Aircon and fuel.

[Atomic]

Does having the aircon on have a huge impact on the fuel the car uses?

I am under the impassion that it does so i do not use it very often, only to keep the seals lubricated.

[scottyd]

i did usde mine all summer and dont realy notice a difference just slightly adjust your driving style and it wont impact at all

[john_k_sri]

Does having the aircon on have a huge impact on the fuel the car uses?

In a word, no. IMO

Some people are horrified at the prospect of using the 5% extra fuel that air-conditioning reputedly uses. It has been said driving with the window open uses more fuel and that at motorway speeds less fuel is 'wasted'. Aircon is there to be used, whenever you need to.

Driving enthusiastically burns more fuel than aircon ever could.

[mark_w]

i once worked out that my vectra B did about 2mpg less if i used aircon all the time, not a lot considering the difference to comfort it makes on hot summer days. just used occasionally in winter to clear the windows, i would say the difference to mpg is negligable.

[ed taylor]

I don,t think leaving the air con on affects the fuel consumption on my motor. I leave the air con on all the time.

[Thomas1]

Leaving a window open only increases fuel consumption at speed....if you doing 30 in town, it won't have an impact.

[Big Sig]

A couple of mpg on mine, but thats about it.

[Ste]

Aircon WILL affect fuel consumption, it has to as it is taking power from the engine, so you need to produce a little more to get the same power at the wheels - simple physics.

However, this reduction will only mean about 5% increased fuel consumption. So the simple answer is are you prepared to pay 5% more for fuel and keep AC on?

[wanna veccy]

i allways have mine on and i don't seem to notice any difference so i'm not bothered. also i'm 99% sure that cas larger than 1.6 don't use more than 2% fuel with aircon on due to the engine being so large the extra load is minute,in my fiesta 1.6 i had before the 2.2direct vec when u put the aircon on the cars idle would seem to strugle now has this ever happened to anyone with a car bigger than a 1.6 prob not, case solved, thank u detective clouso.

[Atomic]

I have only had the car a month so I will have to wait until it gets a bit hotter to see. But it sounds like people don’t notice a lot of difference so that’s a good thing!!!