[noobinacan]

If you have climate control turned on, your AC is turned on. hence more fuel consumption and less power.
so, if you turn off climate contol, that's got to help. In the middle of winter, I really don't want my AC running.
Isn't this true of the mazdaspeed3 climate control system ???

I am assuming that when the AC light is green, that its running.
I have climate control turned off and I get around 24 mpg between city and HW driving. Trip computer says 25 mpg.

does anyone else get the same mpg with the climate control turned on ? better ? worse ?

 

[small town king]

for the most part, the AC gas mileage is a myth.


i get better mileage with my windows up, and AC on especially on the freeway.

city driving, i just roll the windows down, unless its stop n go.

 

[bani]

<50mph, windows down + ac off is more efficient.
>50mph, windows up + ac on is more efficient.

 

[Syd]

The AC is only on when the vents are on. If it's floor, the AC isn't actually running.

 

[GT1]

[quote author=Syd link=topic=66829.msg1147565#msg1147565 date=1168674620]
The AC is only on when the vents are on. If it's floor, the AC isn't actually running.
[/quote]
Someone gave you some bad information.

 

[noobinacan]

hmm ok, so I guess I'll be trying out the Auto-Climate control more. obviously with the windows up.

 

[k4hscorpion]

for the most part, the AC gas mileage is a myth.


i get better mileage with my windows up, and AC on especially on the freeway.

city driving, i just roll the windows down, unless its stop n go.

Actually this myth has been busted on myth busters. You use more gas with your windows up and ac on rather then having your windows down with ac off. I'm not sure what episode but its there.

Also, compared to my automatic mazda 3 sport 04 I get much better gas mileage on the ms3. Usually I have to fill up after driving to and from work monday - friday. In the ms3 Its saturday and I still have over a quarter tank of gas. I'm still learning to drive the stick so I don't race around and I don't drive with the ac on ever!

You may want to change the topic to crappy mileage with AC on.

 

[betelgeuse]

I'm sure an engine's power output has some effect on a car's A/C gas mileage. I hardly run the A/C right now so I haven't tested the difference but it seems to have very little effect, if any, on the car's performance when it's on. On all my other cars, even my mazda6 v6, it was noticeable and I could easily tell when it was on.

 

[Coulda]

Anything that uses power in your car takes away from the gas mileage, headlights, A/C, heat...it all causes less fuel mileage. But as you guys saw on TopGear when he drove the V8 Twin Turbo Audi from london to edinborough and back(roughly 800 miles) on 1 tank...trading creature comforts for fuel mileage sucks.

 

[Chipotle]

I am glad someone brought this up. I was considering doing the same. Its kind of annoying that when you go to auto climate, the A/C is automatically on. And it seems to be on.

For example. Its winter here, and I keep my temp at high 70's to low 80's. When I hit the off button, and then press auto, the green A/C light comes on, and if I am at an idle, I can feel the bog of the engine. And the temp is at the same it was before, and still say on floor, or floor/defrost.

I havent had a vehicle with A/C in a good few years, so I am not used to using it. I get more satisfaction from the windows being down. Of course that will change come summer. But I think if you have the ac off, and are on auto, and then turn all the climate control off, it should start up the same way you had it prior.

 

[stickyfingers]

the difference of having the AC on or windows down is negligable. you can maybe squeeze an extra $1 out of each tank by not using the AC - MAYBE. and if you care about that little amount so much then get a prius or something.

 

[rubyred3]

maybe for you MS3 guys this is true, but my mileage drops by 1-2 mpg (noticeable) when I use the A/c versus when I don't

 

[xxxxxxxxxxlc]

[quote author=k4hscorpion link=topic=66829.msg1147745#msg1147745 date=1168702500]
Actually this myth has been busted on myth busters. You use more gas with your windows up and ac on rather then having your windows down with ac off. I'm not sure what episode but its there.
[/quote]

Not quite - if I remember correctly they test it at relatively low speeds (below 50 I believe).

 

[rubyred3]

not to mention that they tested it in an SUV. It varies from car to car really, as the aerodynamics of the vehicle, how much worse they get with the windows down, and the engine power as well as A/C compressor size all play into it. Usually, smaller, more efficient, more aerodynamic cars tend to suffer a bigger penalty running the A/C rather while larger, less aerodynamic cars pay a bigger penalty putting the windows down.

Also, speed has a LOT to do with it, as aerodynamic drag increases with velocity squared. So, around town, windows down is more efficient, on the highway though, the A/C isn't as bad of an idea (relatively), as the aerodynamic penalty suffered from windows down is larger due to the higher speeds. If you're goin 80 mph+, A/C is for sure more efficient in almost any car.

 

[noobinacan]

on my next fill up, I am going to drive around with climate control.
I may do that for two to three weeks straight. I usually fill up on weekends, one tank gets me to work can back Mon - Friday + other driving.

 

[EvilDeadFan]

Here, I took a little snippet from http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2004/11/mythbusters_boom_lift_catapult.html

"Windows down vs. air conditioning
"Urban puzzle": it is more efficient, on a hot day, to run with the A/C on and windows up than to run with windows down (b/c of increasing car's drag).

Computer-based mpg measurements:

11.7/11.8 with A/C on and windows up
11.7/11.8 with A/C off and windows up
11.3 with A/C off and windows down
So, according to the computer, it's better to use A/C with windows up.

This was too quick and easy for TV, so they decided to stage a seven hour marathon, race-til-you're-empty duel, with Jamie driving an SUV with A/C on and Adam driving an SUV with windows down. Though, once the safety inspector intervened, it was no longer a seven-hour marathon, it was a bit slower (45mph instead of 55mph), and a lot shorter (only 5 gallons each).

Jamie's A/C car ran out of gas first -- Adam's windows down SUV ran for another 30 laps -- completely contradicting the computer mpg estimate. Computer estimate based on air flow into the engine, so it would appear that it is unable to properly model the difference between A/C and windows down.

Mythbusted"

30, count them. 30 more laps around an oval race track. That is retardedly better gas mileage!

 

[bani]

Mythbusters: Revisited - AC vs. Windows Down (air date: October 12, 2005)

 

[G Bush]

12000 miles/26 mpg (using A/C) * $2.50/gal = $1154

12000 miles/28mpg (NO A/C) * $2.50/gal = $1071

$83 per year for the use of your A/C (IF it is actually better MPG)

Around town, with all the stopping and going, I average 30 MPH and I get closer to 20mpg. I don't think A/C is the biggest effect on mileage.

Where and how you drive is the big deal.

Besides, at $83/year, how long will it take to pay for new power window regulators? (You may wear them out and lose some of your no-A/C savings).

Also, A/C has NO effect on acceleration. Since sometime in the 80's everybody has had system that shuts off the A/C clutch at full throttle.

 

[rubyred3]

[quote author=G Bush link=topic=66829.msg1148878#msg1148878 date=1168784055]
Also, A/C has NO effect on acceleration. Since sometime in the 80's everybody has had system that shuts off the A/C clutch at full throttle.
[/quote]

well, has no affect on WOT acceleration, but it will affect acceleration at any other throttle angle obviously. . .

 

[noobinacan]

[quote author=G Bush link=topic=66829.msg1148878#msg1148878 date=1168784055]


Also, A/C has NO effect on acceleration. Since sometime in the 80's everybody has had system that shuts off the A/C clutch at full throttle.
[/quote]

That is so not ture. I can feel the loss of power when I had my AC on on my mazda3. trun it off and away it goes.
I am not sure yet how much of it is there on the speed 3. Come summer and everyone will have a better idea, cause then your AC will be actually working and spitting cold air.

[quote author=Betelgeuse link=topic=66829.msg1147771#msg1147771 date=1168704058]
...On all my other cars, even my mazda6 v6, it was noticeable and I could easily tell when it was on.
[/quote]

[quote author=Coulda link=topic=66829.msg1147793#msg1147793 date=1168705299]
Anything that uses power in your car takes away from the gas mileage, headlights, A/C, heat...it all causes less fuel mileage....
[/quote]