I get 17.3 mpg with the air conditioner on (in town and highway) versus 18 with it off (in town and on while on the highway). Is the extra 14.7 miles per tank of gas worth not running the air conditioner? 58.8 extra miles per month? 705.6 extra miles per year?
2006-07-11 14:39:56 · 7 answers · asked by falciform 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Absolutely! On a really hot day, your only other options are driving with the windows open or sitting in the "sauna." If you normally do a lot of highway driving, driving with the windows open creates a drag that forces the engine to work harder to maintain speed. (For short trips or in city traffic, you can roll down the windows and enjoy the breeze, but on the highway, turn on the air.) Choosing the "sauna" option would also likely be more expensive, since you could end up paying doctor's bills to treat your heat exhaustion! ;-)
Finally, for myself, when I buy a car, I consider air conditioning to be no more of an "option" than brakes...but, then again, I hate being really hot!
2006-07-11 14:46:43 · answer #1 · answered by AnswerLady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my air conditioner broke a few months ago in my dodge intrepid(2001). even though it is under warranty, i do not feel like driving 30 minutes out of my way with a rowdy two year old in tow and wait 3 hours for it to get fixed...eventually i'm sure i will. but for now, rolling the windows down works. i live near savannah, GA by the way. needless to say, the heat definitely doesn't bother me!
but yes, for you, i would at least only use the AC on extremely hot days, if you are traveling with a small child or elderly person, or going on a long trip. other than that, definitely save the $$$.
2006-07-11 14:47:03 · answer #2 · answered by curious 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
operating the air conditioner does shrink gas mileage (it takes horsepower to run the air conditioner). yet driving inclusive of your homestead windows up, fantastically at street speeds takes extra skill than the air conditioner.
2016-10-14 09:19:40 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your mileage should actually be worse with your windows open then running air
2006-07-11 14:44:48 · answer #4 · answered by harleythom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
on a 98 degree day, hells yeah
2006-07-11 14:42:55 · answer #5 · answered by futurehero5200 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No if you're driving in the winter.
2006-07-11 14:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by thelordparadox 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is if you live in Texas
2006-07-11 14:43:34 · answer #7 · answered by Wendy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋