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I have always heard that running a car's air conditioner will use more gas. I never really understood why it would. Is this true or false.

2007-03-13 21:39:14 · 19 answers · asked by bartmcqueary 3 in Cars & Transportation Maintenance & Repairs

19 answers

Yes, true. BUT it will use less gas than you would driving say on the freeway with open windows.

Best wishes, use as needed!

"/JOe

2007-03-13 22:03:51 · answer #1 · answered by "/ J()€ 5 · 0 0

Ac works this way - a belt off the main motor turns a compressor flywheel. This belt always is moving, however when you turn on the compressor (AC on) you increase the resistance to the flywheel. This adds a small load to the engine, about the same as going up a small hill slowly. The more the AC cycles the more the load varies on the engine. Some engines do not feel the compressor load much at all and some do.

I had a small ford festiva that was so small inside it took no time to cool it and maitain the cool. My ranger Pick is about the same. However my Chy voyager takes forever to cool down due to the volume. Thus there is a constant (high) load on the engine. This is also related to if you are running down the highway or doing stop and go driving. (less load to more load)

Bottom line is my ranger get 25mpg no matter what - the Chrysler gets 17 -24 depending on which way the wind blows.

2007-03-13 21:55:21 · answer #2 · answered by Carl P 7 · 0 0

Generally yes.

This is because the power for everything comes from the engine converting chemical energy to mechanical, running the belt, which runs the alternator, which converts mechanical energy to electrical, stored in the battery, which supplies electricity to everything else.

If your alternator dies, you can typically run your car off of just battery for an hour and a half, plus or minus.

With the AC running there is a fan that needs to get power to run it. The sole source of power is the motor, (stored in the battery), so that to maintain the same road speed, with AC on, you will need to use more gas to keep up the engine RPMs.

On my old oldsmobile that puppy used to draw a LOT of power when the AC was on.

So when we were driving down the road, doing 55 or so, and needed to pass someone, I'd call to my wife, "Chewie, Lock in Auxiliary Power!" she'd slap off the AC, and we'd zoom forward at 65, and have enough speed to pass the car in front of us. When we'd cut on the AC again, the car would slow up a lot.

2007-03-13 21:56:46 · answer #3 · answered by A Military Veteran 5 · 0 0

It's a many part answer but I will try to explain.
When you start your car,it is the battery that provides the current,the alternator will recharge the battery in a few seconds,now,when you turn your headlights on you may notice that the rpm's will go down slightly,this is because your alternator is supplying current to recharge your battery as the lights are using power,.
When you turn on the aircon,your motor should accelerate slighly by itself,this is caused by an electronic valve and is normal.
The aircon is driven by a compressor which is driven by a belt from your motor thereby making your motor work harder as it has to drive the aircon and all the other electrics on your car.
Now,the faster a motor turns (rpm)the more fuel it uses,driving with the windows down also increases fuel consumption slightly as it create pressure inside the car and the motor has to do that little bit more to keep the same speed.
Any resistance as in luggage racks etc.will also contribute to an increase in fuel consumption

2007-03-13 21:52:53 · answer #4 · answered by Rough 2 · 1 0

It is true. It is an extra load on the engine turning the compressor for the air conditioner. It is sort of like going up a slight up hill grade as opposed to a flat surface.

2007-03-13 21:43:55 · answer #5 · answered by don n 6 · 0 0

Yes it is true
the air conditioner (compressor) runs off of the power supplied by the car's motor--- this "drag" or "load" takes
from the overall horsepower and causes the motor to
require more fuel to supply the added power for an
equivalent performance !!

2007-03-13 21:52:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

The deal is you can't put any load on your engine without an increase in fuel consumption. Working harder requires increased fuel need. You don't get something for nothing-that's somekind of Law in physics.Demand (load)is gonna be on the other side of the equation, inversely related to fuel.

In truth, there are a whole lot of other factors that affect fuel usage to run the ac. There may be conditions/situations wherein the additional fuel required is minimalized, but never negated entirely.

2007-03-13 21:54:49 · answer #7 · answered by omnisource 6 · 1 0

It's true. Power is derived in a car from burning gas. Therefor, the more accessories you use while driving, you use more power and more gas. More importantly though, the car's engine is working harder at a warmer temp when you use the air conditioner. That's why it can cause cars to overheat in the summer.

2007-03-13 21:53:58 · answer #8 · answered by monica_mclane 2 · 0 1

It does use a little more gas to run the compressor. However the saving are small and are out weighed by the $500 you paid extra for the privlage of having it in your car

2007-03-13 21:43:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

yes, it takes energy to seperate hot air from cold air -- just like a refrigerator requires electricity (and all of the energy in a car comes from gas)

2007-03-13 21:42:53 · answer #10 · answered by contemplating 5 · 0 1

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