Just wondering. If it depends on highway or secondary road speeds, then please include that in the answer. Thanks!
2006-07-31 14:40:21 · 9 answers · asked by indian drummer 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
On the highway, it is actually more fuel efficient to run your A/C instead of rolling down windows due to the aerodynamics of the vehicle and the constant speed.
In the city, it is better to have the windows down, because when you are taking off from a stop, the A/C takes a little of the power of the engine down. Therefore, you have to stomp on the petal a little harder to get the same pickup you would if you did not have the A/C on (which uses more gas).
On cars built today, the effect of having the A/C effecting your mileage is much less than 10+ years ago.
2006-07-31 15:02:37 · answer #1 · answered by Stupid Flanders 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Either speed range with the A/C OFF the car will be more fuel-efficient. To turn the A/C compressor the engine needs to work harder and for this it needs more fuel. But, if it's a large car or truck with big engine, the difference in the fuel economy will be very small. If it's a small car the difference will be notable. They say at highway speed the car is more efficient with the A/C ON, but in fact just last week I did measure gas mileage of my car with a/c on and off and I got 27mpg without AC and 25mpg with A/C on highway
2006-07-31 21:53:19 · answer #2 · answered by svthech 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With the price of gas is there such a thing as gas efficient? Granted the AC uses more energy, but let's focus on comfort. With the heat index approaching 120 degrees. I don't give a damn if I have to fill my tank up daily!! Use the AC...your body will thank you in the long run. Be grateful that you aren't one those miserable souls who has no choice but to roll down the window.
2006-07-31 21:49:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In stop and go city driving, its more efficient to leave the windows open. At highway speed, the AC is more efficient.
The faster you go, the more efficient the AC gets, as the drag on the car increases as the square of the speed (ie, at 40 mph, you have four times the drag as at 20 mph, and at 80 mph you have 16x the drag as at 20 mph). Leaving the windows open significantly increases drag at high speeds, but not at city driving speeds.
The TV show MythBusters tested it, and they said that the windows open scenario was more efficient - but their test was seriously flawed. First of all, they used two different (but identical)vehicles (SUV's with poor coefficient of drag) and two different drivers, only one test run, and their speed was only (I think) 40 mph.
2006-07-31 21:51:45 · answer #4 · answered by astarpilot2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AC on the highway is fine..it doesnt eat much gas
in town roll your windows down..ac eats more gas intown driving
2006-07-31 21:55:07 · answer #5 · answered by mommy2savannah51405 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AC eats gas. The windows will cause a slight decrease in mileage, but nothing like the AC does.
2006-07-31 21:44:35 · answer #6 · answered by fishing66833 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ofcourse ac sip ur gas! rolling down the windows is less but your speed is affected. i think if your just cruising and cold weather just put your windows down and its hot then you dont have choice but turn on your AC. and if you like in nascar dn open your window little bit that only small air comes in. and you really feel your engines capacity
2006-07-31 21:53:44 · answer #7 · answered by Vance C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the highway, going a steady speed, it's better to have the a/c on.
2006-07-31 21:44:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nikkis a dork
2006-07-31 21:55:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋