Do you waste gas when using the air condition in your car?

Question

I keep getting told from friends and family that you and you don't!!! Im just trying to save gas here so someone please help!!!

Answer 1

If you drive in the city, it can use up to 15% of your fuel cost. Driving on the highway gets more interesting. Drive with the windows down and you will use more gas than driving with the A/C on. This is because the aerodynamic efficiency of your ride has been reduced (wind resistance). I get 30 miles to the gallon going 70 with the A/C on; but it drops down to 17 miles to the gallon in the city with it on.
I would try and tolerate the heat as much as possible in the city; but use the A/C when cruising. Making sure that it's charged and otherwise maintained will allow you to keep cool and save money on gas. Personally, I drive with the A/C on and just drive a little slower. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You consume more gas by using the air conditioning. Part of the air conditioning system is a pump which compresses the gas inside the system. This compressor is driven by drive belt from the engine's crankshaft. This places an additional load on the engine, causing it to consume more fuel.

I use the term consume instead of waste as if the climate is excessively hot, I do not consider this a waste.

You should also be aware that on most modern automotive air conditioning systems, the air conditioner and compressor are activated whenever you use the windshield defrosters above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer 4

In some procedures, the two are correct. Your dad's carry close of physics is right- there is not any "loose ability." the warmth interior the vehicle is extra warmth from the motor and the air that blows from the heater comes from the battery. it incredibly is genuine. How lots *better* gas you employ by ability of blowing air around the heater center is definitely minimum. you employ "better" electrical energy once you play the radio or use your lighting fixtures or ability abode windows. on a similar time because it incredibly is technically "better," the quantity is negligible. So blowing warm air does use better gas, however the quantity is so minimum that no person concerns approximately it. The air conditioner is yet another rely. once you turn on the A/C, you do 2 issues- you get air from a blower (like the heater) and you have interaction a grab that the motor drives, powering the freon pump. How lots "better" gas you employ relies upon on your automobile and different mileage aspects. i might say in case you employ the A/C over one hundred miles, you ought to assume a a million-2 mpg drop. Is it a "waste?" That relies upon on your subjective judgment. Staying gentle has a value. So using greater gas is right, even though it relies upon on your very own determination to apply that better little bit of gas to stay gentle. each little thing has a value. permit's say it takes you 2 hours to force that one hundred miles. And your automobile gets 25 mpg. So instead of using 4.0 gallons, you employ 4.a million gallons. At right this moment's expenses, it incredibly is an added $0.40 you're using (i do no longer' like "waste.") Is it extremely worth $0.20/hour to be gentle? you're able to do some easy issues to make specific you do no longer "waste" gas. Air up your tires to the counseled max. do no longer do unnecessarily speedy acceleration. cut back your cruising velocity. Plan your using so which you do no longer make unneeded journeys. And on a similar time as no longer a gas-saving interest, procuring for inexpensive gas is a money-saving benefit. while you're a functional driving force, burning only a sprint better gas won't be "dropping" gas. Take care!!!

Answer 5

When you turn on the AC you engage a small compressor which is powered by the accessory belt off the engine, so yes your engine has to work slightly harder, the question is will opening the windows on the highway cause more aerodynamic drag than you save by turning off the AC? I saw a show on this, and at about 50-55mph you reach a break even point after which its more efficient to run the AC. So in the city you might save a slight amount of gas by opening the windows, on the highway run the AC.

Answer 6

I read a study once, years ago, and don't ask for the source because I can't remember it, but they said that you used the same amount of gas running the a/c as you did not running it but with the window down. Apparently the window being down created enough of a wind drag to equal what the a/c drained when in use.

I think it was in a Car & Driver magazine. It was some car mag, I was big into muscle cars back then.

Answer 7

I'm no car buff by a long shot, but I can tell you that my little 6 gallon tank flies to empty at astounding speeds when I run my AC. I paid 700 bucks to get the compressor replaced in my car just to get it working, and now I never even turn it on because of the gas problem. I'm sure cars with larger gas tanks wouldn't notice much of a dramatic difference.

Answer 8

Yes you do, but not much. If you use your windows for cool air it makes your car work much harder and more gas to go the same speed so your using more gas. So use your air condition in your car

Answer 9

This is what I've heard. When you use your a/c, it does use gas....but the drag of your car caused by your windows being down actually uses more gas than just using the a/c. I can't verify this is true, but my uncle is a mechanic and that's where I got my info.

Answer 10

Yes your car does use more gas with ac on but at the same time having your window down to stay cool but more wind drag from having you window down also uses more gas so I would say if its 60 or 70 deg ouside put your window down if its 90 turn your ac on there both going to use gas.