Does turning the A/C off help MPG?
01-13-2014, 06:34 AM
#11
Senior Member
If you are running the defrost you can hear the A/C pump cycle. Not sure if that is to keep the pump lubricated while the engine is running or not, but I use the A/C on full heat with the defrost when I first fire it up until I get in the truck when it's fully defrosted.
01-13-2014, 07:04 AM
#12
I use the AC when it's hot in the summer and the heat in the winter.
Am I the only one that doesn't use their AC in the winter......?
Last edited by MikeyZ; 01-13-2014 at 03:11 PM.
01-13-2014, 07:09 AM
#13
If you are running the defrost you can hear the A/C pump cycle. Not sure if that is to keep the pump lubricated while the engine is running or not, but I use the A/C on full heat with the defrost when I first fire it up until I get in the truck when it's fully defrosted.
01-13-2014, 08:36 AM
#14
It's running nearly all the time, an AC or heat settings, to remove the moisture, as others have said. Many years ago it only ran when the AC was on. Then some years ago there was 1 or 2 vent settings that would not run the compressor. But now even those options are gone. If you have your climate control 'on', you are running the compressor.
01-13-2014, 02:24 PM
#15
OP, looks like folks are having a difficult time understanding your question, or maybe they are just being intentionally obtuse?
Anyway, to answer your question, no matter how powerful the engine, the drag of a compressor will increase the work your engine has to do and thus decrease your gas mileage.
It is difficult to find a good answer, but it seems that the AC compressor in a typical auto will use around 1 to 2 HP. So, if you are driving a 1980 Honda Civic with a 60 HP engine, then the AC would use more of your available horsepower than in a 300+ HP F-150 engine.
Now there's a lot more to it than that because of the weights of the cars and such. My guess is that the hit you will take in your truck is going to be smaller than you saw in an underpowered Asian car.
I had a 1996 4-cylinder Accord that went from about 22 mpg in the summer to about 26 mpg in the winter months due to the AC for my typical driving.
I had a 2006 Lexus ES 330 with a 6-cylinder that went from about 20 to 22 from summer to winter for my typical driving.
Hope that helps!
Anyway, to answer your question, no matter how powerful the engine, the drag of a compressor will increase the work your engine has to do and thus decrease your gas mileage.
It is difficult to find a good answer, but it seems that the AC compressor in a typical auto will use around 1 to 2 HP. So, if you are driving a 1980 Honda Civic with a 60 HP engine, then the AC would use more of your available horsepower than in a 300+ HP F-150 engine.
Now there's a lot more to it than that because of the weights of the cars and such. My guess is that the hit you will take in your truck is going to be smaller than you saw in an underpowered Asian car.
I had a 1996 4-cylinder Accord that went from about 22 mpg in the summer to about 26 mpg in the winter months due to the AC for my typical driving.
I had a 2006 Lexus ES 330 with a 6-cylinder that went from about 20 to 22 from summer to winter for my typical driving.
Hope that helps!
01-14-2014, 01:53 AM
#20
