Cruise Control on Wet Roads - True or Myth

[genebaby]

Happened in my XF Ghia, but my friend was driving it and he was not used to the fairly aggressive way the cruise would try to build up speed. Happened to be a bit drizzly, going up a slight incline on the way to Sydney. Car went sideways, luckily nobody was coming the other way at the time. Funny afterwards, but not at the time.

No problems with it in the BA but I can't remember using it in the wet really.

[outback_ute]

I think it is a fair call Norm, as people have stated above. I have experienced a couple of scenarios that validate the "trigger" conditions for me.

1. Hitting a deep puddle slows the car down. Regardless of aquaplaning issues, it is like putting the brakes on. The most recent example I experienced was driving along a road in the dry and coming across a small section of water over the road in a dip. It wasn't enough to cause any loss of control but did knock a few km/h off the car's speed, which would be enough for the cruise control to call for acceleration.

2. Hill and corner combination. Again this was in the dry, going up a short yet sharp hill with a bend over the top, the reduction in speed triggered a burst of acceleration just when I didn't really need it turning into the corner.

I don't have a drama using the cruise control in normal rainy conditions but obviously you need to be aware of the road conditions just as you do if not using cruise control. The difference is the behaviour of the cruise control is another factor to be aware of.

[Agent86]

Originally Posted by MO

Perhaps ppl should learn to drive..not steer!!!!!!

I find this vaguley insulting and a very broad comment that has no use other than to show ignorance.

Im a professional driver ( semi ) after 14 hours of Battling traffic around melbournes roads, its somewhat of a relief to be able to whack the crusie on and dawdle home.

I can drive, and i'll happily prove that to anyone.
May not be an UBER driver, but im good enough.

[TwistedEL]

I use cruise control when the roads are wet, but not when there are puddles or the rain is seriously coming down.

If you have any doubt that it could happen just slip your auto into neutral next time you have cruise engaged...

[MO]

Originally Posted by AceofSpades

I find this vaguley insulting and a very broad comment that has no use other than to show ignorance.

Im a professional driver ( semi ) after 14 hours of Battling traffic around melbournes roads, its somewhat of a relief to be able to whack the crusie on and dawdle home.

I can drive, and i'll happily prove that to anyone.
May not be an UBER driver, but im good enough.

AND YOU missed the point these days the young are taught how to get a license....not how to drive.

BIG BAD MISTAKE!!!!

[xtremerus]

If you use the cruise control as the name suggests,that is, when cruising, there is no problem, wet or dry. The scenario of going fast into an uphill corner in the wet in an auto car can have problems of changing down a gear whether cruise is on or off.
Cruise Control systems do not snap the throttle open when it detects the speed decreasing. They seem to react quite slowly. Aquaplaning in a few puddles does not give enough time for the cruise control to react.

My 2 cents worth.

[MO]

And using cc costs you in petrol...it uses more.

[xtremerus]

Originally Posted by MO

And using cc costs you in petrol...it uses more.

Another urban myth???
yes

[MO]

Originally Posted by xtremerus

Another urban myth???
yes

NO have proven it...

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by xtremerus

Another urban myth???
yes

You can call that busted. I’ve driven many trucks mostly fitted with CAT engines that certainly use more fuel on cruise when not on a fairly level road surface.

[xtremerus]

Originally Posted by MO

NO have proven it...

In hilly country, you may be right.
In flat western country I may be right

[MO]

Originally Posted by xtremerus

In hilly country, you may be right.
In flat western country I may be right

Wrong think about how many variable changes cc makes hills or not...think about it.

just for info lived in the Top end for 16 yrs...capiche..

[DBL15]

Originally Posted by xtremerus

If you use the cruise control as the name suggests,that is, when cruising, there is no problem, wet or dry. The scenario of going fast into an uphill corner in the wet in an auto car can have problems of changing down a gear whether cruise is on or off.
Cruise Control systems do not snap the throttle open when it detects the speed decreasing. They seem to react quite slowly. Aquaplaning in a few puddles does not give enough time for the cruise control to react.

My 2 cents worth.

ok let me tell you if the car/ute is powerful enough and you have cruise control set at a speed limit then hit the brake for any reason it turns off but stays set you hit resume cruise and it can and will break tracktion no problem at all and yes i am pushing decent RWHP but still a person not knowing what it can do would get a shock

i drive with cruise on every trip from 70km per hour to 110 km per hour wouldn't dream of having a car/ute without it

in saying I never use cruise in the wet for the aqua planning reasons all ready mentioned.

[Van D]

Yep, it's happened in our BA before. Over the crest of a hill whilst it turned, the cruise decided to kick it at just the wrong time and the back lost traction. Didn't come unstuck bad, but I can see it happening.

[Sprint347]

i will only ever use cruise crontrol on a dry, sunny day on an open road... any other application i dont feel 100% in control of the car

[Agent86]

Originally Posted by MO

AND YOU missed the point these days the young are taught how to get a license....not how to drive.

BIG BAD MISTAKE!!!!

And where did the comment of young come from?

im young (26) and i have had NO formal training and SFA informal training, even though i drive HC vehicles.

take that limited perspective and widen it.

Where, even in a prfessional driving course do they discuss in depth the ins and outs of CC?

Yes i think every driver shoudl be made to pass an advanced driving course before being allowed to retain their licence, no matter the endorsemnts on it.

I know how far cars have come in my parents and grandparents lifetimes.
They have had NO education on how the handling characteristics have changed, no instruction on the changing laws and so on.

The problem that is our roadways and its users has no easyquick solution, therefore noone wants to touch it cause the benifits might fall outside their terms in power...