Benefits of cruise control? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

haux · 02-24-2010, 02:52 AM

I was wondering, could habitual use of cruise control extend the life of a motor or transmission?

Clearly, using it on long trips a few times a year isn't going to have any long term affect on anything. But what if 50% of the vehicles mileage was while operating cruise control?

For example, I've gotten in the habit of using it every moment I can... for the past five years. Whether it be low speed 25mph, or high speed 70. If I feel I won't have to adjust my speed within the next ten seconds... I hit cruise almost instinctively.

Or maybe this is just another senseless late-night thought of mine?

iovaykind · 02-24-2010, 07:38 AM

You can use cruise control at 25mph? Mine won't have cruise anything below 30mph.. but I drive a '96. Anyway, I know that it definitely helps with mileage on the highway, provided you cruise around 60 instead of 75, but for 10 seconds..I don't think it would really help the engine or your mileage that much since within 10 seconds I'm sure anyone can hold the engine at a steady rpm.

hill8570 · 02-24-2010, 07:50 AM

Seems unlikely that it would help much with longevity, but I couldn't say for certain.

I'm another heavy user of cruise, but I use it to prevent tickets -- without cruise I have a tendency to seriously mangle the speed limit. Not sure if you've already noticed this, but you can "tweek" your speed without messing with the accelerator -- push straight down on the cruise handle to adjust speed down a smidge, pull straight up on the handler to adjust speed up a smidge.

AlmightyCamry777 · 02-24-2010, 01:56 PM

what you say is possibly true. But we are talking about gasoline engines here, which are designed to be run at varying rpm's. Steady rpm applications are generally better served by a diesel motor, since they are designed for this.

In the old days, the 1950's and 60's, there was a condition known as "heat set" that would sometimes occur on engines in cars driven for many hours (especially in hot temperatures) at a steady speed. Sometimes the car would run fine until shut off, then the engine would not restart. I doubt this phenomenon occurs much today since lubricants and engine metallurgy is much better - but it tells you something about the nature of gasoline engines.
Your gas mileage will surely be better the more time you spend at a steady speed, personally i think i'd vary the mph every so often (and there's almost no way here in California you could avoid doing that anyway .)

L-Burna · 02-24-2010, 03:18 PM

there seems to be next to nothing on google regarding cruise v engine wear, only people raving about going up and down hills and the gas mileage.. i dunno, i use mine all the time even on our suburbs, the 50kph zones that is..

sc2dave · 02-24-2010, 03:43 PM

I use it all the time and i take long trips frequently.normal drives are 4-7 hours straight. My best mileage has been 454 miles on a tankful.95 le,auto, almost always at 70mph.

Gibson99 · 03-01-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill8570

Seems unlikely that it would help much with longevity, but I couldn't say for certain.

I'm another heavy user of cruise, but I use it to prevent tickets -- without cruise I have a tendency to seriously mangle the speed limit. Not sure if you've already noticed this, but you can "tweek" your speed without messing with the accelerator -- push straight down on the cruise handle to adjust speed down a smidge, pull straight up on the handler to adjust speed up a smidge.

ditto here. i use mine more to keep myself from speeding, though it is nice on long drives to give my foot a rest - my ankle tends to freeze up and become quite painful trying to hold it in exactly the same position for over 20-30 mins.

if anything, you'll wear out the cruise "stick" and the cruise motor quicker by using it more, but i can't imagine it would do anything for the engine good or bad.

***JohnGD*** · 03-01-2010, 11:19 PM

I think it would help the torque converter clutch avoid repeated engage/disengage when the speed varies. I'd definitely use it when safe to do so, but not in heavy traffic or local situations that may require more rapid responses.

Gibson99 · 03-01-2010, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnGD

I think it would help the torque converter clutch avoid repeated engage/disengage when the speed varies. I'd definitely use it when safe to do so, but not in heavy traffic or local situations that may require more rapid responses.

... or a regular clutch if you're m/t... of course, with the s/c there's less need to downshift.

haux · 03-02-2010, 05:00 AM

Thanks for the input.

I suppose this is just a continuation of a previous thread of mine... wondering why my car is still running fine after such high mileage, while others have serious problems less than half-way there.

Although I must say "fine" is a relative term. My idle could be better. And recent poor gas mileage has got me wondering...

I have throw four grand at the car in new parts, but that was very recent, a few months ago. Until then, almost everything was original.

My cruise "switch" has been functioning half-assed for a while now, actually. Sometimes when I press it down to set a new cruise speed, it doesn't work. I have to click it on and off, and then set the new speed for it to work. I assume that's due to the high usage. However, I have a new (less than 70k) LEATHER steering wheel that I will be putting on when I'm back home. It has the switch attached. Although the leather steering wheel was the main goal, if the new switch fixes that issue... it will be even better.

Judge2 · 03-02-2010, 11:38 AM

Something I'm not clear about in using the cruise control is when should I turn it off by clicking it like a pen, and when should I turn it off by clicking it like high beams. ( I assume that when it is a temporary turning off for traffic conditions it is the high beam click, but what is going on?)

'_' · 03-02-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge2

Something I'm not clear about in using the cruise control is when should I turn it off by clicking it like a pen, and when should I turn it off by clicking it like high beams. ( I assume that when it is a temporary turning off for traffic conditions it is the high beam click, but what is going on?)

Yeah, clicking like "high beams" cancels the cruise control until you re-engage it. It should resume to the preset speed. Clicking the button will just turn it off and you'll have to set the speed again once you turn cruise control back on. You can make minor increases/decreases to speed by lifting up/down on the control lever.

The cruise control is nice, but I don't like how it tries to maintain the same speed when ascending/descending hills. I usually take cruise control off and keep my foot on the gas in the same position to avoid giving it more/less gas. If the hills are long, I try and adjust my speed accordingly to carry some momentum up the hill (avoid having the car shift gears to climb up).

Gibson99 · 03-02-2010, 12:36 PM

i think laser cruise is awesome. too bad we can't retrofit it to our cars. it's a little weird though when someone cuts in front of you and you feel your own vehicle apply the brakes. i also like how it sets off a loud alarm if it thinks you aren't going to brake in time for the object in front of you.

i also "help" my cruise by speeding up a little before getting to a hill so it doesn't bog trying to climb the hill. i think in the manual though they say not to use cruise on hilly terrain (think foothills/mountains, not just highway overpasses).

Kenny_McCormic · 03-02-2010, 02:33 PM

I use cruise because it supposedly helps MPGs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson99

i think laser cruise is awesome. too bad we can't retrofit it to our cars. it's a little weird though when someone cuts in front of you and you feel your own vehicle apply the brakes. i also like how it sets off a loud alarm if it thinks you aren't going to brake in time for the object in front of you.

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.