Fuel Saving Tips

Deactivate Cruise Control on Steep Downgrades

Newer cruise control functions will actually hit the brakes to maintain set speed if you begin to accelerate down a steep hill, so that steep downgrade that you think is really going to help your MPGs could be only helping a little. Turn your cruise control off if you think the grade is steep enough. Remember, the faster you have the cruise set to, the lesser chance you have of this happening, as drag naturally increases with speed, which will require your engine to maintain that speed even when going down the hill. The slower your cruising speed equals a greater chance that your car will pick up steam going down that hill.