eye.surgeon

Those of you of a certain age will remember driving little Japanese econoboxes with underpowered engines barely able to run an A/C compressor. In those days if you didn't need the A/C, you turned it off, the return being more power and better fuel economy, and I always thought it saved wear and tear on the A/C system also.

These days everyone seems to just leaving A/C on in their cars all the time. Does turning it off extend the life of the compressor or belts and/or improve fuel economy of these new F50s?

EDIT:

Just to clarify, I am not talking about driving with the A/C off and the windows down. I'm talking about driving in the winter when it's cold outside, with the A/C off, windows up.

Tothemax

Mythbusters did an episode on this. If I remember correctly it was more fuel efficient to have the ac on rather than having your windows down.

Toddman38

iTrader: (5)

As ToTheMax said leaving the ac on vs. Off and windows open even halfway....

youll most likely see better mpgs with ac on and windows up, as your creating more drag on the vehicle with your windows/moonroof open... simple aerodynamics, not rocket science...

Ftruck150

I prefer the heater during the winter




Seriously though, unless its really hot and humid, I prefer the windows down.
The economy gain or loss either way means nothing, I'd rather be comfortable be it with a/c on to kill the humidity or windows down for fresh air breeze.
I'm not a big fan of A/C blowing on me, in the truck or in the house, unless it get's humid then that's another story.

MT-Ford

I run my A/C and leave my window down. Just doing my part to help the economy.

RLXXI

Comfort and convenience come at a cost.

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Watt-maker

I'm sure it helps to some degree with MPG but unless your in a lab with controlled conditions I'm not sure you could tell.

STingray1300

Partly true.

50mph and below it was more economical to have a/c off w/windows down. Above that, the wind drag from an open window fared worse thAn having the a/c on.

But all that said, an alert driver (i.e. "comfortable") is usually a much better option than a miserable driver trying to get 1 more mpg!

eye.surgeon

Just to clarify, I am not talking about driving with the A/C off and the windows down. I'm talking about driving in the winter when it's cold outside, with the A/C off, windows up.

Mike.357

I gotta ask, why run the A/C in the winter? It has never entered my mind to do that.