Car AC related questions

Hi,

I am sorry to stir up the basics. I have some quick questions (Figo):

1.       Using the AC reduces mileage of the car. What if I keep the AC in minimum cold? Will it burn less patrol than keeping it in max cold? As I have sun films on, I do not need to keep it in max.

2.       The throttle response improves without the AC, but keeping it in minimum cold does not seem to help much. Should be the same with AC on or off right?

3.       How to use the re-circulator? Switch the AC off first, and then switch on the re-circulator? But this seems to work for only a short time, after that the car starts getting hot. Keep the AC on?

4.       On a long journey, what is the best patrol saving strategy? Use re-circulator, keep AC minimum etc??

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Hi Transporter,

Answers to your Questions to the best of my knowledge:

1. Using the AC does reduce the milage as the engine has to take on the load of the AC compressor. Unlike the Room AC keeping the AC knob in minimum or maximum position does not effect the AC compressor. It only acts on a valve which regulates cold or hot air flow. So the position of the AC knob does not increase or decrease milage.

2 The first answer applies for this.

3 It is always advisible to keep it in recirculation mode. The cooling will be efficient and outside polution will not get in. However if the air inside your car is stale, you can turn off the recirculation to get some fresh air in. What I do is to down the windows for 3 to 5 seconds to get fresh air in.

4, On long journey, you will notice that you get the most milage if you keep a constant speed. 80kmph is ideal and is the speed limit in indian highways.

I hope I have answered your questions. Drive safe. 

Hi Transporter,

Apart from the above reply , I have my own observations based on my experience and readings on car related material.

1. If you are cruising on a speed of 60kmph and above , it is advisable to go for the AC to have better mileage. As with the windows closed, you are overcoming the air drag which costs on the mileage. As a rule of thumb, below 60 go for open windows and above it go for closed windows.

2. The re-circulator is to be used if you are driving on dusty roads where the air is full of pollutants.Otherwise it is not advisable to go for re-circulator as it makes the car air stale and in turn the CO2 content of the air increases leading to dizziness.

Hope this helps.

Ffposts

Thanks to Highway.Ranger  and Ffposts.

I never knew about the air drag thing playing on mileage. Thank you.

Dear All,

thanks for sharing valauble information it enhance my knowledge.

My question is that for A car which don't have automatic Temp. control setting in AC. Is it advisable to keep AC off after sufficient cooling....??

Frequent switch OFF & ON will damage the A.C.....?? Is it advisable to OFF & ON the AC...??

 @ Sam011 "My question is that for A car which don't have automatic Temp. control setting in AC. Is it advisable to keep AC off after sufficient cooling....??"

If you are not keen on mileage with or without AC,It is better to keep AC on with minimum AC/ lower fan to 1st or 2nd speed after you  got the required cooling.This is because,if you stop the AC within short time you will have to switch on it.If not you have to open the windows due to which you will lose cooling and more time to cool.After  switching OFF AC,you will get sweating due to no airflow,then you have to  switch it ON.In this process,you are losing the comfort and the gain is very minimum.

Dear Ravi,

I am very much interested in getting the mileage. That's why i'm asking that frequently switch OFF & ON AC will affect the AC malfunctioning after some peroid (1 yrs) of use....??

I'm having ALTO, so when AC is on it also affect the pickup of the car, specially on Flyover.....