and open up the windows instead?
2007-05-16 12:31:18 · 19 answers · asked by Mr. Al 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Consumer Reports says no (link below).
In reality there might be some savings, as the power to turn the compressor comes from your engine. But you can save a lot more by driving more conservatively, avoiding lots of quick starts and stops.
2007-05-16 12:39:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Results from various experiments have shown that opening windows leads to an increase of drag resistance. (Another thing that will cause a reduction in mileage)
From most testing that I've seen and read, a speed of 45 is the break point for most vehicles. Travel less than 45mph, open windows will save more gas, travel more than 45mph close windows and use the A/C will save more gas. They did a whole experimental show on Mythbusters, where the vehicles were travelling 55mph and showed that the vehicle with the A/C on actually travelled about 40 miles further than the vehicle with the windows opened.
Of course, travel with windows up and No A/C will save the most gas, if you can tolerate the heat.
Even travelling with the A/C on at lower speeds, the gas usage is typically small. Somewhere on the order of 10% fewer miles if you use the A/C as opposed to not using theA/C. My wife and I drive the same car and I don't use the A/C to save gas. She can't live with out the A/C on in her car. Her car gets about 26-28 miles per gallon. My car gets 30-32 miles per gallon.
So the savings is only about 3 miles per gallon every 30 miles.
Easiest way to test is run some experiments on your own car
2007-05-16 19:35:02 · answer #2 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nope, because the open windows creates drag and will make your car have to work harder. Also newer cars have the A/C running almost all the time. Even when you do not turn it on the A/C unit is still spinning because it is spinning off the same drive belt that runs the rest of your car. You will only conserve gas if your windows are up and your a/c is off, but the difference is not as much as you would think.
2007-05-16 19:37:34 · answer #3 · answered by Drake 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes and No :)
At speeds below 30mph, the window down and A/C off is more fuel efficient
At speeds above 30mpg, the drag from the open window will use more gas then the A/C, so the A/C is more fuel efficient.
The speeds are ballpark figures and vary a bit by vehicle, but overall they should be correct.
2007-05-16 19:34:57 · answer #4 · answered by Sky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wind drag caused by opening your windows will decrease your gas efficiency more than using the air conditioner
2007-05-16 19:34:43 · answer #5 · answered by Meridianhawk42 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO, open windows create drag, and it does not use more gas to run the ac, check out the report that was run today on yahoo, it tells you the myths that people believe will save them money when it comes to gas consumption.
2007-05-16 19:35:33 · answer #6 · answered by Angelbaby7 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
NO, not with the windows open u get the best MPG with the windows closed and use A/C on low setting
2007-05-16 19:35:26 · answer #7 · answered by chrisItux 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not unless your air conditioner is a gas one.
I have never seen a gas air conditioner in a car before.
2007-05-16 19:42:54 · answer #8 · answered by Angell 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you won't, especially not at highway speed. The link below actually has some pretty useful info about gas-saving "myths".
2007-05-16 19:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by gryffindorgrad91 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The TV show mythbusters did a test on that subject. There was no large difference.
It was episode #22
2007-05-16 19:47:12 · answer #10 · answered by R1volta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋