Even if your vehicle is sweltering hot in the summertime, you may want to reconsider turning on your car air conditioner. Here is why.
There are few things more uncomfortable than a hot car on a humid day. As summer reaches full swing and temperatures rise, you will invariably crank up your car air conditioner more and more. But if you are trying to save fuel and money, you may want to reconsider turning the car air conditioner on.
The Hidden Strain on Your Vehicle
“On scorching days, the cooling system has to work doubly hard to control the engine temperature, and having the AC on also increases the chances of overheating, especially in older or poorly maintained cars,” says Joe Giranda of CFR Classic.
Conversely, “cutting down on using the AC decreases the stress on essential systems, optimizing the vehicle’s performance and longevity.”
Here are a few more reasons to rely less on your car’s air conditioner.
Do Car Air Conditioners Burn More Gas?
There have been multiple debates on which method of vehicle cooling is more fuel efficient: air conditioning or driving with the windows down. There is no doubt both cause more fuel to be burned. The question is, which burns more?
| Cooling Method | How It Affects Fuel Efficiency |
|---|---|
| A/C on | Burns fuel to run the compressor |
| Windows down | Increases aerodynamic drag, especially at higher speeds |
Open windows increase drag while driving, and running the A/C burns fuel to run. Eager to prove conclusively which option had greater impact on overall miles-per-gallon (mpg), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and General Motors conducted a controlled study comparing the fuel efficiency of driving with the car air conditioner on to driving with the windows down.
Driving With Your Windows Down
After comparing cars at speeds of 31, 50, and 68 mph in 86°F weather, they concluded:
| Finding | Result |
|---|---|
| Driving with windows down | More fuel efficient than running the A/C |
| Closed windows and no A/C | Significantly better on fuel than either option |
