okay well me and my friends had an arguement on wat wastes more gas the heater or the air conditioner which one wastes more gas cuz its really confusing me
2006-11-09 12:41:45 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
I don't know the scientific reason behind it, but I notice a difference in my mileage when I use the air conditioner (less gas mileage) but never when I use my heater.
2006-11-09 12:50:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The air conditioner wastes more gasoline, hands down.
Turning the heater on uses heat energy all ready stored in your cars coolant system to warm the air in the cabin. This is why your heater does not work until the car has been running for a few minutes. This energy is all in the car if you use or or not.
The A/C on the other hand activates a compressor which requires more electricity from your cars alternator to run. The energy to power the compressor has to be converted by the alternator, making your motor work harder. Some cars also have an additional fan that turns on with the A/C to help keep the alternator cool as it too works harder. This fan also draws power though, creating an even greater load for your motor.
If you wanted to test this, let your car run for a minute or two until its at its normal idle RPM. When you click the A/C on you will most likely see the RPMs on the tach increase. This is your motor compensating for the additional work it is doing by increasing the rate at which it works (RPM).
Sorry for sounding like a science teacher, hope this helps and lets you shut your friend up =)
2006-11-09 12:51:39 · answer #2 · answered by xturboexpress 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The air conditioner - it utilizes power to run while the heater just takes heat from the engine block.
2006-11-09 12:44:16 · answer #3 · answered by brooklyncpl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heater uses no gas, it would definately be the air conditioner.
2006-11-09 12:45:11 · answer #4 · answered by Mustang Sally 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends... in the winter when using the defroster setting it will also engage the A/C compressor. so it will also use as much gas as the A/C in the summer. the reason for this is to keep the refridgerent which also contains a lubricant cycling
2006-11-09 13:17:58 · answer #5 · answered by thumpmaster3369 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well let see a plugged fuel filter-lack of maintenance; dirty injection system- catylitic converter plugged on your exhaust-bad gas- spark plugs that need to be replaced will also eat up the gas-
2006-11-09 12:45:35 · answer #6 · answered by Peachy2 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋