feet from peak of hill and about to go down

Im a lover of cruise when solo though, nothing like playing with steering wheel on a boring motorway

[tykey]

Originally Posted by dodgyken

Scotland return with no air-con or cd-player - at 55mph??? Sod that for a game of toy soldiers!!

Neither would I, but you can drive MORE economically at any speed.

I've just towed my caravan from Sheffield to Northumberland and found that it's FAR more difficult to drive with an economical style, than when not towing. I suspect it's not worth trying, next time I'll experiment with cruise control. As soon as you lift the right foot off, you slow down very quickly.

Just for the record the caravan reduced the mpg from about 50 to 33mpg on the car's computer (without cruise control), it's a V70 2.4D

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by tykey

Neither would I, but you can drive MORE economically at any speed.

I've just towed my caravan from Sheffield to Northumberland and found that it's FAR more difficult to drive with an economical style, than when not towing. I suspect it's not worth trying, next time I'll experiment with cruise control. As soon as you lift the right foot off, you slow down very quickly.

Just for the record the caravan reduced the mpg from about 50 to 33mpg on the car's computer (without cruise control), it's a V70 2.4D

o sod it ill have to go back to a TRACTOR 18 to 20 mpg with the van on