Does anyone know if, while using your air conditioning, you use MORE gas if the fan is up higher?

Question

If it doesn't matter what level the fan is on, then it would be better to blow the A/C on high till it gets really cool then turn it off to save gas.

Answer 1

It doesn't take any more gas to run the AC at low, medium or high. This is an electronic fan that is doing the air moving, the compressor is already turned on when you hit the AC button.

The idea of turning it up high to get it cold then turning it off seems logical but there is a flaw. The cold air will leak out of joints, cracks, etc in the car. If you have a trunk the lower pressure back there will suck the cold air thru the back seat. And the sun will work its wonders against that cold air as well. So after about 3-5 minutes of the AC turned off you will have to turn it back on to re-cool the car.

I have better things to do while driving then flipping the AC control back and forth every few minutes. Easy way is just put the windows up, turn on the AC how you like it and set the cruise. Cruise control will save more gas than any AC ever will use.

Answer 2

I don't think the fan pulls as near as much as the compressor on the air conditioner. I would say the fan speed has a neligable impact on fuel economy (it's not like the alternator works harder). If your gonna run the air, then just set the fan to whatever level is comfortable. If it begins to get cool, turn up the thermostat alittle so the compressor cycles, that should save a little bit on the gas.

Answer 3

Your hunch is correct. The Fan speed is electrical. It has no effect on efficiency. The most efficient thing to do is run the AC on MAX COOL high speed fan untill you are chilly, then switch to Vent and run the fan on high untill you get a tad warm. Repeat as needed.

Be sure to run the AC long enough to keep from sweating. The gasoline saved by not running the AC is not enough money to cover having to have your interior Shampooed clean because you sweat all over your seats and now it smells like an old Gym Sock in your car. Good Luck!

Answer 4

theoretically, yea your probably right, cooling yourself off then turning the AC off may save some small amount of energy. But most vehicles have a very small volume of air that is surrounded by very large windows. the rate at which the air will heat back up will have you turning your AC on and off constantly. You'd have to replace your AC sooner and any gas savings you may have seen would be offset by the repair costs of your AC

Answer 5

I've only noticed a difference when the engine is idling and you turn the fan to the highest setting. Otherwise, feel as cool as you want to be. And, of course, a more fuel-efficient car to begin with would mean less worrying about the AC. :)

Answer 6

Yep, you like an AC repairman. may be an truly grimy filter out and the coils are icing up. Do you observe ice forming on between the strains going to the unit. As reported by making use of others, the coils may be grimy or the unit is low on freon and the compressor kicks off with the aid of fact of it. the concern is, the only one you could guard is the filter out. sturdy success.

Answer 7

it dose not use a measurable amount of gas to just use the fan. what i do is turn on the A/C when it gets really cold i turn it off and turn on the fan that works and really dose not cause a difference int fuel usage

Answer 8

the fan speed has nothing to do with your gas mileage, yes you can turn your fan on high, if you want to save gas dont put it on such a low temp so your compressor does not work as long

Answer 9

i think fan speed is strictly an electrical function so will have no measurable effect on gas consumption. unless it dissapates the 'cool' faster making the compressor work harder to replace the dissapated cool