How to Use Your Foot to Get Better Mileage Than Cruise Control

Using automatic cruise control is only economical when you're driving in flat country.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. When you're not driving in flat country, an advantage of using cruise control is to get a cramping leg or foot in a different position, while your driving. This may avoid having to make a stop and stretch your legs.

2. Increase your speed before you get to the next hill to climb. If you wait until you get slowed down by the hill before you accelerate, you may have to press the accelerator almost to the floor to increase your speed 5 miles per hour. (Just a slight pressing of the accelerator may increase your speed 5 to 10 miles per hour, if you do it before you're climbing a hill).

3. Allowing your speed to fluctuate, that is being content with letting the hill cause you to drive a little below the speed limit until you get over the hill, may get you about 5 more miles per gallon.

Tips & Warnings

• Being in a hurry, when you're hill climbing, can cost you a lot of dollars at the pumps.
• Trailer loaded big truck drivers are forced to use this kind of driving strategy or they may end up climbing a hill in low gear at about 5 miles per hour. Their punishment is more obvious than yours for not driving strategically.
• Cruise controls are designed to accelerate after they've been slowed down by a hill. Your estimated miles per gallon using this approach while climbing the hill is probably between 5 and 10 miles per gallon, especially if you have a loaded vehicle with freight or passengers.

Resources

• Make a Sluugish Car Run Better
• Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates