Do you waste gas when using the air condition in your car?

Heat doesnt use ur gas but the ac does.

i dont consider being comfortable a waste.. same milage as riding with windows down…I spent 1200 for AC and will use it .even if it got les MPG [which it doesnt]

I read a study once, years ago, and don’t ask for the source because I can’t remember it, but they said that you used the same amount of gas running the a/c as you did not running it but with the window down. Apparently the window being down created enough of a wind drag to equal what the a/c drained when in use.

I think it was in a Car & Driver magazine. It was some car mag, I was big into muscle cars back then.

operating your vehicle with the a/c on uses more gas than operating it with it off. Probably no more than a mile or two a gallon…but it DOES make a difference

technically you do use more gas bc the air conditioning pump, when turned on, makes your engine work harder because there is one more thing it needs to run. i personally dont like air conditioning unless its ungodly hot. open up the windows and enjoy the breeze!@

You consume more gas by using the air conditioning. Part of the air conditioning system is a pump which compresses the gas inside the system. This compressor is driven by drive belt from the engine’s crankshaft. This places an additional load on the engine, causing it to consume more fuel.

I use the term consume instead of waste as if the climate is excessively hot, I do not consider this a waste.

You should also be aware that on most modern automotive air conditioning systems, the air conditioner and compressor are activated whenever you use the windshield defrosters above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

yes it takes more fuel to power your air conditioner. But your other option is driving with the widows down and that creates a drag causing you to use more fuel, so either way …

Yes you do, but not much. If you use your windows for cool air it makes your car work much harder and more gas to go the same speed so your using more gas. So use your air condition in your car

Yes, your cars engine needs to work harder, therefore using more fuel.

This is what I’ve heard. When you use your a/c, it does use gas….but the drag of your car caused by your windows being down actually uses more gas than just using the a/c. I can’t verify this is true, but my uncle is a mechanic and that’s where I got my info.

When you turn on the AC you engage a small compressor which is powered by the accessory belt off the engine, so yes your engine has to work slightly harder, the question is will opening the windows on the highway cause more aerodynamic drag than you save by turning off the AC? I saw a show on this, and at about 50-55mph you reach a break even point after which its more efficient to run the AC. So in the city you might save a slight amount of gas by opening the windows, on the highway run the AC.

Yes your car does use more gas with ac on but at the same time having your window down to stay cool but more wind drag from having you window down also uses more gas so I would say if its 60 or 70 deg ouside put your window down if its 90 turn your ac on there both going to use gas.

I remember one time I was watching mythbusters, and they had 1 car driving with windows down, and another car with the ac on and windows up (both the same exact car). The car with the ac on was more efficient then the one with windows down. they find that over 50 mph, you’re better off with your AC on, but slower than that, open your windows

I’m no car buff by a long shot, but I can tell you that my little 6 gallon tank flies to empty at astounding speeds when I run my AC. I paid 700 bucks to get the compressor replaced in my car just to get it working, and now I never even turn it on because of the gas problem. I’m sure cars with larger gas tanks wouldn’t notice much of a dramatic difference.

your car will use more gas if you have the a.c. on, because the a.c. conponent runs on the built with the pully and when its turn on, your car will pick up slower which you have to step on the gas harder to pick up which will use more gas.

You will get similar mileage if you drive with the A/C on, or if you roll your windows down. A/C creates more work for your engine and the extra drag from the windows down creates more work as well.

If you drive in the city, it can use up to 15% of your fuel cost. Driving on the highway gets more interesting. Drive with the windows down and you will use more gas than driving with the A/C on. This is because the aerodynamic efficiency of your ride has been reduced (wind resistance). I get 30 miles to the gallon going 70 with the A/C on; but it drops down to 17 miles to the gallon in the city with it on.
I would try and tolerate the heat as much as possible in the city; but use the A/C when cruising. Making sure that it’s charged and otherwise maintained will allow you to keep cool and save money on gas. Personally, I drive with the A/C on and just drive a little slower. Hope this helps.

it takes more gas to run it but it also takes more gas when you have your windows down also from the air coming into the car and causing a drag, if it’s real hot be comfortable, run it.