THR32 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Evening all, Just wondering what everyone here does with their aircon... I tend to leave it switched off for fuel economy (both for reasons of cost and the environment), yet even the VW manual and some other motoring journalists say to leave it on all the time. Is the effect on fuel consumption now so minimal that it makes no odds, or is there still good reason to switch it off when you don't absolutely need it? Thanks all! TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rothwell Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Your R32 will cost you more to open the window than to use the airconditioning due to the increased drag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I have not switched off my climate control since I got the car. Then again, the company pays the fuel .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 personally, i have it on when needed, though i know several people who have it on all the time. no idea which is better, im just doing to save some fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I leave mine off at the moment because its fecked and makes horrid noises but i know it makes hardly any difference to my fuel consumption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Your R32 will cost you more to open the window than to use the airconditioning due to the increased drag. [/ QUOTE ] Depends how fast he's going! Mine's on permanently. I really can't imagine it makes that much difference to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 you can turn air-con off ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Mine is on all the time, without fail - even all the way through winter. If you leave it on, you'll not notice the extra fuel you're using... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I use mine when needed and also give it a good blast every 2 weeks, just to make sure everything works ok and to stop the bacteria from forming and making it smell like pi$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossG Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I'm in Kate's boat - mine makes a truly irritating noise - although apparently there's nothing wrong with it. I use it when I need it, as simple as that - be it on a hot day, a sunny day on the motorway, or a wet winters day when the car's all steamed up. If I want to have the window open - or it's not sunny or hot - then it's often on Econ. It doesn't really make a big difference to MPG - but in my world there's a huge physcological difference between 24 mpg and 28 mpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Even when I used to drive a company car and didn't pay for the fuel, I only switched it on when I needed it. It does blunt the performance slightly, and fuel consumption is increased, though at motorway cruising speeds it doesn't seem to make that much difference in the A4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleyadam Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I use when I need no reason to use when not needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyds Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 It makes a BIG difference to my mother's 1600cc Focus, you can feel a heavy drag on the engine (similar to the drag you get when you turn on all your electrical loads) and she has to turn it off to pull out of junctions as there's so much loading on the engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I only turn mine on when going downhill. Fuel economy comes first! It makes about 4mpg difference with me if I turn it on, so it's off most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I think you're just being pikey I switch mine off when I don't need it but mainly because it means I stop getting air blown in my face. I can't say that I've noticed it making a big difference to performance and my driving is so varied that it is hard to judge any difference that it might make to economy. Moving from 17mpg average to 44mpg average means that I spend my entire time in a state of disbelief anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisel Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 You ought to use it at least once each month - the refrigerant (?) contains lubricants that will help keep the seals supple. Without it, the seals will dry out & you will have a system that will never stop leaking. It won't work if the outside temerature is less than 5oC to prevent the possibility of the compressor drawing liquid instead of gas. Mine stays on auto all year round BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Contry to urban legend it does use more fuel to use aircon that it does to open the window, at lower to moderate speeds that its. It was actually on a TV program called Mythbusters on Discovery a few weeks ago where they did a back to back test, and the difference was quite large. For me I put it on if I need it, its wet or cold otherwise it only takes all the moisture out of the air and doing nothing for the environment your sitting in the car let along to the actually environment itself. Don't car if I'm being a pikey or not. I don't leave a light on in the house if I'm not in the room so why would I leave the aircon on when it isn't needed. All you need to do is put it on once every few weeks to keep the bearings in the compressor from seizing though this is rarely a problem in modern installations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 In the A4, it's on all the time (in fact it hasn't moved from Lo since the PDI in March). In our 1.4 Citroen C2 station car, it only goes on when needed. Definite drain on the power when turned on and that's the only reason it's off. I'd never notice the 1mpg difference on either car (they're both drink like petrol like it's going out of fashion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair_A3 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I'm in Kate's boat - mine makes a truly irritating noise - although apparently there's nothing wrong with it. I use it when I need it, as simple as that - be it on a hot day, a sunny day on the motorway, or a wet winters day when the car's all steamed up. If I want to have the window open - or it's not sunny or hot - then it's often on Econ. It doesn't really make a big difference to MPG - but in my world there's a huge physcological difference between 24 mpg and 28 mpg [/ QUOTE ] Funny you say that, my wifes VW Sharan does the exact same thing! Plus the stealers say theres nothing wrong with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Only car I had with air-con was my Civic 1.4. Never used it unless stuck in traffic in the summer, sapped too much power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 on all the time, and used if the climate feels the need. makes for a more pleasant atmosphere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Only on when I feel it is needed, on ECON mode otherwise as it is sufficient most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] personally, i have it on when needed, though i know several people who have it on all the time. no idea which is better, im just doing to save some fuel. [/ QUOTE ] I didn't know Seicento's came with air con? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THR32 Posted September 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Thanks all for the advice - makes good sense! TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 I leave mine on all the time. I did the same in my previous car. I haven't been able to calculate a difference, that I could attribute to the air con, in my mpg between having it on or off. So I leave it on. As already has been mentioned, it makes the car more comfortable. My father is the exact opposite - on a recent stay in South Wales the weather was glorious and air con was a must. He refused to turn it on and I could see him, my mum, my young niece and nephew, in his car with the windows open but still looking uncomfortable. I tell him he needs to run it once in a while, but I don't think he does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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