As soon as the temperature goes up, the air
conditioning goes on. But, what is the
cost of that comfort?
Anything you switch “on” in your car will make your
battery work harder, and that battery is getting its juice from that expensive
gas you put in the tank. So, should you
keep the air conditioning off and the windows down? The answer is… maybe.
At slower speeds, you are doing yourself and your
mileage a favor by having the windows down.
But, those savings seem to go away as you go faster. In fact, one study done in 2005 by Edmunds
suggests that having the windows down while driving over 55 miles per hour
burns the same gas as driving at 55 with the windows up and the air
conditioning on. Having the windows down
causes drag on your car, and that burns more gas.
To help save gas and make sure your air conditioning
is running properly, be sure to service the system once a year. Also, try to park in shaded areas and leave
the windows open. Finally, when you are
in town driving in stop-and-go traffic, put the windows down and turn the A/C
off.
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