During the pandemic, money could be tight for many South African motorists, and anything that you can save on, such as fuel, is all the better. Let’s find out if it’s true if your car does use more fuel if you switch on the air conditioner.1
Your air conditioner causes greater fuel use1
Travelling with open windows uses more fuel compared to closed ones because there would be increased air resistance. So, if possible, travelling with closed windows would be the most economical, but switching on the air conditioner causes an 8-10% increase.
Which one should you choose? 1
If you have to choose between open windows and switching on the air conditioner, less fuel is consumed if you use open windows up to a speed of 90 km/hr. This is because using an air conditioner at low speeds places additional stress on the engine, increasing fuel consumption. Above 90 km/hr, it is better to turn on the air conditioner, seeing as this consumes less fuel than the higher fuel consumption caused by the increased air resistance from open windows.
Avoid using electrical devices while travelling1
Anything inside the car that requires electricity, such as switching on the radio, or screen demister, uses power supplied by the car battery. In turn, the latter is charged by the engine while consuming fuel. So, these devices should be used sparingly to minimise fuel consumption.
What about getting into a hot parked car? 1
Sometimes you can’t find that shady spot to park your car and are forced to park in the hot sun. When you come back, don’t be tempted to get into the car and turn on the air conditioning straight away and let it do all the hard work. Instead, before driving off, open all the doors to let the hot air escape. Then, close the doors again after a few seconds and drive off in a much cooler car.
Make sure of your air settings in the car1
Check the air settings in the car to ensure that the air conditioner is only cooling air circulating inside and not cooling hot air coming into the car from the outside. This will lead to a considerable fuel savings.
Use your air conditioner regularly
Regardless of the need or not, it is still better to switch it on for a minimum of 5 minutes every 2 weeks. This is to ensure the system is oiled and does not start to leak. Suppose there is any sign of malfunction, a reputable air conditioning company, in line with your vehicle manufacturer’s guidance, could attend to any problems and service the air conditioner.
Air conditioning can improve safety1
Air conditioning in your car is essential because sweltering conditions can make you tired and thus affect your driving ability and safety.
Air conditioning protects your wellbeing inside the car, but is your car protected with affordable car insurance? Contact PMD for more information about affordable car insurance products, including unique benefits like reducing to zero excess* and fixed premiums*. T’s and C’s apply.
Source:
1https://www.airconco.com/news/does-in-car-air-conditioning-consume-fuel-if-so-how-much/
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.