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Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas?

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Old 06-11-2002, 10:32 AM
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Default Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas?

I've always heard that it does, is this true?
Old 06-11-2002, 10:40 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (99MilanoRedSi)

Not a lot but it uses engine power to turn and therefore more gas is needed than normal to maintain a certain speed.
Old 06-11-2002, 10:54 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Spade)

I wonder exactly how much power it drains... I'm going to guess 15ft-lbs torque...
Old 06-11-2002, 10:58 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (DunReit)

Has anyone run a dyno with their A/C turned on?
Old 06-11-2002, 11:09 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Vantage)

about 1-3 mpg fuel drag on the hwy last time i heard it was around 5 - 10 hp.
Old 06-11-2002, 02:28 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Vantage)

i dynod my civic hb w/b18b1 turbo with the a/c on just for fun(it was in one of my buddy's auto classes, they've actually got a dyno in that class!!) and it robbed me 19whp and 12lbs!!
Old 06-11-2002, 02:44 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (shermanyang)

damned a/c
Old 06-11-2002, 03:32 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (99MilanoRedSi)

yeah it does waste a considerable amount, but its, comfort and functionality vs performance, your choice.
Old 06-12-2002, 04:54 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (iwhichisme)

comfort and functionality vs performance, your choice
I agree here, after swapping engines out I decided I wanted to drive my Hybrid more often, so A/C was installed for comfort reasons.
Old 06-12-2002, 05:11 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (iwhichisme)

yeah.....Im only gonna use AC on my 5 hour drives to MN.
Old 06-12-2002, 06:28 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (99MilanoRedSi)

I've heard it stated several times, but haven't researched as a fact, that in a modern car your highway mileage will be better with the a/c on and the windows up that it will with the a/c off and windows down, due to the increased drag of the open windows. I may do some web searching to see if I can find any support for this.
Old 06-12-2002, 06:34 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Geezer)

'97 ITR A/C Complete minus belt for sale. IM if interested.
Old 06-12-2002, 02:43 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (shermanyang)

i dynod my civic hb w/b18b1 turbo with the a/c on just for fun(it was in one of my buddy's auto classes, they've actually got a dyno in that class!!) and it robbed me 19whp and 12lbs!!
What rpm range was that in?
Old 06-12-2002, 03:32 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Chiovnidca)

beginning all the way to redline(8500 with PYR chipped ecu)
there's MAJOR turbo lag with the a/c on. it's either that or it's just my car?? hell i'd take the damn thing out but ****, in mn it's hot and humid!! no cool breezes.
Old 06-12-2002, 04:30 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Geezer)

I've heard it stated several times, but haven't researched as a fact, that in a modern car your highway mileage will be better with the a/c on and the windows up that it will with the a/c off and windows down, due to the increased drag of the open windows. I may do some web searching to see if I can find any support for this.
I don't doubt it. I heard the same thing too...
Old 06-12-2002, 04:32 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (dilow)

i heard 1-2 mpg
Old 06-12-2002, 05:39 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (shermanyang)

beginning all the way to redline(8500 with PYR chipped ecu)
there's MAJOR turbo lag with the a/c on. it's either that or it's just my car?? hell i'd take the damn thing out but ****, in mn it's hot and humid!! no cool breezes.

SHIIIIT I have no a/c, and Im in the deep south. 80's+ every day and the humitidy is thru the roof... quit yer bitchin
Old 06-12-2002, 06:46 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (TheFLY)

you lose 3 or 4 mpg. i have also heard that you are better of with the AC on and windows up versus ac off and windows down. aerodynamics. so it costs 1/2 a cent more per mile for AC. what a bargain!!
Old 06-12-2002, 11:50 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (99MilanoRedSi)

A/C only wastes gas when it is turned on correct? does anyone know how much the A/C unit weights all together, on a 99 Civic Hatchback?
Old 06-13-2002, 04:42 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (shermanyang)

hell i'd take the damn thing out but ****, in mn it's hot and humid!! no cool breezes.
Minnesota and heat / humidity don't belong in the same sentence. You have got to be kidding me if you think it's hot up there.
Old 06-13-2002, 06:40 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (Project CTR)

all of the AC equipment weights at most 40 pounds. So that right there costs you 1/4 MPG. 12K miles a years and you spend an extra 4$ for THREE gallons of gas extra. But since you are "saving" money not having that weight to haul around you lose 3 MPG having the windows down. That costs you an extra 44 gallons of gas. 50$ per year.
So, at the end of the year you have sweated and had the windows down, devalued your car by $1,000, commited a federal offense releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere, all to spend 46$. Not to mention the wear and tear on your car's interior with all the dirt and wind buffeting the headliner.
Just use the AC please.


[Modified by jetdriven, 3:41 PM 6/13/2002]
Old 06-13-2002, 10:47 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (jetdriven)

lol
Old 06-13-2002, 11:50 AM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (99MilanoRedSi)

yes and no...Your ac robs you of power, but if you don't speed and just go a little slower then you are fine, but if you leave the window down and run the **** out of the car, then the drag hurts you more, kind of ironic huh?
Old 06-13-2002, 12:04 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (shermanyang)


i dynod my civic hb w/b18b1 turbo with the a/c on just for fun(it was in one of my buddy's auto classes, they've actually got a dyno in that class!!) and it robbed me 19whp and 12lbs!!
but with turbo..changes are always dramatic
Old 06-13-2002, 12:27 PM
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Default Re: Does Air Conditioning waste alot of Gas? (99MilanoRedSi)

I've got enough statistics on my 4Door 4x4 Tahoe to prove that the AC ON gets about 0.8 to 1.2 BETTER MPG at a 75 mph true indicated cruise speed.

Regards,
BigMoose
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