Climate control / Air-con

cantdecide

Travelled with a mate in his car last week. He's a bit of a skinflint so I wasn't surprised to note that he had his A/C switched off even though it was quite stuffy in the car. I know the only reason he turns his A/C off is because he believes it affects his mpg. Me ol' Da is just the same.

I was once told by someone who works with these systems that it does them no good to have them sitting idle. He advised me to just leave my climate control work away and do it's thing. I have done so ever since.

What about you?

rebel.ranter

Mine is on all the time too. My dad doesn't turn his on in case it reduces his MPG :rolleyes:. I keep telling him he'll be paying more to get the system repaired when all the pipes/joints dry out & leak.
I know it has been discussed on here thousands of times but aircon is brilliant at keeping condensation off the windows on the wet days. it's not just for those sweltering days IMO.

sogood

cantdecide wrote: »

Travelled with a mate in his car last week. He's a bit of a skinflint so I wasn't surprised to note that he had his A/C switched off even though it was quite stuffy in the car. I know the only reason he turns his A/C off is because he believes it affects his mpg. Me ol' Da is just the same.

I was once told by someone who works with these systems that it does them no good to have them sitting idle. He advised me to just leave my climate control work away and do it's thing. I have done so ever since.

What about you?

True, even in winter it's advisable to give the ac a run, as would be the case with most things in a car. Things dry out, crack and perish through lack of use and yes, it will increase your petrol consumption. The engine uses petrol to produce energy to run the car, and all of it's components. So, if you use more power, the car/ petrol must produce more power. I drive coaches a lot and operators are always wary of exceptionally warm weather, which increases the usage of air con and so, pushes up the fuel consumption.

crosstownk

If I'm driving a car with Climate Control then I just set the temperature and set it to 'Auto' and leave it alone.

If I've a car with standard A/C then I leave it turned off in the winter most of the time. I usually turn it on to demist the front screen when required.

Max Power1

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Mine is on all the time too. My dad doesn't turn his on in case it reduces his MPG :rolleyes:. I keep telling him he'll be paying more to get the system repaired when all the pipes/joints dry out & leak.
I know it has been discussed on here thousands of times but aircon is brilliant at keeping condensation off the windows on the wet days. it's not just for those sweltering days IMO.

Why the rolleyes? Using aircon affects MPG, sometimes in the region of 5-10%

mickdw

I always let it do its thing as it does keep the windows clear and I believe the system stays in good condition by using it.
The last few cars Ive owned had zero problems with AC so I figured I would keep using it in same way on my first new car purchase. Result - a loud hissing and a complete loss of gas just inside 2 year warranty.

EPM

I let mine on auto all the time. Only thing I ever adjust is the temp. Even in winter I let it run away itself, but then I do like cold air all the time usually.

I do notice a fair difference in fuel consumption, especially in summer. Can be 10-15% sometimes.

Stephen

crosstownk wrote: »

If I'm driving a car with Climate Control then I just set the temperature and set it to 'Auto' and leave it alone.

If I've a car with standard A/C then I leave it turned off in the winter most of the time. I usually turn it on to demist the front screen when required.

The same. Had fancy dual zone climate control on my Civic, which was great. Just set it 'n forget it. Now on my current car I've just got regular old A/C with the hot---cold knob.

Atlantic Dawn

I use mine almost every day I drive the car, when it's hot to cool it and when it's cold to clear the windows.

Leaving the a/c permanently off will result in it leaking, it should be turned
on for 5 minutes or so every couple of weeks.

Henry Ford III

I use my a/c as and when I need it, with the proviso that I run it for a min. 30 mins every week.

Eoin

I don't use it that often, but it's not really a fuel economy thing. I don't like breathing the really dry air, and the car de-mists OK without it. I only really use it on very warm days during the summer, and just give it a blast occasionally for maintenance reasons.

Big Nasty

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I use my a/c as and when I need it, with the proviso that I run it for a min. 30 mins every week.

Same as that. If the weather is good I usually drive with the windows open anyhow on regular roads. If I need to turn it on to clear the windows I do then turn it off as the regular blower can maintian it. The only time I would need to use it constantly would be when long distance motorway driving when I don't want to be blown out of it with the window open.

One thing that drives me mad, especially in the winter, is those drivers that turn their blower on full blast and full heat to clear their windows then turn it off until it fogs up completely again often wiping the windscreen with their greasy paws before they feel the need to repeat. Winter or summer I always leave the blower on a bit!

irlirishkev

I use mine all the time. Great for de-misting the windows, especially when it's wet out. Great for motorway driving when you don't want the windows down. Even if the car just feels a bit stuffy, it can be nicer than opening the windows. I don't care if it reduces MPG, I love it.

bazzachazza

Last three cars have had A/C and I reckon the only time they were off was before they were installed in the factory.;)

Green Hornet

I know that AC has a detrimental effect on fuel consumption but does climate control not have a much reduced effect as it only tips on now and again and only needs slight adjustments?

Big Nasty

Green Hornet wrote: »

I know that AC has a detrimental effect on fuel consumption but does climate control not have a much reduced effect as it only tips on now and again and only needs slight adjustments?

Climate Control, A/C, Home Heating, it doesn't matter. It's like a motorway drive - get up to speed and the rest is a cruise. City driving is not good on fuel as you're tipping up and down all the time, any climate control system would mirror this, i.e. it uses most power getting to where you want it to be but once it is there it's only a small amount of power / fuel to maintain temperature.

Tropheus

I have it on all the time during the summer, but tend to turn it off for cold dry winter's days like today. I drive an Audi 2.5 TDI and not using the aircon is worth about 2mpg crossing the M50 every day. That's 31mpg as opposed to 29mpg. That's a 7% increase in economy;)

babychuckles

Found this on the old internet!!
http://www.freeinsuranceadvice.com/mythbusters-seven-saving-gas-myths-could-cost-you

"Mythbusters: Seven Saving Gas Myths Could Cost You
Myth 1. You Just Have to Suffer the Heat: If you turn off your air conditioner and roll down the window, your engine won't have to work as hard and you'’ll have better fuel efficiency.
Obvious or not, it's untrue.
Even if we are old enough to remember cars without air conditioning, we can stop suffering nobly in the name of fuel economy.
Open windows create drag as air flows past the car, cutting down on streamlining.
This makes the engine work harder and cuts into fuel efficiency as much as using your air conditioner—or even more at high speeds. So go ahead—turn up the cool and be comfortable."

The Real B-man

Windows Down if im Hot Heater on if im Cold, Wish i did have it in my Car for those Sticky Days during the Summer not nice pealing yourself of the seat after a long Journey!

Love the Dual Climate Controls in some cars for Passenger & Driver

Leonard Hofstadter

I use it when needed. If it's not too hot I prefer to have the windows down, especially when driving at low speeds. Breathing in fresh non dried out air is much nicer! On hotter days having the windows down actually doesn't seem to cool the car down at all so it's always a/c on then, and at higher speeds having the windows open makes such a racket.

By the way it is NOT more fuel efficient to have the windows down at higher speeds instead of using a/c, as drag increases very rapidly at higher speeds.

I'm another believer in using the 'Auto' button on the climate control, but it's amazing how many people start adjusting fan speed/airflow etc even though the climate control does all that for you! The only time I make a change is it the car constantly keeps fogging up, then I will set the airflow to go to the windscreen to keep it clear.

shedweller

I use it when needed and not all the time as the air gets dry and uncomfortable.
Also to maintain the system as repairs would total a car above a certain age no doubt!!
It's great at clearing mist in the winter too which is worth its weight in gold.

On a side note, i do notice people driving with AC on and the ventilation set to recirculate with windows closed. The AC in this case being the only thing from stopping the windows from fogging up. Ok, the air is kept dry but you are rebreathing stale air. Why do people do this?
I used to carpool with a lad who did this without AC and had the ventilation OFF and he nearly ended up in the ditch many times due to not being able to see out! And the smell in the car was disgusting!!
Maybe the OP's mate had his ventilation set to recirculate? Any car i've driven never got stuffy as i never leave it on recirculate and i've never had AC until my current car.

Anyway, being an mpg nut i checked out its effect on mpg. I found little or no difference above the norm. Although it is electrically driven AC and my car is a diesel. Maybe diesels don't get loaded as much with electric AC?

I'll finish by pointing out that, personally, i think these mpg saving tips they spout in the paper every now and then are mostly rubbish. Carrying extra weight is one that gets me. I let my car fill with various stuff and had the radio going and it used no more than when i emptied out the car and didn't use the radio for a whole tank! (it was an experiment...:pac:)
I went on holidays during the summer and had a roof box AND a bike on the roof. The box was full, the boot was full and the kids were in the back.
Drove the length of the country (including motorways at 120kph) and used no extra fuel per hundred km over the entire trip compared to driving it myself with nothing else in it everyday.

Henry Ford III

I use 2/40 a/c when needed in my MkII Escort

Eoin

captainspeed wrote: »

I'm another believer in using the 'Auto' button on the climate control, but it's amazing how many people start adjusting fan speed/airflow etc even though the climate control does all that for you

Maybe the temperature regulation is just not as good in some cars though.

Matt Simis

In some VAG cars, not running the AC can result in the AC pump siezing up, which is expensive to fix.

Tea 1000

Green Hornet wrote: »

I know that AC has a detrimental effect on fuel consumption but does climate control not have a much reduced effect as it only tips on now and again and only needs slight adjustments?

I did a test in my last car during two weeks of fairly consistant weather. One full tank with it on and the other with it off. The difference was around 430 miles approx on the tank with no air con, and around 415 miles with air con. You could negate that difference with a bit of economical driving, so why suffer to get 15 miles further? Detrimental effect to me would be going from 430 miles to 250 miles to a tank!
I can't notice a difference at all in my current car, which is a diesel.
I leave mine on all the time at Auto.
Also, should be noted that hot weather decreases fuel efficiency anyway regardless of air con, so that guy who drives busses, while the air con in a bus would have a large effect alright, the hot air is also contributing to the reduced efficency.

shedweller

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Also, should be noted that hot weather decreases fuel efficiency anyway regardless of air con, so that guy who drives busses, while the air con in a bus would have a large effect alright, the hot air is also contributing to the reduced efficency.

I beg to differ lad, the cold is a killer! My kia gets under 5L/100k in summer but is now getting over 5.5L/100k.
Any car i've had did the same. They get more efficient in warmer weather due to less friction in lubrication and warm air being less dense and therefore easier to drive through.

EPM

Matt Simis wrote: »

In some VAG cars, not running the AC can result in the AC pump siezing up, which is expensive to fix.

Ahem...€1600 was the warranty bill on mine because of the first owner...And that wasn't that long without use either!

CiniO

I was trying to fill in the poll, but didn't find the answer for me.

I just use AC when it's needed. It's 2 cases.
1. It's warm and I want to cool down the inside of the car.
2. Windows are covered in mist and I use dry air from AC to demist it.

Otherwise I can't see a reason for keepin it running.
Even worse - why should I breathe with artificially dried air, if I don't have to.

Tea 1000

shedweller wrote: »

I beg to differ lad, the cold is a killer! My kia gets under 5L/100k in summer but is now getting over 5.5L/100k.
Any car i've had did the same. They get more efficient in warmer weather due to less friction in lubrication and warm air being less dense and therefore easier to drive through.

It's not quite as easy as that though. Chances are that in cold air, your car is generating slightly more power while also burning a little more fuel, due to more air getting into the cylinders. However back in the heat wave we had about 4 years ago where we had about 2 weeks or so of around the 30 degrees mark, I was loosing up to 80 miles out of the tank, and I thought it was down to the air con, so I went without it for most of one tank to check, but same thing. My mate had similar experiences at the same time. He was down about 100 miles to the tank.

positron

A/c in my Accord and Focus only comes on when it's absolutely boiling outside, that's probably just a month of the year. Other than occasional blast to get rid of some condensation, I never use a/c but I do use climate control to keep the temperature at a comfortable 17 degrees. Never had any problem with a/c drying out or anything like that in many years now.

mcwhirter

I have heard it affects petrol engines more than diesel due to the torque,

_Kaiser_

I just set it at around the 22c mark (unless it's roasting obviously ), hit Auto and leave it be myself.

shedweller

Tea 1000 wrote: »

It's not quite as easy as that though. Chances are that in cold air, your car is generating slightly more power while also burning a little more fuel, due to more air getting into the cylinders. However back in the heat wave we had about 4 years ago where we had about 2 weeks or so of around the 30 degrees mark, I was loosing up to 80 miles out of the tank, and I thought it was down to the air con, so I went without it for most of one tank to check, but same thing. My mate had similar experiences at the same time. He was down about 100 miles to the tank.

You are correct with the extra fuelling in cold air. But the heatwave thing is just weird! I'm interested in finding out more about that.
Although diesels need cold air for combustion, hence the reason for intercoolers. Here is a link to a mileage log i have. It shows an improvement during summer but doesen't go back to the heatwave you mentioned:http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/cha2767L.png
Was both you and your mates cars petrol or diesel?