by 
anglrckx
ANSWERS: 4
-
Yes. A/Cs take up to 30% of the carburator powe, hence, gas.
-
If your windows are down you are probably getting worse fuel milage, especially at highway speeds. Areodynamics play dramaticlly into fuel mpg FYI - If your car is less than ten years old you most likely don't have a carburetor... Not too mention: The impact of the air conditioner's compressor on fuel mileage may be 10% at most on modern automobiles and that's generous, I would think.
-
Yes, it will save gas, but not all that much. It will consume about 30% at idle but once you are 'on the road' the percentage drops to about 15% and at cruising speed on the highway the tally drops to about 5%.
-
Typically if you have it, you shouldn't refrain from using it. On hot days I run mine for about 15mins, then shut it off. This cools down the air pipes and a lot of the HVAC system, which means incoming air is still being cooled. It will save gas, but in the long run it's not enough to notice. Unless you are running it day in day out in stop and go traffic, it won't be an issue. Use it when you notice your back is sweating, shut it off when your back dries up. That's pretty much what I do. You don't need a fridge, but you don't want to be boiling either. As has been stated already, shutting it off will save you anywhere from 5-10% fuel economy, but those are just stats. For me I have never noticed much of a difference at the pump whether I run the A/C or not. Basically, do what you need to do to stay alert at the wheel. A few bucks in gas is a lot cheaper than falling asleep at the wheel. One thing you should also remember is your A/C compressor is always being turned when the car is on. All you do when you turn on the A/C is engage the clutch in the compressor. So it's not like adding a huge load to the belt system.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC