2007-03-15 14:47:11 · 12 answers · asked by terry_powerprofit 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Don't know who you have been talking too; but, the air conditioner runs off a compressor, the compressor is turned by a pulley and belt on the engine. When you turn on the air conditioner it is adding more items for the engine to turn which means the vehicle must idle up a bit more to compensate for the draw of horse power lost from pulling//turning the compressor. The only thing on a A/C that is electrical is the fan or blower motors that push air across cooled coils behind the dash board in your car. I can't get any more simpler than that.. That's how it works and that's where the extra gas come from. You want to use up even more gas than turn off the A/C and roll down the windows; Cars are designed to operate better with the windows up than when they are down due to the drag wind create passing Thu your vehicle. Understand??? Good!
2007-03-15 15:01:11 · answer #1 · answered by denfasr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first of all the electricity has to come from somewhere and running the alternator to make electricity for the blower puts a load on the engine. But the air conditioner in a car, the compressor, is run by a belt directly off the engine and adds to the load when it is working. Turn it off and save gas.
2007-03-15 14:56:59 · answer #2 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Accessories make your engine work harder, so it has to burn more gas to hold the same speed. All accessories use some level of power, but none as much as A/C. The new compressors are rotary and not as taxing on your engine. The old piston compressors really drained the power.
Over 30 mph, though, you save gas by using the A/C because the wind drag of having windows down is worse.
2007-03-15 14:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by artsy5347 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your car's A/C does not use gas but your car's engine does whenever there is more power required by belt driven motors and compressors. These include the alternator, power steering pump, A/C etc. Reduce the number of these items and you'll realize better gas mileage...if your car still runs.
2007-03-15 18:33:10 · answer #4 · answered by Griz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When A/C is turned on, the compressor is engaged which runs off of a belt. This causes parasitic drag which robs power from the engine causing it to work harder.
Running the defrost has the same effect because it runs the A/C compressor to pull the moisture out of the air.
2007-03-15 14:54:57 · answer #5 · answered by NOSSLP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They only use electricity to run the fans. The hard work (compressing the freon gas) is done by your car's engine.
Edit: Come to think of it, the electricity to run the fans also comes from your car engine via the alternator, so that takes gas too.
2007-03-15 14:55:35 · answer #6 · answered by steve.c_50 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The electricity is only used to engage the clutch on the compressor, and then the compressor is belt driven from the engine.
2007-03-15 15:11:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
from they way i understand it ...... the air conditioner is driven by a belt and the belt is driven by the motor......, when you turn the air conditioner on.... it adds a little strain or load to the motor and causes the motor to have to work harder.... so you use up a little more gas than you would if you hadnt used it at all.
2007-03-15 14:56:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the energy to create the electricity for the fans but you forgot the compressor that runs off the drive belt it creates drag on your motor its like going up a hill all the time and you neet to push the gass a little harder
2007-03-15 15:18:12 · answer #9 · answered by mobile auto repair (mr fix it) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
car a-c systems use a compressor which is powered by the belt on your engine. when the compressor is engaged (ac is on) it takes power from your engines belt to turn the compressor pulley. more load on the engine couses more fuel consumption.
2007-03-15 14:55:24 · answer #10 · answered by josh k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋