Which uses less gas in a car: air conditioner or open windows?

Question

I always avoided wasting gas with my air conditioner; then I heard from a few people that the velocity/friction from open windows causes the car to use more gasoline than does the air conditioner. My mechanic agrees. What do you know? I'm having trouble believing this.

Answer 1

Open windows uses less gass. the myth busters did this and air conditioning guzzles your gas

Answer 2

open windows

Answer 3

In the city driving slow open the windows and on the freeway use the A/C.  Or realize it's not even pennies a mile and just drive in comfort without worrying about it.

Answer 4

Air conditioner would eat more gas, because it steal some of your engines horsepower to run the A/C fan, which causes the car to seem heavier when accelerating, it is actually making the engine work harder because it needs to use more gas to get the amount of power you want to move the car up to speed.  Having the windows down saves gas soo much because the engine is using the gas to its full potential.  You can test this in any car too.

Answer 5

ear condition tack 4 hoses out of you engine driving 65 m.widow help the car ruining liter because the ear helps lifting the car up.

Answer 6

I did see this on mythbusters. there was a cross-over point (20-30 mph) where it was cheaper to use the ac above, but windows below

Answer 7

Its true, believe him.

Answer 8

its using the air conditioning. the guards in ireland are being told 2 use their windows instead of their air conditioning 2 save petrol