Does one utilize more gas if a/c level is on high as opposed to a lower setting?

Question

I've always wondered about this. I would think the same amount of gas is used up if your setting is on the lowest or highest, right?

What do you think?

Answer 1

If the A/C is working harder, yes, it's using more gas.  How much varies from car to car.   Newer cars, it uses less because the A/C is more efficient.  Bigger cars, it uses less (comparatively) because you notice it less when you're getting lousy MPG.

Come on folks - you can feel the engine working harder to run the A/C.  That doesn't happen by magic.  It takes fuel.

Answer 2

It actualy makes no difference, if the AC is on HI or Low it is using the same amount of extra gas.

Answer 3

I drove to Seattle and back last year for vacation. Like 2 days after I got back, I was surfin the net, and on Yahoos front page was a big article that said gas mileage is NOT affected by use or lack there of of A/C, and that a window cracked doesn't affect it either.

Wish I had know that before hand, it would have made the drive across the desert a much more enjoyable trip.