How does Climate Control affect MPG?

[Jez]

In Eco mode (on mine anyway) the car can't cool the cabin below the outdoor ambient temperature, basically its the AC off button.

I think we all know what eco mode on climate control does

 

[Firestar_3x]

You would think but last time we had this discussion some didn't.....

 

[Skiddley]

Doesnt make any difference at all on my cars...

Agreed. Certainly less than 1mpg.

I just drop the roof, let all the heat float away, cold fall into the car, and put the roof back up

 

[Matt82]

it might only be 1mpg but thinking about the bhp.

 

[bledd]

in my car it effects performance when town driving more than it effects the mpg

need to rev a little more to get moving when my air con is on

I did one month of air con on all the time, and one month without

~1000 miles each month, couldn't tell a difference from the fuel usage.

 

[Howard]

Bugger all, I find. Well, it probably makes a difference but I don't notice or care

 

[killsta]

I don't see any difference at all on the RX8. Climate is always on AUTO at 19C. It does have a little 'ECO' symbol when on auto mode which on the RX doesn't mean the aircon is always off, it just switches it on/off as it needs to.

However I seem to get exactly 240 miles out of a tank regardless of driving style/aircon/heated seats/anything.

Weird car.

 

[Howard]

Climate is always on AUTO at 19C..

Brrrrr!

 

[s-man]

Find that it makes about 4-5mpg difference on mine (1.8t VAG). As has already been said it's more because of a difference in the feel of the car under acceleration that I don't have it on much.

And 19C?? Chilly! More like 29C in mine..

 

[Andr3w]

I have my climate on a lot of the time, between 19-21oc

 

[beermonster]

Using A/C has never bothered me in the slightest regarding mpg, the advantages it has outways any mpg degradation imo, I get the roughly the same to a full tank if I have it on or off.

People that don't have A/C or won't use it probably don't realise that having both windows down and the sunroof open create drag and affect mpg also.

 

[Tesla]

Does having AC on/off effect BHP at the wheels?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Find that it makes about 4-5mpg difference on mine (1.8t VAG). As has already been said it's more because of a difference in the feel of the car under acceleration that I don't have it on much.

And 19C?? Chilly! More like 29C in mine..

Your car is broken, go get it fixed.

Does having AC on/off effect BHP at the wheels?

Yes, you don't get something for nothing, but if you've got a car with any sort of power you simply won't notice.

 

[Locky]

I use the aircon all the time in my car for clearing the windscreen, aircon needs to be used to circulate the oils around the system.

 

[Matt82]

if you need it all the time, you might want to check the condition of your pollen filter. that could be adding moisture to the incoming air making the windows steam up

 

[SlyReaper]

A 1.4 litre engine is not big.

Tell that to my insurance company.

 

[panthro]

I never saw any negative effect on my fuel consumption with the AC on in my 172, 330Ci, Impreza, Focus, or ST220.
However I noticed it drop when I had my Punto Sporting (1.2), it was like an asthmatic blowing through a straw.

 

[gurusan]

Yes, you don't get something for nothing, but if you've got a car with any sort of power you simply won't notice.

Yeah but I'm pretty sure most if not all modern cars will disengage the AC compressor via a clutch at WOT. My old 93 civic did.

 

[Locky]

if you need it all the time, you might want to check the condition of your pollen filter. that could be adding moisture to the incoming air making the windows steam up

I ment in the mornings etc, not all the time while driving.

 

[Prophet]

I have mine on all the time set to around 19.5 which I find an ideal temp.

Couldn't tell you if it affects MPG as I've not had it off long enough to notice.

05 Mondeo Zetec 2.0 Oil Burner.