AC and Gas mileage

[steve smith]

petro canada 94 octane

[SteelBlueGT]

Mileage is really based mostlyon how you drive. Sure a finely tuned motor will get better mileage all things being equal, but all things are never really equal. The faster I go the worse my mileage is and that will always be true. Its funny the more go fast parts I put on my car the faster I drive the worse the gas mileage I get!! Right now I get about 24 mpg highway and 20 around town. I expect to get less mpg in town now that summer is here and I use the AC for each trip here in sunny and hot Inland SoCal!!

[MichaelDay]

Some, but not all, of the reduced mileage attributed to air conditioning is a result of the reformuled gasoline used in some areas of the country during the summer months.

[SteelBlueGT]

Very true but for some reason my Cruiser does a better job with summer gas than my 87 Mustang that looses at least 2 to 4 mpg as soon as the summer gas is introduced each year.

quote:Originally posted by MichaelDay

Some, but not all, of the reduced mileage attributed to air conditioning is a result of the reformuled gasoline used in some areas of the country during the summer months.

[R3dWhitNCrz]

Whew! Glad to see that it is a universal thing with the AC! When the humidity is down I don't use the AC...just 4x60 (four windows down at 60+MPH). Thanks for the conversations and inputs. enjoy the ride![?]

[2step]

I had heard somewhere that at highway speed, the power loss due to extra wind resistance of having the windows rolled down was greater than having the windows rolled up and the A/C on.

Any thoughts on which is the "Urban Legend"? [:I]

[MichaelDay]

Try this link http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_393.html for an experiment that showed that at highway speeds, neither made much difference but the A/C did reduce the fuel mileage slightly less than having the windows down. On the other hand, another "study" indicated that at 45 mph the A/C used more fuel than having the windows down http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/u...0;t=000565;p=0.

The higher the speed, the more turbulence and wind drag in general so the less difference the impact of driving with the A/C on and the greater the impact of messing up the aerodynamics of the vehicle by having the windows down. The "general wisdom" is at low speeds the A/C uses more fuel but as the speed increases the numbers change and the windows down approach is more harmful to fuel economy http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/...4/article.html.

Of course, slowing down on the highway and driving more conservatively in town will affect your fuel economy more than the A/C being off or on will.

[PT-ERA]

I am averaging 22 mpg with my car. I try my best to keep my top speed between 60 and 65. I've heard that helps with fuel economy, but sometimes I feel like a turtle the way folks around the DC area drive. I watch folks blow by me at 70-75 and smile as I see them burn up all their cash as fuel prices rise.

Just remind yourself, this car is named "Cruiser" for a reason.

[8)] Cruise on!

[Cal Cruzer]

Mine a called a GT for a reason, and it ain't to watch the fuel gauge! I have noticed that I get better mileage since the Stage 1 install. I didn't really believe people when they said that would happen but it does. I don't really measure milage but I used to have to fill up around 220. I still fill up then but still have fuel reading on the gauge and could probably get to 250 miles if I had too. Not a big deal, I was just surprised.

[R3dWhitNCrz]

Thanks to every for your reponses. Enjoy the ride![^]