Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The New Coffee Room. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Using less gas while using the AC
Topic Started: Aug 9 2008, 05:49 AM (105 Views)
kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
I'm driving from California to Canada soon.
I almost never use my AC here in Southern California because I live near the beach.

I will be using it on this trip.

Does it use the same amount of gas regardless of what temp the thermostat is set to?
I was hoping I could use the AC, but set the temp high (like to 80) to save gas.

Or worse, would setting the temp high actually use MORE gas since it may turn the heater on while the AC is on too. :hair:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Klaus
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
The AC needs the more energy the more work it has to do. The bigger the temperature difference to the outside, the higher the additional gas consumption.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Klaus
Aug 9 2008, 06:09 AM
The AC needs the more energy the more work it has to do. The bigger the temperature difference to the outside, the higher the additional gas consumption.

Klaus, I understand that.
I will try to avoid driving during the hottest hours of the day.
But that's not what I'm asking.

My car has a digital temp control.
I can dial in any temp from, say, 60 to 90 degrees F - with the AC on or off, though obviously it will not get down to 60 if the AC is off.

My question is will the AC use more gas if I set the thermostat lower or less gas if I set it higher (closer to the outside temp).

My intuition says it will save gas to set the thermostat higher because it is less work.
Example: say it is 100F outside, I'll set the thermostat to 80.
My intuition says this will use less gas than if I set the thermostat to 70F.

But I heard somewhere that if the AC is on it just uses the same gas regardless of the thermostat setting.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Improviso
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
Kenny, the AC compressor will cycle in and out as it needs to cool the car. The higher you set the temperature, the less often the compressor will cycle on. That's the robber of gas mileage.. the compressor... not the fan blower.
Identifying narcissists isn't difficult. Just look for the person who is constantly fishing for compliments
and admiration while breaking down over even the slightest bit of criticism.

We have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · The New Coffee Room · Next Topic »
Add Reply