I've always heard that it does, is this true?

 

Not a lot but it uses engine power to turn and therefore more gas is needed than normal to maintain a certain speed.

 

I wonder exactly how much power it drains... I'm going to guess 15ft-lbs torque...

 

Has anyone run a dyno with their A/C turned on?

 

about 1-3 mpg fuel drag on the hwy last time i heard it was around 5 - 10 hp.

 

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!!

 

damned a/c

 

yeah it does waste a considerable amount, but its, 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.

 

yeah.....Im only gonna use AC on my 5 hour drives to MN.

 

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.

 

'97 ITR A/C Complete minus belt for sale. IM if interested.

 

What rpm range was that in?

 

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.

 

I don't doubt it. I heard the same thing too...

 

i heard 1-2 mpg

 

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

 

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!!

 

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?

 

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.

 

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]

 

lol

 

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?

 

but with turbo..changes are always dramatic

 

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