Auto ACs use only electricity. But how come they cause more gas consumption?

Question

Just wondered...

Answer 1

Auto ACs use only electricity.This statement is FALSE. An auto AC unit has a compressor that is driven by a belt that uses the power of the motor to turn and therefore diminishes the gas mileage of the auto when the compressor is engaged.

Answer 2

Ac compressors are driven by a belt. The ac clutch is acivated by electricity. The ac pump needs between 8 and 11 horsepower to to operate, thus causing less gas mielage.

Answer 3

The only electricity the A/C would use would be that small amount to engage the clutch on the compressor, which allows it to be driven by the engine of the vehicle with the belt. Why do you think they use "only electricity"?

The amount of fuel used to turn the compressor is small, certainly not enough to be concerned about.

Answer 4

How about that 4 hp draw that is driven with a fan belt under the hood? A/C compressor pumps R-134 freon to expand in the in car part Evaporator to cause heat to be moved out of the interior that is then pumped to the condensor in front of the radatior where heat is removed.

Answer 5

Just like anything that draws off of the engine, it takes up power. You lose power when the engine runs the fan, you lose power even through the water pump! These accessories are always "on" and running but if they could be turned off and on, it would be felt literally through the vehicle and the body, and you would notice over a period of time the better fuel mileage. But these accessories are always on and running so we don't get to see the contrast between them either being on or shut down like the A/C compressor can be. A/C compressors take a lot of extra power to run them, as one can notice when they are switched on and off. I hope this somewhat helps, although I don't have the technical stats on how much power it takes to run them.

Answer 6

Drive around with your lights on, wipers and heated screen on, and a/c off, see if there is any difference in fuel consumption, all the electrics on your car make the alternator work harder and that is what burns more fuel, the rev's go up to keep the battery topped up.

Answer 7

i do no longer think the difficulty is you're cap. If it have been, the sunshine would come on for all time inspite of an entire tank. The EVAP (gasoline evaporation gadget) tries to hold all gasoline fumes in the gasoline tank gadget. It video show gadgets for leaks each time you force by using pressurizing the tank with a small quantity of air tension and seeing if it bleeds down. If it leaks off tension rapid, it provides a code of a huge leak. If it takes much less time, it incredibly is a small leak. rather some the minivans that year had issues of rubber hoses splitting inflicting leaks in the gadget. seek for a leak in a particular hose going bypass into opposite the the terrific option area of the van's inner finder in basic terms below the hood. you may would desire to sense it with you're arms. it incredibly is a plastic hose and the place it splices to a different hose, the rubber connector is undesirable approximately splitting. If this tests ok, you may would desire to take it to a broker. they have knowledgeable techs. that use a smoke gadget to locate the leak and to visual show unit the gadget to be sure it incredibly is mounted after the restoration. i won't be able to remember what that year's guarantee had on EVAP platforms, yet i believe it replaced into 10 years or one hundred,000 mile guarantee. verify it out and spot.

Answer 8

because the compessor is belt driven fom the motor crank.The compressors resistance depends on the make to level fuel efficiency but thats pretty much why..

Answer 9

they are belt driven, which puts more load on the engine and makes it work harder. the harder the engine has to work, the more gas it uses.