2007-03-05 17:28:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Turning off the AC will conserve gas. The AC compressor cycles off and on and while it's "on" it's creating a significant drag on the engine.
Turning off the heat doesn't do a thing. The heat is just excess engine heat that is used to warm the car's interior. One might argue that it cools down the motor and might cause some emission's problems, but that's more theory than fact.
And lastly in practice I agree with everyone else that the radio does not effect gas mileage. However all electrical components of the auto run off the alternator. The more current being drawn causes the alternator to create more drag on the engine. But this drag is insignificant and will not be noticed.
2007-03-05 17:47:05 · answer #1 · answered by phoenix_sfo 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The radio draws insignificant power. The AC on the other hand does take a lot of power to run, and power takes gas, but in most cases on the highway it is more fuel efficient to be using the AC than have the windows down because of aerodynamics. Actually the heater should HELP fuel effencincy (though just a tiny insignificant bit), VS having the vent on at the same setting, because you are cooling the engine, it is turning the radiator fans on less. ALSO: of course the radio uses a little gas by loading the alternator. In fact if your car has a technometer, turn off everything electrical, then turn everything on suddenly at the same time (Headlights, brakelights, blower) and you will see the engine speed dip momentarly, before the computer corrects it By adding more air and fuel. A trick for the AC is to turn it on for a few seconds then off for several minunts, Makes a great comprimise. Also your car won't heat up as fast with window tint, permiting you can have the AC off more often.
2007-03-05 17:39:02 · answer #2 · answered by doyou 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Radio, no, heat no, AC yes quite a bit actually.
Mythbusters did a bit on this and the AC is still more considerably more inefficient than the drag created by windows down at highway speeds, they didn't test freeway speeds though.
2007-03-05 19:28:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
just putting around town, the a/c does use more gas. roll down the windows. if your on the highway, the drag from your windows being down wastes more gas then the a/c being on. the radio does put a very very slight drag on the alternator which might effect your gas milage so little you will never notice. now other appliances like the head lights and blower might make a small difference
2007-03-05 18:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by Tony B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Turning off electrical devices won't affect your gas mileage at all. Some of the newer A/C units place such a low drag on your engine that you won't notice much difference there either.
2007-03-05 17:37:42 · answer #5 · answered by afreshpath_admin 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
turning off any electrical equipment like the radio wont affect it,
but the air conditioner runs a compessor that pulls down the engine and will use more gas
2007-03-05 17:33:55 · answer #6 · answered by ViperMax 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Radio NO... because it is electric, has no effect on a gas engine.
AC - Yes.... because your engine is turning the compressor and will use more gas.
2007-03-05 18:56:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
radio has no effect on gas, but AC does, but it's not very significant.
2007-03-05 18:03:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A/C, yes. Others, no.
2007-03-06 08:51:33 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋