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Does air con really eat your fuel?

SusieWinwood
Posts: 253 Forumite
in Motoring
Further to my thread the other week, we are almost certainly buying a Nissan Note 1.6SE Automatic this week.
It comes with air con and I asked the sales chap does it really eat fuel? He said well if it does say 30mpg without it on, if you put it on it might do 29. It's this just salesman talk or does it really not use a lot?
TIA
Susie
It comes with air con and I asked the sales chap does it really eat fuel? He said well if it does say 30mpg without it on, if you put it on it might do 29. It's this just salesman talk or does it really not use a lot?
TIA
Susie
Susie
"A woman is like a tea bag:
you never know how strong she is
until she gets in hot water."
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Comments
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Yes it does, but it's hardly noticeable, but to be honest if you drive with the windows and/or sunroof open it will have the same drag effect and reduce the MPG anyway...
One for MythBusters, perhaps...?0 -
From the AA (doesn't say how they got the figure)
"The impact of using air con can pump up fuel consumption by up to 11% on slower roads."
I think up to a certain speed having the windows open is more economical (in drag terms) and over a certain speed aircon is more economical (with the windows closed) IYSWIM.
Both obviously cost you fuel in terms of either drag or power draw.0 -
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Though I accept that it must logically increase fuel consumption, I have noticed no difference at all, so it is marginal - nothing like 11% in my case, anyway. The comfort of having air conditioning, and its demisting properties in the winter, far outweigh the cost, imho. Don't forget to run it regularly to keep the seals from drying out.I used to think that good grammar is important, but now I know that good wine is importanter.0
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I didn't say i agreed with the AA figure.
It was just something i found to quote for the OP.
I know with the A/C on my Touran loses about 1 to 2mpg on a long run (so hardly the end of the world) but it is noticeable.
I just open the windows on lower speed roads.
I would also suspect the condition of the compressor would have an impact as well but again i have no evidence to back that up other than the logic that more power draw has to come from something.0 -
Thanks for your replies.
We probably won't use it a lot anyway as I do like my window open lol!
Perhaps do a test run see what its mpg is with it on and off.
Cheers
SusieSusie"A woman is like a tea bag:you never know how strong she isuntil she gets in hot water."0 -
It I think depends on whether the aircon is driven from the auxiliaries belt or not, if it's fully electric....
Like for example EPAS (Electronic Power Assisted Steering) which uses an electric motor instead of the belt driven hydraulic pump system used in old school PAS.
Anything extra that the engine has to physically move, will always have an effect on fuel consumption... Electrically driven devices have very little negative effect.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
<><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/0 -
harveybobbles wrote: »Yes it does, but it's hardly noticeable, but to be honest if you drive with the windows and/or sunroof open it will have the same drag effect and reduce the MPG anyway...
One for MythBusters, perhaps...?
They have done this myth already.....twice!
See: http://mythbustersresults.com/episode220 -
windows and/or sunroof open
Roof down on mine drops MPG from around 33mpg to 27mpg but its worth it LOLTotally Debt Free & Mortgage Free Semi retired and happy0 -
According to MythbustersGoing less than 50mph it is more efficient to leave your windows down, but going greater than 50mph it is more efficient to use your A/C."A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Ride hard or stay home :iloveyou:0
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