Car Air Con recharge?

Ebe_Scrooge

gaz_jones wrote: »

Is this true? I have always wondered what is worse...Aircon on or windows open...

Reports that I've read seem to agree that aircon is cheaper than having a window open. But either option will increase the fuel consumption to a marked degree. As has been previously mentioned, it's wise to run the aircon for 10 minutes or so every couple of weeks to keep everything lubricated, but don't leave it on all the time for the sake of it, that will cost a fair bit in extra fuel.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

But either option will increase the fuel consumption to a marked degree.

Not on all cars. I can confirm that on both my Mercedes and my previous Audi running the AC compressor made absolutely no difference whatsoever to fuel economy.

Hintza

Running air-con on a 1.3 will add significantly more than running it on a 3.0l.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

That depends entirely on how the compressor is powered. On some cars, it makes no practical difference whatsoever whether it is on or not.

thescouselander

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Not on all cars. I can confirm that on both my Mercedes and my previous Audi running the AC compressor made absolutely no difference whatsoever to fuel economy.

Yeah, same here with my BMW.

superstylin

I remember a mythbuster episode where they ran two identical pick ups against each other at the same speed - one with windows down and one using air con. The one using air con ran out of fuel a fair bit before the other (they had the same amount of fuel to start) - I'm assuming the result might be different depending on the car though

harveybobbles

gaz_jones wrote: »

Is this true? I have always wondered what is worse...Aircon on or windows open...

There's only one way to find out...






FIIIIIIIGHTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!

Inactive

I recall hiring a Ford KA in Spain, turned the AC on, it almost ground to a halt, and the fuel consumption rocketed.

I swiftly turned it off and opened the drivers window a few inches...sorted.

gaz_jones

Well had a little play around on my way home from work yesterday. I was getting an average of 37mpg with the windows closed and no a/c. Opened the window for 10 miles and was getting on average 29mpg. Closed windows and turned on A/C and mpg went up to around 32mps.

Its worth noting I was travelling about 60/70 the whole way so speed was roughly the same.

I read somewhere online that if travelling under around 45mpg then windows open is a better option. If travelling over that then a/c is better option.

cadburyminiroll

Sidmon wrote: »

In one word yes! I'm in the motor trade and have a local chap who specialises in coming out mobile and doing it at your home. He knows what he's doing and doesn't skimp on the job (as some do including Kwik Fit) and due to being mobile is extremely competitive. Once recharged you'll notice just how much cooder it is and by having it done will prolong the life of the air con components as the old moisture/dirt in the system will be vacuumed out first (if the person doing it is doing it properly), and once regassed they will also renew the compressor oil. Well worth getting the yellow pages out and asking for a quote for regassing, and asking how long they will vacuum the system before regassing. If they say an hour or so then your looking at a reputable specialist...if not then they're cutting corners. Also shouldn't cost more than £60 and if you try your luck you could keep bartering them with the best quote, especially of one sounds more extensive a specialist than the other, but the other is cheaper.

we attempt to regas vehicles, after 30 minutes of being on the machine if it will not regas, then it has a leak, and therefore we do not charge!! people who do not regas or use their aircon systems, run the risk of the o rings shrinking and allow a slow seepage of gas. over a long period of time. i am fed up with hearing about people slagging off kwik fit, we do not charge for checking anything, and if the result is unsuccessful, we do not charge also, just refer to an air con repairer! we check everything for free, aircon, tracking, exhausts, batteries, lights, tyres.....most main dealers charge £90 upwards for aircon regas wether it is successful or not..so how can kwik fit be slated for what we do????!!! totally fed up with the way this forum is slagging kwik fit off, lets all jump on the bandwagon eh? i notice the things we do for free never get mentioned including tyre valve replacement, gasket replacement, tyre pressures...battery checks exhausts checks brake checks and anything else you can think of!!! oh and by the way, our aircon regas takes 1 hour 15 minutes....apologies accepted by return of posting thankyou!!!!