wyche89

Hey, guys it's always been my understanding that air conditioning uses up extra gas in cars. However, I've been hearing lately that that's not true depending on which type of car you have. Does it suck up gas in our cars? I haven't gotten the chance to test it out, but I'm thinking it does since it zaps accelleration...

MintVQ35

iTrader: (1)

Any accessory that runs off a serpentine belt on the motor has the ability to affect gas mileage in some way, depending on the motor the effect could be barely noticeable or substancial. I used to have a 92 s10 pickup with a 2.8L 125hp V6, when running the a/c the truck felt like it lost a good 40hp. In my maxima with the a/c on I can tell the power is off slightly, however mileage appears to be barely effected from what I have seen in the maxima.

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Its really hard to say, I was in the same boat as you. I was Weary to use it due to increased gas consumption, but wasnt sure if it even effected it much. I have been using it pretty consistantly with the recent heat and havent noticed drasitcal loss of mpg.
I once read it only effects <1mpg

ChromeSE5

iTrader: (3)

Supposedly an aftermarket under drive pulley will offset the loss of power when the AC is on. This is what I have read from a few post on this forum and also from other people who have an aftermarket UDP on different cars. Who knows though, it could be placebo.

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

I don't know in my 02 it seems that i tend to get better mileage with the A/C on. Might be psychological too, I tend to be calmer with the windows up and the temp set to 72.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

The car will idle slightly richer, so if you do a lot of city driving, you WILL lose MPG. Our car's (95-07)are equipped with a switch that disables the AC whenever certain load &/or aggressive throttle angles are seen by the ECU. So, the power loss will be 0 whenever those conditions are met.

wyche89

yeah, i live in the city, so city driving is something i do alot... is this switch present in the 00-01's as well? i havent noticed that

wyche89

right right.. lol

Love_00_Max

I hope I owned your car and you mine. My car drinks gas with AC on like a wild drunkard, I have stopped using my AC.

00MaxSE

iTrader: (25)

wild drunkard FTL!

Professor

iTrader: (4)

Its barely Noticable in my car with the ac on, but when i had my old 91 sentra <go ahead laugh> with a AMAZING GA16DE motor, i swear the AC took 50 horse off the motor, i would have to turn it off to go up hills, it was bad, also there is 2 designs of compressors, the newer ones dont draw as much off the motor as the older style ones like in my old sentra, i forget the 2 desiign names but some research should yeild some results.

wyche89

hmm.. it seems like it may be just individual car differences.. but that doesnt make sense to have such varying results in the same type of car:
maybe the differences can be accounted for if some do alot of city driving, and others dont:
has anybody done a mpg test with AC on the whole time for a tank, and AC off the whole time for another tank?

whitethunder

Ive noticed I was getting about 450 - 475 km per tank on my 03 SE in the winter and now with the AC on ALL the time, I get within 5 - 10 km either way, ie nothing major.

All using 94 octane.

DasYears

WHAT?!?! thats practically race gas round these parts (91)

wyche89

sunoco used to offer 94 around here, but no more since the gas prices went up.. the highest is 93 now

nk2k2

iTrader: (7)

wasn't it tested on mythbusters that with the a/c on that you get better mileage? i guess it depends on the car/truck. they used identical expeditions. i have also noticed the lag in acceleration with the a/c on but with temps at 110 w/ the heat index, i think its foolish not to have it one to save 1-2 gallons worth of gas. oh btw, i have gotten 24 mpg with the a/c on. i don't drive aggressively so i guess that helps.

edit: V-power is 2.85 here.

DasYears

a/c on vs. window open is what they tested

wyche89

better gas mileage? thats interesting.. i'm gonna test it myself soon, but i can't do it now because i'm traveling to NY for the maxima meet, which is gonna be mostly highway driving, whereas i do mostly city every day.. i wanna wait until i go back to work so i can get more consistent driving conditions going back and forth every day

Trurida18

iTrader: (4)

so i wonder if really adding an Aftermarket Under Drive Pulley would help out the issue a bit. Becasue with the A/C on i do feel a slight decrease in power when accelarating, as opposed to accelarating with it off.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Mythbusters did it at 50 mph IIRC. Drag force increase exponentially with speed, so "your mileage will vary."
Whatever fuel savings you get with short warmups during summer time are offset by A/C operation. How does it compare w/ late spring/early fal mileagel?

BMWHIGH1

Well i thought it was just me but when i have my a/c i dont feel a power lost at all, as a matter or fact it actually rides better to me with the a/c on. i know it sounds weird but thats mostly highway driving though.

jakesI30

Just a side note,, your a/c compressor is on when you have your defroster operating,, to dehumidify the cabin air. your best mileage will occur with windows up and no a/c running

frayser boy

I don't see any difference in my mileage with a/c on or off.

Trurida18

iTrader: (4)

ive heard that as well also...there is drag due to if you have the A/C OFF but the windows down, and there is a slight drag with the A/C on full blast with the windows up. Sometimes i drive with the windows down somewhat and the A/C on.

nk2k2

iTrader: (7)

maybe i didnt read it right, but how do you have drag with the windows up and a/c on? also why do people use their a/c with the windows cracked? ive never understood that. ive seen people have their a/c running with the windows down. i think thats a waste of money and resources. no offense to you trurida

jakesI30

I might have not been real clear with my drag statement, the point I was trying to make is, the aerodynamic drag is least with the windows up, secondly,, without the a/c compressor on no engine power is used to turn it. That being said, I dont believe there is any aerodynamic drag created by running the a/c,, just parasitic. Sorry if I clouded the issue.

MacGarnicle

iTrader: (1)

Myth Busters tested it in an episode a while back... around 10% loss in mileage I think they found.. although results may vary of course. Open windows causes drag which loweres your mileage as well.. as was mentioned, only way to avoid any loss is to drive with windows up and a/c off.. At the end of the day, do you want to seat your **** off to save a few $$ at the pump? Whats your comfort worth.

Trurida18

iTrader: (4)

none taken at all....i guess i just do it simply because thats the only way for me to settle with the temp when im driving, elsewise ill be turning the **** back and fourth from 70-77 degrees. I DONT do it on the highway, just when im driving in the city....but i do feel a slight drag, or decrease in power when ive got the a/c on full blast...NOT much but slightly. But simply what jakesI30 stated is what i mean. I didnt mean to use drag

jakesI30

windows up and no a/c is not an option here,, avg high temps in Aug,, 110-115 f,, but its a dry heat lol (so is an oven)

Teufelhunden

iTrader: (8)

on the high way the difference is maybe like 1mpg. on the city its probably more like 2-3. ive been using AC most of the time, high way, city. and it seems like i get the same mileage as not using it.

Trurida18

iTrader: (4)

tell me about it......im in Baltimore MD, near DC and its usually 92-100 degrees.....the last week its been 105+

nlmaxima

iTrader: (10)

Best mileage I ever got with the 98 Max was on a hot day and the A/C on MAX. I drove 560kms(347miles)from Edmunston New Brunswick to Cornwall Ontario or through Quebec without stopping for gas and it took 42 liters(11.09US gallons) to fill the tank. Works out to be just over 31mpg. I drove between 120k/hr and 140k/hr and I thought my arm was going to get frost burned, it was blowing real cold air. I only used Regular unleaded gas in it. The only real difference I ever found with regular and supreme was the price. I haven't taken a good road trip with the 02 Max so I don't know for sure if the mileage is affected much but it don't seam to be.

wyche89

now THAT's impressive... 31 mpg with the ac on? thats better than my moms crv.. lol

nlmaxima

iTrader: (10)

I actually thought the gas hand wasn't working. I squeezed that much gas into it. It has always gotten about 28-30MPG on the highway but that day impressed me because of the speed I was doing and the A/C on bust.

Squirrel82

iTrader: (30)

I had a 91 sentra too.

Sunfishsailboat

I have not had it zap my acceleration. Recently, I just read that running the A/C will only affect about a mile per gallon. I say put your air on and at least enjoy it!

maxima1380

iTrader: (1)

I don't see that big of a change at the pump. But what ever it is it is a small price to pay to be cool...

Trurida18

iTrader: (4)

^^as HOT as it was outside, im willing to pay that price

lowincash

iTrader: (2)

i saw on mythbusters they did the test and driving with the a/c on does use more gas. they tested on ford expedition or explorer i forgot, maybe that's a bit different than a maxima. i notice mine eats more gas when i'm using the a/c more...took like 1mpg off i think. i haven't used the a/c this week and i got slightly better gas mileage btw i like to drive with a/c on because for some reason the car feels smoother and accelerates better =/

SilverGLE

iTrader: (21)

^ I saw that episode too... Basically, there's a speed at which drag increases so much that driving with the AC on is more efficient than the drag with the windows down. But it's been so damn hot here I can't drive with the windows down for long. A small price to pay, indeed!