Is turning your A/C up making your gas mileage go down?!???

The temperatures are so high this summer as well as  the gas prices!  Ever wonder if  running your AC in your car makes your gas mileage drop?   Hendrick Honda of Charleston would like to share some helpful tips on saving you gas!!

Lower the fan setting!

The simple answer would be that it depends on the driver! Gas mileage in vehicles directly relates to the amount of work an engine has to do. The more electronics that are being driven by an engine's revolutions and power, the more your fuel economy decreases. Air conditioning can produce a significant load on an engine, which directly affects fuel economy. So operating the air conditioner on "Max" can reduce the MPG when compared to not using it. To help your engine not have to work so hard to initially cool your car off on the hotter days you can briefly open your windows to flush out warm air. Letting your car idle to warm-up doesn't help your fuel economy, it actually uses MORE fuel.

The amount of time and distance traveled of each trip should always be taken into consideration. Consider not having the temperature set on “Freezing” or putting the fan on a lower speed to minimize the impact of air conditioning on fuel economy. Studies have found that a car running with AC is more fuel efficient than driving with the windows down. When we drive with open windows, the air that comes blowing into the car creates a kind of drag that puts extra pressure on the engine and forces it to work harder. Hence, it eats up fuel and the performance of your car decreases.

Let those windows up!