Does it cost you more to turn off your A/C or to leave it on Auto?

Question

Just wondering thanks!:]

Answer 1

yes AC on is OIL consumption UP. so just enjoy the fresh air(if its still fresh enough even to breathe with it in), but then why drive? why not take transpo? or walk? or jog? or bike? think again

Answer 2

If I can draw an analogy to cars. . . think about how cruise control works.  You keep driving at one speed rather than slowing down and speeding up a lot all the time, so you in theory will get better gas mileage.

You're essentially talking about cruise control for the air temperature in your house if you're talking about controlling it with a thermostat.  I'm thinking your mileage on turning the A/C on and off as needed varies, depending on how much temperature variation actually bugs you and whether you have it set to drop it only a few degrees or several when you turn it back on.  Cooling 85 degrees to maybe 78 degrees means the A/C is going to run a lot, but not so much if we're usually talking about more like 80 to 78 or 85 to 83.  

I think it's all in how you use your A/C -- big changes take a lot more energy than small changes.  I think the best thing, really, to do is use the automatic mode of one where you can program in different temperature settings during the day if everyone's almost always gone for several hours at a time.  I wouldn't make too drastic of changes in the program for the reason above, but a few degrees is probably going to be good for you and the environment.

Answer 3

It depends on how fast you are going.  If you are going faster than fifty the load from the AC on the alternator with use less gas than the drag created by rolling down the windows.  Below fifty opening the windows is more fuel efficient.

So roll down the windows in the city and use the AC one the highway.