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Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO - Car Talk - Nairaland

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Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by ogbiwa: 3:57pm On Apr 07, 2016
Pls I've been asking this question for sometime now. Does fuel consumption on AC vary with the various LO, MID HI AC levels or it consumes same amount once the AC is switched on regardless of the level. However i think my engine power changes as I either increase or reduce my AC. Auto gurus abeg food don done.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Nobody: 4:03pm On Apr 07, 2016
ceteris paribus no.
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Sixaxis: 4:05pm On Apr 07, 2016
As far as d compressor is working, still dsnt make any difference

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by honmusa(m): 8:30pm On Apr 07, 2016
ogbiwa:
Pls I've been asking this question for sometime now. Does fuel consumption on AC vary with the various LO, MID HI AC levels or it consumes same amount once the AC is switched on regardless of the level. However i think my engine power changes as I either increase or reduce my AC. Auto gurus abeg food don done.
You already know the answer that increasing your AC level is like putting more load on your engine which is equivalent to more fuel consumption .

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by honmusa(m): 8:34pm On Apr 07, 2016
ogbiwa:
Pls I've been asking this question for sometime now. Does fuel consumption on AC vary with the various LO, MID HI AC levels or it consumes same amount once the AC is switched on regardless of the level. However i think my engine power changes as I either increase or reduce my AC. Auto gurus abeg food don done.
You already know the answer that increasing your AC level is like putting more load on your engine which is equivalent to more fuel consumption .Your ECU will need step up your engine performance to keep your engine from stalling which is why you will definitely feel the drag on your engine the more with AC at the highest level.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Sunymoore(m): 8:51pm On Apr 07, 2016
No! Because, a car compressor is either mechanically on or off, so setting it to hight is only increasing the blowers speed, and that will cause slight fuel consumption, because the fan is an electrical component, so running at high speed will make it to use more power from the alternator, thus increasing your fuel consumption with slight margin...
So, in summary is No! Due to negligible increase in fuel consumption...

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by honmusa(m): 9:24pm On Apr 07, 2016
Sunymoore:
No! Because, a car compressor is either mechanically on or off, so setting it to hight is only increasing the blowers speed, and that will cause slight fuel consumption, because the fan is an electrical component, so running at high speed will make it to use more power from the alternator, thus increasing your fuel consumption with slight margin...
So, in summary is No! Due to negligible increase in fuel consumption...
w.
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by honmusa(m): 9:26pm On Apr 07, 2016
Sunymoore:
No! Because, a car compressor is either mechanically on or off, so setting it to hight is only increasing the blowers speed, and that will cause slight fuel consumption, because the fan is an electrical component, so running at high speed will make it to use more power from the alternator, thus increasing your fuel consumption with slight margin...
So, in summary is No! Due to negligible increase in fuel consumption...
where is the empirical data to substantiate you claim of ''slight margin fuel increase''= "negligible fuel increase?

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Nobody: 9:34pm On Apr 07, 2016
ogbiwa:
Pls I've been asking this question for sometime now. Does fuel consumption on AC vary with the various LO, MID HI AC levels or it consumes same amount once the AC is switched on regardless of the level. However i think my engine power changes as I either increase or reduce my AC. Auto gurus abeg food don done.

With the older magnetic clutch-type compressor (fixed displacement) once the clutch is engaged, the engine will use a bit more fuel. Altering the temperature setting will NOT increase fuel consumption, however altering the blower speed will affect fuel consumption marginally, due to more voltage being drawn, and therefore more load on the engine via the crank-driven alternator.

With the later clutchless-type compressor (variable displacement) fuel consumption is proportional to temperature setting. This is because it has the pistons mounted on a swash plate. Altering the temperature alters the angle of the swash plate from shallow to steep, with the steepest angle giving more piston swept volume, and therefore more load on the engine. Altering the blower speed will have a marginal effect on fuel consumption as in the older system.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Sunymoore(m): 9:37pm On Apr 07, 2016
honmusa:

where is the empirical data to substantiate you claim of ''slight margin fuel increase''= "negligible fuel increase?
No data! But what I'm trying to say is that, the increase in fuel consumption is small and almost negligible to what the OP is expecting, because, no excess horse power is added to the engine by the compressor, but the blowers draws more power from the alternator... The case is similar to overflogged dead horse of how day light cause 'massive' fuel consumption..

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by honmusa(m): 9:57pm On Apr 07, 2016
Sunymoore:

No data! But what I'm trying to say is that, the increase in fuel consumption is small and almost negligible to what the OP is expecting, because, no excess horse power is added to the engine by the compressor, but the blowers draws more power from the alternator... The case is similar to overflogged dead horse of how day light cause 'massive' fuel consumption..
The alternator that is supplying power to the blower fan is definitely taking power from the fuel in your car and that blower fan is a substantial load on your alternator which still lay credence to the principle of conservation of energy that states" Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it transforms from one form to another.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Sunymoore(m): 6:00am On Apr 08, 2016
honmusa:

The alternator that is supplying power to the blower fan is definitely taking power from the fuel in your car and that blower fan is a substantial load on your alternator which still lay credence to the principle of conservation of energy that states" Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it transforms from one form to another.
Bro, Fan at high speed consumes fuel, but the amount of fuel consumed is so small that it can be negligible...
My car only have a single fan, and that fan Cools the radiator and compress the AC. It might interest you that, even if I didn't engage the AC, sometimes the fan comes at full, and no fuel drain is observed, and if the AC Is engaged, the fan stays at full all the time...

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by lonelydora: 8:52am On Apr 08, 2016
It consumes more fuel but it's negligible.
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by honmusa(m): 10:06am On Apr 08, 2016
Sunymoore:

Bro, Fan at high speed consumes fuel, but the amount of fuel consumed is so small that it can be negligible...
My car only have a single fan, and that fan Cools the radiator and compress the AC. It might interest you that, even if I didn't engage the AC, sometimes the fan comes at full, and no fuel drain is observed, and if the AC Is engaged, the fan stays at full all the time...
Bros,try to google the difference between condenser fan and blower fan .seems u don't really know the difference.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Sunymoore(m): 12:25pm On Apr 08, 2016
honmusa:

Bros,try to google the difference between condenser fan and blower fan .seems u don't really know the difference.
I do, what I'm saying is regarding the negligible power draw of fans..
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by phibetakappa: 8:11pm On Apr 08, 2016
honmusa:

Bros,try to google the difference between condenser fan and blower fan .seems u don't really know the difference.
You are right, he seems to be confusing the two.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Bluffly: 3:04am On Apr 09, 2016
Sunymoore:
No! Because, a car compressor is either mechanically on or off, so setting it to hight is only increasing the blowers speed, and that will cause slight fuel consumption, because the fan is an electrical component, so running at high speed will make it to use more power from the alternator, thus increasing your fuel consumption with slight margin...
So, in summary is No! Due to negligible increase in fuel consumption...
Hi and lo is not just the fan. What about the temperature settings
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Sunymoore(m): 3:22am On Apr 09, 2016
Bluffly:
Hi and lo is not just the fan. What about the temperature settings
Check the reply in blue above
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by adanny01(m): 1:27pm On Apr 09, 2016
Siena:


With the older magnetic clutch-type compressor (fixed displacement) once the clutch is engaged, the engine will use a bit more fuel. Altering the temperature setting will NOT increase fuel consumption, however altering the blower speed will affect fuel consumption marginally, due to more voltage being drawn, and therefore more load on the engine via the crank-driven alternator.

With the later clutchless-type compressor (variable displacement) fuel consumption is proportional to temperature setting. This is because it has the pistons mounted on a swash plate. Altering the temperature alters the angle of the swash plate from shallow to steep, with the steepest angle giving more piston swept volume, and therefore more load on the engine. Altering the blower speed will have a marginal effect on fuel consumption as in the older system.

You said even more than i know with regards to the clutchless type of compressor. I just want to add a little info with regards to the magnetic clutch.

I agree that temp setting will not increase fuel consumption on the magnetic clutch system. However, the blower speed will increase fuel consumption due to voltage draw like you said plus magnetic clutch cycling operation which will engage longer with higher blower setting. A blower with 4 speed setting will cause the clutch to stay engage longer with higher blower speed, say the clutch engages for 30sec ON then OFF for 30secs on blower setting 1. The clutch will engage for say 1min and disengage for 20s on blower setting 2. For 3, it may engage 2mins and off 10s. For 4 or HI blower setting, clutch may cycle ON for 5mins and OFF 10secs.

Effectively, the compressor works longer on hi blower than on lo blower setting, taking more fuel in the process. Some cars hav MAX A/C which stops the clutch from cycling on or off. Other cars have interior temp sensors that initial stops the clutch from cycling until a required low temp is reach then the clutch starts cycling. These scenerios would definitely take more fuel.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Chuukwudi(m): 5:22am On Apr 11, 2016
Yes na.
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by CzarRex: 5:24am On Apr 11, 2016
yes of course, I noticed it when travelling on a journey frm ph to abj on an ac bus,with the ac on we were stopping almost every 2hrs to get fuel, but without d ac on, it took us longer to get fuel
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by lonelydora: 5:29am On Apr 11, 2016
CzarRex:
yes of course, I noticed it when travelling on a journey frm ph to abj on an ac bus,with the ac on we were stopping almost every 2hrs to get fuel, but without d ac on, it took us longer to get fuel

There is a problem with that bus. Just 2 hours of traveling?

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by cocoberry(f): 5:49am On Apr 11, 2016
I'm here to Learn...

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by 1886martino(m): 5:49am On Apr 11, 2016
Yes! You have to accept that your engine consumes more fuel wit the A/C on than without it.
How does A/C Compressor work? In a simple term, it's a stop n start components with temperature target. If it's on high or max it stays on longer. Meaning it will put more load on the engine longer.

Professional AutoEngineer/Analyst
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by maputohq: 5:49am On Apr 11, 2016
lonelydora:


There is a problem with that bus. Just 2 hours of traveling?
rather there is a problem with the narrative.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by Nobody: 5:52am On Apr 11, 2016
Op, a trial will surely convince yhu. Just try eh
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by KINGwax007(m): 6:01am On Apr 11, 2016
ogbiwa:
Pls I've been asking this question for sometime now. Does fuel consumption on AC vary with the various LO, MID HI AC levels or it consumes same amount once the AC is switched on regardless of the level. However i think my engine power changes as I either increase or reduce my AC. Auto gurus abeg food don done.
AC consumes approximately 5% of your fuel on a HI mode
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by kuntash: 6:10am On Apr 11, 2016
The AC fan speed can affect the working of your compressor.

At lower speeds, the thermostat senses more coolness around the evaporator and in turn assumes sufficient coldness even though the cabin isn't that cool yet ... and shuts off the compressor. Whilst this process of compressor shutdown takes a longer time when the fan blower is at Max ..... blows out coldness off from the evaporator and condenses faster ...

And since the compressor contributes a drag in the engine , the compensation for this is a little fuel ...

This applies to almost all devices controlled by thermostat, whether cooling or heating ...


For example , your electric pressing iron would consume more power/electricity when u iron starched cloths with steam ...

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by SammyGyang(m): 6:12am On Apr 11, 2016
No. Once the compressor picks, it consumes same amount of fuel whether it's on "HI" or "LO". That's what a lot of Nigerians fail to understand.

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Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by SammyGyang(m): 6:17am On Apr 11, 2016
That's not an answer to the OP's question. Kindly read again
CzarRex:
yes of course, I noticed it when travelling on a journey frm ph to abj on an ac bus,with the ac on we were stopping almost every 2hrs to get fuel, but without d ac on, it took us longer to get fuel
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by martineverest(m): 6:18am On Apr 11, 2016
Almost negligible.

The r.p.m removed from engine to power the compressor is almost negligible compared to that channeled to the Tyres.

The most important thing is: Use air con when driving at high speed and switch off the AC at lower speed
Re: Does A Car Consume More Fuel When The AC Is On HI Than On LO by kuntash: 6:21am On Apr 11, 2016
SammyGyang:
No. Once the compressor picks, it consumes same amount of fuel whether it's on "HI" or "LO". That's what a lot of Nigerians fail to understand.

Partially correct especially for vehicles with bad or faulty thermostats ....

The regulation of the working of the compressor is directly proportional to the rate @ which the cabin evaporator condenses ....which in turn is altered by the fan speeds

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