does using your air con in a car waste petrol?

Answer 1

Driving with your windows down and the air conditioning off consumes less petrol than having the windows up and the air conditioner running. This is absolutely true - that is, when you're cruising around town.

"When you're driving across town, in stop-and-go traffic," says Frank Hampshire, director of market research with the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, or AASA, "it's more fuel efficient to drive with the air conditioning off, windows down."

"But as your speed increases to 45 mph, or highway speeds," says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, "wind drag becomes an issue. Driving with the windows down increases the drag on your vehicle, resulting in decreased fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Drive at speeds over 55 mph with windows down and you'll decrease fuel economy by up to 20 percent or greater."

Answer 2

Yes, using the air does waste petrol. HOWEVER, I watched on the news type program last week that driving with your windows down uses more petrol. When the windows are down, wind will come into the car and cause a drag--which needs more petrol to move because in a sense the car is heavier.

Answer 3

Yes, it has a measureable negative effect on fuel economy. Having all the windows down can also affect fuel economy by making the vehicle less fuel efficient, but this is far less of a change than running the air conditioning. A great deal of the impact depends upon the vehicle itself, as a large fuel efficient SUV (the kind sold in America) would have less of an affect becuase it is already such a fuel hog. Smaller cars, specifically with smaller engines tend to be more sensitive to this, like my Volkswagen Golf. If you are asking about petrol as opposed to gas, my guess is you are over in Europe and likely drive someting smaller. Use the air conditioning as little as possible for better economy, but don't give yourself heat stroke driving a car around in 35 degree weather! (That's close to a hundred Fahrenheit, I think)

Answer 4

Is it a waste thats up to you.....
We can only tell you wether it uses petrol or no, is it a waste thats up to you to decide.........!!!
Well keeping the AC on uses less Petrol if you are driving at a speed, because the windows down will let more air come in and put a pressure on your car and ultimately your car's engine.... Which uses more petrol than the AC on....
And if you are driving in the city at slow speeds, then AC consumes more petrol than the windows down....

Answer 5

Agree, it uses more petrol.

However, if you switch it of you should try and run it about once a month to keep everything working/moving - or you could be facing a big bill to service the air con. This is common in garages in spring time when people have left the air con off all winter.

Answer 6

You will need additional power to run the air con, so if you drive at the same speed after turning it on you will use more fuel, if you drive a little slower you willl obviously not use as much.
The same is true when you turn your headlights on, even though your headlamps are running on battery power, the alternator will work harder to make up the difference and recharge the battery.

Answer 7

Yes it wastes gas. You are running a compressor which puts a drag on your engine. You will usually lose 2 or 3 miles per gallon with the ac on. Cars with smaller engines suffer a larger mpg drop than cars with larger V6 and V8 engines.

Answer 8

Yes using your air conditioner puts more strain on the engine, so it has to use more gas to give you cold air.

Opening your windows also takes more gas, because the air no longer goes around you car, It creates drag and forces your car to work harder to go the same speed.

Answer 9

It does increase fuel consumption however opening your windows increases drag (air resistance of car) which also leads to a fuel consumption increase. You decide whether this is a waste or not though i.e. if you need the AC or not!

Answer 10

Anything you use in your car from the air con to the radio uses amps which in turn makes your car work harder and thus uses more fuel.