Does Ac Use Gas? How To Best Use Your Ac In Your Car

When you’re enjoying your car’s Ac on a scorching morning in San Diego jam, you might question, does AC use gas? Surprisingly, while it seems to be a simple question, not many car users know the answer. If you’re here searching for the ultimate truth, Driverevolve gets your back.

Does Ac Use Gas? 

Yes, your car’s air cooler is driven by your alternator, which is fueled by the car engine. Because the engine operates on gasoline, running the air conditioner consumes gas.

Does AC Waste Gas?

The answer depends on specific situations.

According to the EPA, utilizing your vehicle’s air conditioning system while traveling at freeway speeds can be more economical than having the windows down.

The basic explanation is that opened windows increase aerodynamic drag, requiring your engine to put more effort and consume more gasoline.

This is great if you’re like many car owners who count on their air conditioner during the scorching seasons in Florida or while driving the LA highways. 

How Much Gas Does Ac Use In Car?

According to the EPA, a vehicle’s air conditioning system may consume a great deal of gasoline. However, it relies on several variables, so we can’t specify a specific number. 

In the worst-case scenario, the EPA claims that utilizing your vehicle’s air conditioning system can lower fuel efficiency by up to 25%. For an automobile that averages roughly 30 MPG, it’s a 7.5 MPG penalty.

How To Make Car Ac Colder

When it’s sweltering outdoors, the last thing you need is steamy air slamming you in your face once you’re in your automobile. If your vehicle Ac isn’t doing well in keeping you cool, try our tips below.

Supercharge Your A/c System

Here’s how to quickly get your A/C colder: simply supercharge your refrigerant. We won’t go into detail on how automobile A/C operates, but remember that low refrigerant contents nearly always result in car A/C that fails to cool.

You may examine your refrigerant supply if you possess an A/C tester and a thermometer, which are both obtainable at most auto supply shops.

Don’t Set Your AC To Max Right Away

It’s enticing to switch on your air conditioning unit and set it to “the lowest temperature” the moment you enter your car. 

But did you know that? Setting your air con to the max immediately away isn’t the greatest strategy to get it cool! Once you adjust the Ac to “max,” the vehicle draws air from within itself, cools it, and pushes it back into the interior.

The issue is that the temperature inside the vehicle can be hotter than the weather outside as you first enter. (Notice how the heat within your car can reach nearly 200°F?) 

Begin by taking air from outside the car to let everything cool faster. First, turn off your air conditioning. Adjust your fan to its highest setting and ensure the airflow is adjusted to “outside.”

After you’ve pushed some steamy, scorching air out of your vehicle, power the air con and choose the “recirculating pump” circulation option. Then, you may adjust the Ac to the “lowest temperature.”

Tips For Improving Gas Mileage (Even With The Ac On)

You’re concerned about your fuel economy but love your air conditioning too much to call it quits? Not to worry! Even if you travel with the AC for the whole day, you can do a few things to help preserve or better your fuel economy. 

Utilize The Advised Engine Oil

If your car’s handbook advises 5W-30 but uses stronger 10W-30, your gas mileage will struggle by 1% to 2%. And for the next 5,000 kilometers, that adds a lot.

Have A High-Quality Window Tint

This thin film coating reflects heat and UV rays, preventing heat from entering the interior in the first place. A car with a decent tint may lower interior temperature by 43% and require less AC to cool it down.

Choose A Shadier Road

The more the sunlight warms up the engine area and interior, the harder your air conditioner must work. According to the EPA, shady spots are 20 to 45°F lower than sunny ones. If the time and length are comparable, a tree-lined road will provide respite to your air conditioning unit and gas mileage.

Plan Your Travels For Faster Speeds

As previously stated, air con at idle consumes far less gasoline at freeway speeds. If your trip includes highways and busy streets, strive for faster speeds and lower AC gas use.

Begin With A Cool Car

Don’t rush out to get a Lamborghini or Ferrari; instead, park under a shelter or a tree. 

A covered parking area provides a cooler vehicle cabin to start with, reducing the effort your AC needs to put in to keep everyone cool. If feasible, leave your car indoors; if not, try purchasing a good cover. 

When on the road, stop under a cool shaded area whenever possible, and use a windscreen heat reflector if that’s unavailable.

Go With The Windows Down For The First Minutes

This immediately removes the heated air from the interior, easing the burden on your Ac unit.

Switch To The “Chill Setting”

That is an actual feature on some smart cars, such as Teslas. However, you don’t have to waste extra money on an inbuilt system to help you speed up gently and travel more relaxedly – you can change your habits to save your gas. 

Rapid speed-ups, racing, and reckless driving can reduce fuel efficiency by 10% to 40%. Adjust your driving behaviors, and you might save a lot of money.

Wrapping Up 

Does Ac use gas? Now you’ve known the answer. While many people consider Ac gas-consuming (notably when today’s gas price is so high), there are many methods you can try to save your fuel. Yes – no need to compromise your comfort (and even health) for your budget; everything you need is a few habit adjustments.

For more information on car parts, refer to our Fun Autopart section! Off we go!