Does Running the A/C in The Car Make you use more gas in your car or truck?

Question

Someone i know told me that Running the Air Conditioner in A car or truck Does NOT effect the gas. My dad Refuses to run the air conditioner because he believes it makes him use more gas and he just leaves the window open in this 90 deg. weather.

So can someone Please tell me if it does or doesn't use gas.

Thank you

Answer 1

yes that is true try to use less ac unless your dieing in the car just pull the windows down and slo you should not turn the ac on high because of high gas prices

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

It takes quite a bit of power to turn an A/C compressor, so on top of the work the engine is doing to move the car, it has to turn the compressor, too, giving you lower gas mileage. I had a car that would hardly move when the air was on. In fact, I think Ford used to use a switch that cut off the air while you were accelerating.

Answer 4

up to 8% of your gas tank will be used by the A/C. if thats ok with u then go right on ahead and put on the A/C.

what u might wanna try is to reach some sort of agreement where u turn the A/C on when the temperature goes above 85 degrees. otherwise roll your windows down on local roads and turn the A/C on on the highway.

it's usually harder to drive when the wind is blowing into you ears full speed.

what i usually do is keep is A/C on low (you don't need to keep it high u can usually turn it low once the temperature becomes comfortable) unless im driving a short distance all local then i'll open the windows since im a new driver.

i agree with what the person above me said about drag...this usually ends up being negligable in terms of wasting gas bc you'd only get to that 8% if your really blasting the A/C all the way all the time. you might wanna tell you dad that the drag is wasting gas, bc im sure he doesnt intentionally want u to suffer in the heat.

Answer 5

both use more gas and about the same more. when using the ac the car's engine has to work harder to run and cool the car. Thus using more gas. When your windows are down the car's design is no longer aero-dynamic and the air goes into the car cause drag. The engine has to work harder to compensate for the drag and thus uses more gas. Either way your using more gas. It is so minimal it seems hardly worth it. I dont know if you want to tell him because you might end up driving with no ac and windows up.