As anyone who’s taken a turn behind the wheel on a long road trip knows, cruise control can be an absolute godsend. It lets you give your right ankle some much-needed rest and helps avoid speeding tickets. But some people are hesitant to use it very often, for various reasons. One of the most common fears is that cruise control might wear out or damage the car over time.
Cruise control, if used properly, is not bad for your car in the least. It can even reduce wear and tear on the engine/transmission and improve fuel efficiency by reducing instances of rapid acceleration. However, it can be harmful if used with a manual transmission or in certain adverse conditions.
Read on to learn what cruise control is, how it works, and how it can affect your vehicle’s performance, longevity, and safety.
What Is Cruise Control?
Cruise control is a system that automatically maintains a vehicle’s speed so that the driver doesn’t have to keep their foot on the gas pedal. Its controls are located on or near the steering wheel. There are a few types of cruise control, but the basic version comes standard in most newer cars.
Once a driver reaches the desired speed, they can set their cruise control to maintain it. Once set, they can adjust the speed up or down in increments of 1 MPH. This is all done using either a lever on the steering column case or buttons on the steering wheel itself.
Though early versions of it were used in the early 1900s, modern cruise control wasn’t invented until 1948, by a mechanical engineer named Ralph Teetor. Since then, it has seen many improvements and variations.
One variation that comes standard in many of today’s vehicles is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). ACC senses other cars on the road using radar, lasers, or cameras and automatically slows the vehicle down when it comes within a certain distance of another car in the same lane. This distance can be set by the driver and is most often represented in car lengths.
Some vehicles feature Semi-Autonomous or Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control, which can perform more advanced actions like braking, lane changes, and matching traffic speed. These systems are considered a precursor to fully automated, self-driving cars.
How Does Cruise Control Work?
Cruise control works by controlling the throttle to keep the vehicle moving at the driver’s set speed. When engaged, the cruise control computer or mechanism receives a signal from a speed sensor and adjusts the throttle accordingly to increase or decrease the engine’s air intake.
Cruise control can be disengaged by pressing the ‘CANCEL’ button or by tapping the brake pedal or clutch. If the driver accelerates using the gas pedal while cruise control is engaged, the system will remain engaged and simply let the car coast until it returns to the set speed, after the gas pedal is released.
Some cruise control systems have a ‘speed limiter’ feature, which prevents engine acceleration beyond the set maximum. However, this feature won’t apply the brakes if the car exceeds the set speed while rolling down a hill, making cruise control less than ideal in some terrain.
Some newer systems use engine braking (downshifting) to slow the vehicle on its way down a steep grade while others automatically use the actual brakes, but on most older vehicles, you’ll have to brake manually to control your speed rolling down steep hills. None of these will harm your car, however.
How Cruise Control Affects Your Motor and Transmission – Will It Cause Damage?
Cruise control essentially performs the same function as your gas pedal – telling the throttle to send more or less air intake (and thereby, fuel) to the engine, to make the vehicle accelerate or decelerate. The key difference is that cruise control largely eliminates the minor (or major) speed fluctuations that inevitably occur when you’re controlling the gas manually.
These fluctuations can lead to a lot of undue wear and tear on the car’s components – bouts of rapid acceleration consume gas and make the engine work harder; frequent braking wears down the brake pads and drums; falling in and out of gear over and over can strain the transmission.
As such, cruise control is arguably better for your motor and transmission because it helps keep everything operating smoothly and steadily. However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind.
After-Market Cruise Control
Built-in cruise control systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with your vehicle’s engine, transmission, and electrical system. An after-market cruise control system, particularly if it’s incorrectly installed or not OEM (original equipment manufacturer), may not perform properly with your vehicle, potentially resulting in premature wear and tear to certain components.
Manual Transmission
Similarly, on vehicles with manual transmissions, cruise control is generally less effective and can potentially cause damage to the transmission when changing gears. Pressing the clutch should disengage the cruise control, but if this mechanism is faulty (more common with after-market systems), it can lead to slips and grinding gears. This is particularly an issue when navigating hills and other areas that necessitate frequent gear changes.
Does Cruise Control Help Save Gas?
Cruise control helps save gas by keeping the vehicle at a constant, steady speed. This is significantly more fuel-efficient than repeatedly (and inadvertently) letting the MPH drop and accelerating to reach the desired speed again. However, cruise control loses its efficiency in certain terrains.
Cruise control works best on long, relatively flat stretches of highway. It doesn’t do so well in areas with a lot of small hills or sharp grades. This is because it will struggle to maintain the set speed going uphill – revving the engine and burning plenty of gas in the process. This will not only cost fuel but also strain the engine as the RPM shoots up rapidly.
In terrain with a lot of smaller hills and steep grades, it’s best to control the gas manually. That way, you can ensure a smoother acceleration uphill (even it means sacrificing 5 to 10 MPH of speed) and then coast downhill to preserve gas.
Can You Use Cruise Control For Long Distances?
You can absolutely use cruise control for long distances and keep it engaged for extended periods – that’s ultimately what it’s designed for. Long stretches of highway are where it works best and comes most in handy. However, there are some possible dangers of prolonged cruise control use.
Cruise control is meant to reduce fatigue on long drives, but it can end up having the opposite effect on some drivers. Many people find that not having to keep a close watch on the speedometer and apply continuous pressure on the gas pedal allows their minds to wander or lulls them into a state of relaxation and even drowsiness. It is therefore important to understand how to prepare for a long drive by yourself. You should be comfortable on a long drive, but not so comfortable as to sacrifice your attentiveness and vigilance behind the wheel.
Similarly, some studies have shown that reaction times tend to be a little slower when using cruise control for prolonged periods. With the right foot relaxed and away from the pedals, it can take slightly longer to hit the brakes in an emergency – the last thing you want when every second counts.
When You Should and Shouldn’t Use Cruise Control
Cruise control can be an immensely helpful tool, particularly on longer drives, but there are times when it’s not appropriate or safe to use it. Here’s a brief look at when you should and should not use cruise control.
When To Use Cruise Control
- On long, flat stretches of highway – provided that there’s not a lot of traffic nor curves that necessitate slowing down. Straight portions of highway with mild, steady grades are also fine.
- When your right foot, ankle, or leg is hurting from being on the accelerator and needs a rest.
- If you want to avoid unconscious speeding or speed fluctuations.
When Not To Use Cruise Control
- In terrain with lots of hills and steep inclines.
- On winding roads with sharp curves – manually braking into curves and accelerating out of them is crucial for navigating these conditions safely.
- In heavy traffic – safely navigating traffic, whether on the highway or in the city, requires more precise control and shorter response times.
- In hazardous weather conditions – not only do dangerous weather conditions like fog, heavy rain, or snow require greater control, but they can also interfere with the external sensors in adaptive cruise control systems. It’s also not uncommon for people to accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes in an emergency when their foot is coming from a resting position.
In Conclusion
So long as your vehicle’s cruise control system was installed correctly and functions normally, it will do nothing but good for your car’s engine, transmission, and fuel efficiency – provided that you use it properly and only in the appropriate circumstances. But even if it’s good for the car itself, it can still be dangerous if used improperly – at the end of the day, attentiveness and safe driving practices are the best tools for keeping your car – and yourself – safe and in good condition.