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    • Open a window or use the air conditioning? Find out what saves more fuel!
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    Open a window or use the air conditioning? Find out what saves more fuel!

    Pabio Posted on

    We doubt there is anyone who doesn’t turn on the air conditioning in their car during the summer months, but the following tip could prove very cost-effective for you during this relatively more bearable weather period. With fuel prices rising, many are trying to save more on fuel costs, so they open windows instead of using air conditioning. However, does turning off the air conditioning really save fuel? It turns out that this is not the case in all cases.

    There are two main factors to consider when approaching the question of which option saves you more money: an open window or an open air conditioning? The first is how your car’s air compressor works and how much extra fuel the engine needs to keep running. The second is what is called air resistance or “drag force.” This force is the resistance that the vehicle and all moving objects encounter when moving through the air at any speed. Most modern cars are designed to be relatively aerodynamic, allowing them to drive into the wind with minimal resistance. However, when the car windows are open, air enters the vehicle instead of flowing over it, causing resistance that did not exist when the windows were closed. You can think of it a bit like a parachute: when the parachute opens, it catches the air and creates a huge amount of resistance, enough to slow the skydiver down and allow them to land safely on the ground. Unlike a parachute, you definitely don’t want to have a lot of resistance in your car because it forces the engine to work harder to maintain speed and thus uses more fuel.

    So, does resistance really affect fuel consumption more than air conditioning? Above certain speeds – indeed, it does. Chris Evans of car comparison site Leasing.com warns that wind resistance from open windows can deplete your fuel tanks more quickly when driving at high speeds. However, when driving at low speeds, avoiding air conditioning in favor of natural ventilation may be more economical. “It is more efficient to drive with the windows open at low speeds because there is less aerodynamic drag. As the speed increases, the drag force on the car also increases,” he explained.

    Additionally, at lower RPMs, the engine produces less power, so it has to work much harder to operate things like the air compressor for the air conditioning. When the engine is running at higher speeds, it is already producing a lot of power, both for the engine and for additional equipment, such as air conditioning.

    How fast is it best to use air conditioning?

    Evans also specifies the speed at which the open window should switch to air conditioning. According to him, you can drive with the windows open up to a speed of 70 km/h. He told the Express: “It may seem unnecessary, but this error can have a significant impact on your fuel consumption. Using air conditioning can increase your fuel consumption by 10%, but opening windows at higher speeds can increase fuel consumption by 20%.

    Automotive experts explain that resistance does not increase linearly, but exponentially. For example, when the car is traveling at a speed of 110 km/h, the force exerted on the vehicle is actually four times greater than when it is traveling at 55 km/h. This means that even though the speed of the car has only doubled, the resistance has quadrupled.

    Nextbase expert Brian Brooker reinforced the message by saying: “If you can tolerate the noise, opening your windows will be a more effective choice than running the air conditioning at lower speeds. Above approximately 80 km/h, the resistance of the open windows means that the air conditioning will be more effective. »

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    The team from fuel additive manufacturer Redex joined the discussion and also recommended not opening windows during high-speed journeys. They said: “As tempting as it is to breathe in some sea or country air during a road trip, open windows threaten the aerodynamics of your vehicle, leading to excessive fuel consumption. On highways, use air conditioning.

    Some have different opinions

    British insurance company RAC has disputed this view, citing research from General Motors and engineering group SAE, which indicates that advice to turn on the air conditioning is incorrect. According to their study, which examined the impact of open windows versus air conditioning on fuel efficiency at speeds of 50, 80 and 110 km/h, lowering the window was actually more economical in all scenarios. . They also recommended air conditioning users to use it regularly and explained: “It should be remembered that the air conditioning will stop working if you do not use it regularly, which may require expensive repairs, this is so a good idea to turn it on from time to time. »

    Additionally, they note that in newer, more efficient vehicles, the difference between an open window and air conditioning may be negligible. The SAE conducted a test in 2013 on a 2009 Toyota Corolla at various speeds. They found that the Corolla had to travel at speeds above 80 mph with the windows down before aerodynamic drag made it less efficient than traveling with the air conditioning on. The SAE also tested a 2009 Ford Explorer and found that driving with the windows down was more efficient at low speeds, but there was no significant difference between the two methods above 60 mph.

    In conclusion, the benefits or lack thereof of driving with windows open depend on several variables, such as vehicle shape, engine displacement, and compressor efficiency. Every car will behave differently, so there are no hard and fast rules. However, regardless of your choice (windows or air conditioning), it is advisable to save fuel using methods such as keeping tires properly inflated, removing excess weight from the vehicle, and performing regular maintenance of all parts of the car.



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