2006-07-30 15:40:43 · 16 answers · asked by pedro9919 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Commuting
I've never seen the Myth Busters episode you're other answerwers are talking about, but my dad INSISTS the gas mileage is better with the a/c on and windows up. He reads Consumer Reports a lot....he could have got that info from them, who knows.
2006-07-30 15:45:04 · answer #1 · answered by Left Footed 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With all the miles I drive to get to work and back home every day, for 7 years, I have tried this experiment quite a few times with my 98 Subaru Outback, and I see no difference between a/c on and windows up and a/c off and windows down.
My car gets about 28 MPG. The biggest improvement of gas mileage on my car is driving 5 to 10 MPH below the speed limit of 70 MPH. I've added as much as 3 MPG doing this but created a few bottlenecks behind me on the highway. The biggest killer of gas mileage, for me, is winter driving (Michigan winters). My mileage has dropped as low as 23 MPG on extremely cold weeks.
2006-07-30 21:07:46 · answer #2 · answered by Howard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a question complex enough to have had scientific studies done on it, but the simple answer is that unless you own an SUV, turning off the A/C doesn't save enough gas to sweat the difference. The situation improves at highway speeds where the car's engine is running fast enough to provide more of the energy needed to power the system.
2006-07-30 20:03:38 · answer #3 · answered by Omar Y. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For speeds of 40mph and under, ride with windows down (assuming of course, you can take the heat). For speeds above 40mph, it is more efficient on gas to use the AC because the wind drag will slow you down. Also, be sure to check the air in your tires, as low air will also waste a lot of gas!
2006-07-30 15:43:27 · answer #4 · answered by Solvinia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i took a road trip this past summer, i drove 1000 miles with the windows down and got better gas milage than when i drove back with the windows up and ac on. the difference isn't huge but there is a difference.
2006-07-30 15:45:40 · answer #5 · answered by paluzzi81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, windows down is better.You see the A/C bogs down the engine ,its as if you were carrying a car with extra cargo in it.You see there is a compressor which the engine has to power,that's the problem.Windows down does impact gas consumption,but the A/C is worse.
2006-07-30 16:02:53 · answer #6 · answered by sean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
supposidly, up to 35/40 mph, it is better to drive with the windows down. Anything past 40 mph it is best to have windows up and AC on.
2006-07-30 15:43:11 · answer #7 · answered by vail2073 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it is worse for your car because your engine has to work harder...the reason is because you have so much resistance hitting the car with the windows down that it actually slows you down..you are better off using your ac because that does not slow your car down and often it works a lot better at cooling off the car...
2006-07-30 15:43:16 · answer #8 · answered by EvEl_LiL_kArEbEaR 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pedro this is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Did you know that a can of soda is much more expensive than gas? Of course you did but how often do we gauge value on goods and services on a wobbly scale...
2006-07-30 15:48:49 · answer #9 · answered by brian s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've read in a few different places that it's the same either way. Might as well be comfortable with the AC.
2006-07-30 15:48:43 · answer #10 · answered by Skylark 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋