Which decreases the fuel efficiency of your car more?
October 1, 2009 in Other - Cars & Transportation
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Ooze90 asked:
Which decreases the fuel efficiency of your car more: Driving with the windows down (and therefore increasing air drag on your car), or using the Air Conditioning (and therefore diverting potential energy away from your engine)?
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
Tests have shown the difference is minimal unless you are driving at high speeds with all the windows open.
Windows down on city streets and AC on the freeway
air conditioning
Running your air conditioning will utilize a lot of energy that could be spent in your engine running more efficiently. Keep your car well tuned up, use full synthetic oil and get your wheels rotated/car balanced every 2 years at most.
I have heard it is about the same either way.
Dirty air filter and some car maintenance. You might want to get it tuned to get a better gas mileage.
The air-con is usually belt-driven from the engine. It tends to drain power -and quite a lot- whether on or off.
In the long run, modern cars are more efficient with the windows closed and the A/C running on low to medium strength at speeds of 50-70mph for at least a few minutes.
1. Do not floor the gas every time a light changes to green.
2. Over 50 mph use the vent air, do not open the windows more that 2″.
3. Do not leave your car running.
4. If your are going downhill use your momentum.
I JUST read an article on this. I will look for it for you. They found that it didn’t make much difference either way because cars these days are very aerodynamic and the ac is efficient. If you have a really old vehicle maybe it would matter more.
Anyone with digital dash that tells you the exact mileage every second, will tell you, using AC uses more gas than having your windows down.
duhhhh mmmm aaaaa-[which therefore makes me feel drunker.] Or, [and and and ahh ahh ahh ya know what i mean? ya know what i mean? ya know what i mean?.] which therefore really annoys you.
windows down saves gas at city speeds, but on the highway, the ac actually saves fuel because having the windows down creates drag.
air con uses 3 brake horse power approx extra when on
windows open increase drag the faster you go