MPG: With and Without Cruise Control

SouthPawCO · March 7, 2016

I have my truck for almost three months and the fuel mileage has been decent. I have a heavier foot than most but I really noticed a big difference this weekend by using the cruise control. My previous trucks the cruise control was a little too aggressive and would work too hard to maintain speed and kill fuel mileage.

This isn't a fuel mileage thread as there are hundreds of those already. I am curious if you guys are seeing better fuel mileage utilizing cruise control or by not using it?

dnb2014 · March 7, 2016

I have a 2014 double cab 5.3 2wd and I noticed cruise helps a little to gain mpg, but I use E85........ all the time. And I have a heavy foot too. I think that is the difference. Heavy foot vs non heavy foot.

SouthPawCO · March 7, 2016

I have a 2014 double cab 5.3 2wd and I noticed cruise helps a little to gain mpg, but I use E85........ all the time. And I have a heavy foot too. I think that is the difference. Heavy foot vs non heavy foot.

I have tried to Granny this thing to get the best MPG but I just can't seem to get above 17MPG. I may air the up the tires a little more to around 42PSI and not use the remote start as long. I know the remote start kills MPG but I have been more conscious of it.

foo.c · March 7, 2016

I get better without cruise control, but I live in a pretty hilly area. The cruise will actually slow the truck down on a downhill and accelerate pretty hard uphill, basically the exact opposite of what you should do.

redwngr · March 7, 2016

I also find that I can get better fuel mileage when using the cruise.

After awhile, using the +/- buttons to nudge the speed up and down becomes natural.

If we could get the 'adaptive cruise' that is available on the SUV's. I'd be a buyer.

hurricanoday · March 7, 2016

I have also noticed that when I use cruise control my truck doesn't seem to go into v4 mode. I assume it is the hills in the seattle area and almost never use the cruise control. I keep my 22s at 34psi and have been getting good mileage with the 6.2 above 20 on the hwy

Edelman13 · March 8, 2016

I have tried to Granny this thing to get the best MPG but I just can't seem to get above 17MPG. I may air the up the tires a little more to around 42PSI and not use the remote start as long. I know the remote start kills MPG but I have been more conscious of it.

Remote start kills MPG?? How? It just starts the truck..

hurricanoday · March 8, 2016

Remote start kills MPG?? How? It just starts the truck..

Letting your truck idle for 10 minutes getting 0mpgs

SouthPawCO · March 8, 2016

Remote start kills MPG?? How? It just starts the truck..

You are using fuel and it is not in motion. Burning gas and 0 miles = -MPG loss.

Reset your fuel mileage, go for a small drive and bring it up and park some where and idle. You will see it decrease quicky.

Edelman13 · March 8, 2016

You are using fuel and it is not in motion. Burning gas and 0 miles = -MPG loss.

Reset your fuel mileage, go for a small drive and bring it up and park some where and idle. You will see it decrease quicky.

In the ford rental I have it does that.... In my 15 Silverado I haven't noticed it. I actually look for it to go down. But I will try again today as I get it back in just a few hours!! ???. But that would explain why my mpg has been real low lately as I use remote start every morning.. But isn't it better to let the truck warm up before driving?

sahls01gmc · March 8, 2016

^ No, that's a myth. Just start it and drive it. Remote start only makes you feel better when you get in.

fondupot · March 8, 2016

Remote start kills MPG?? How? It just starts the truck..

When the truck isn't moving, but the motor is running, that is 0 miles per gallon. So it will pull your fuel mileage down.

I rarely use the remote start. Even on cold days.

I will sometimes walk up to the truck, and remote start it while I am about 15 feet away. That way it has time to idle for a minute or two before I take off. And that is plenty fine.

ejdziurka · March 8, 2016

My best MPG came (24.4mpg) came two weeks after I bought the truck. I was doing some highway driving on wet/snowy conditions. Not wanting to wreck a brand new +/-$38,000 truck I never took my foot of the gas as i was up in down in speeds based on the road conditions. Ever since then I've used the cruise and have ever come anywhere close to the 24.4mpg. I figured once the truck broke in I'd get better mileage, but I'm still fighting to come close to that on the highway. Needless to say my opinion is the cruise is a little harder on the gas.

dnb2014 · March 8, 2016

I think if you have a heavy foot like my self, the best way to save gas is to use cruise control, until you can control the heavy foot. Otherwise the feather technique would be best and to watch the DIC.

SlavO · March 8, 2016

Well i live in Maryland it gets a little cold here... i remote start every morning for 7 too 10 min depending on the temperature outside. Truck has 2.5 level 275/60/20 bfg ko2 little tune for tire sive. 200 pounds of stuff always in the bed. And i use CC All the time it's like a game for me. I always have the info setting on the transmission temp setting in the AM i don't drive hard or fast to its over 100 degrees

last time it had a bath... 5.3 4x4 3.42 6.5 bed cc