Why does a car air conditioner make it use more gasoline?

Question

Dosn't it run off the alternater or belt why such a difference in gas useage?

Answer 1

your engine turns all your accessories with a belt your alternator, power steering pump, and yes your air conditioning compressor, when not on the compressor is spinning free but when you turn on your a/c it engages the clutch in the pump and causes drag on the engine (that is why your RPM's drop on your tachometer) requiring it to work harder to turn the pump and get the same speed out of your car so there for it uses more gas. it would be like trying to push a shopping cart with a good wheel then the wheel locks up and is harder to turn resulting in you having to work harder to push the cart. as for the guy above I'm guessing he works for GM as a janitor with that load of bull about expansion of gasoline a gallon is a gallon of gas if it expanded an contracted so much how come the gas can in my garage doesn't fill and shrink through the year because of temperature not saying it doesn't because most fluid is effected buy temp just not to the degree he is saying, besides that gasoline takes are buried below the freeze line in the ground where it is a constant temperature year round should have paid attention in school.

Answer 2

AC compressors kick in and out all yr round. When ya got the defrosters on in the winter ,it's off and on to dry out the interior. What causes fuel consumption in the summer mo. is expansion of gasoline when ya pump it in the tank.So ya get less There is currently some lawsiuts against Gas companies to put compensators on the pump because of this. They have them in Canada because the colder the temp the more compressed a gallon of gas is

Answer 3

quickly answer to a humorous question... no longer immediately. Yor automobile engine's rigidity belt turns a compressor that in truth runs your air conditioner. an electric powered motor turns the compressor at your house of living A/C. to boost your question, your automobile makes use of extra gas once you run your air conditioner...yet no longer all that plenty. Your A/C reasons somewhat extra drag on your engine (extra on a smaller engine than a much bigger one). So, in an oblique way, it does take gas to run your automobile A/C !

Answer 4

It causes the increase in fuel consumption because when you turn on your AC, an electric clutch engages the compressor, which places an increased load on your engine, which causes your engine to consume more fuel, whether it's on a 1957 Chevy, or a 2007 Chevy, it still uses more fuel to drive with your AC on, than it does with it off, probably an average of about 3-4 mpg, try driving along at a steady speed with your AC on, then without changing your speed or throttle position at all, turn the AC switch off, you WILL feel a slight surge in power, I gaurantee it, hope this helps to to put any other foolish myths to rest, and I hope this answers your question.
George

Answer 5

Our engine consumes more gasoline to provide mechanical power the air conditioner compressor, and alternator.

Alternator merely provide electrical power to engage/disengage air conditioner compressor.

The difference in usage is from stop traffic, or traffic jam. Engine burning gasoline to run air conditioner, and car not moving.

Answer 6

I just got freon put in my car today. First time i've used the ac since I bought the car. Its a 1995 Eclipse. And its my first car. But yeah. I usually drive with the windows down and now i have ac. Well. After I got it put it and tunre dit on. My car took off slower than normal. With the windows, it took off quick. And with the ac on, it didn't take off as fast

Answer 7

Because you are asking the engine to do more work. It takes energy to compress the freon gas to a liquid and then let it expand by pushing it through a nozzle to cool the heat exchanger. The more work you ask of the engine the more fuel it will take to do the work. good luck.

Answer 8

i've heard that using a/c is more effient. if your windows are up like when using a/c the it is easier for the car to maintain the desired speed(like when using cruise control) because there isn't any wind coming in the windows to create "drag". it is a myth.

Answer 9

you've been talkin to people that havent got a clue,huh!? just run your a/c, bet you dont see even a small difference in your mpg, yea maybe back in 1958,when it took 20 hp to run the compressor,cause the technoligy was that bad, wish that myth would just die!!!!