Does my vehicle air conditioner system use more petrol

Does my vehicle air conditioner system use more petrol

There is an age-old debate about which one uses more petrol with the vehicle air conditioner on. Or driving around with the windows down. Some people swear that using the car air conditioner uses more petrol, while others swear just the opposite. So which one is the correct answer? It may surprise you to find out!

This debate led researchers to test it out and see which one used more petrol. What they found when they conducted their tests. Is that there is a drop in fuel efficiency when both used. When you drive around with the windows down. And you are on the freeway; you have about a 20 per cent drop in fuel efficiency. When you drive on the highway with your windows up. With your air conditioner on you have a 5-10 per cent drop in fuel efficiency.

Does my vehicle air conditioner system use more petrol

The drop in fuel efficiency when you have your windows down and are driving on the freeway is caused by the drag, or resistance, that the wind creates. Therefore it stands to reason that if you are driving around the city, at a much slower rate than freeway driving, you won’t lose as much fuel efficiency as you would during freeway driving.

Overall, you want to make sure that you are comfortable. Researchers advise that if you are going to be doing city driving it is not that big of a deal to opt for having the windows down. A lot of people prefer to take that route on a beautiful day. But if you are going to be doing some freeway or highway driving, then you should opt for having the windows up and the air conditioner on, if you want to save on fuel efficiency.

The good news is that if you are not looking to save on petrol. You can choose whichever route makes you the most comfortable!

At Keepin’ Cool, our fully qualified car air conditioning technicians can give you a detailed report on the condition of your system and help you out with any necessary repairs and maintenance. We want to get your air-con working to its optimal performance, so make an appointment to see us today!