Can You Turn on the Air Conditioning While Practicing Driving?

[McAnastasia]

You cannot turn on the air conditioning while practicing driving. If you do, the coach car may experience insufficient power and is more likely to stall. Here are some tips for using car air conditioning: 1. Ventilate before turning it on: After the car has been exposed to the sun for a long time, open all four doors and the sunroof to allow air to circulate inside the car for 3 minutes. This will quickly lower the interior temperature, making the air conditioning more effective when turned on. 2. Use the recirculation mode wisely: The recirculation mode blocks hot air from outside, creating a sealed space inside the car, allowing the air to circulate quickly under the air conditioning's effect for rapid cooling. Once the interior temperature has dropped, it is recommended to switch to the fresh air mode every 30 minutes to purify the air inside the car, then switch back to recirculation mode after 5 minutes. 3. Turn off the air conditioning in time: Turn off the air conditioning 5 minutes before parking to protect the engine and save fuel.

[DeGabrielle]

Driving instructors will tell you that it's best not to use the air conditioning when you first start practicing driving. In the early stages of learning, you should roll down the windows and rely on natural airflow to stay alert, keeping all your focus on the driving operations. Your hands need to grip the steering wheel, your left foot presses the clutch, and your right foot has to manage both the brake and the accelerator. If you turn on the AC, the engine has to power the compressor as well, which slightly reduces the car's power response—this can be particularly critical during hill starts. Once you've mastered the basics by the time you're practicing for Subject 3, then try driving with the AC on to experience real driving conditions. That's when you'll understand why people always say air conditioning is a major fuel consumer.

[Menezes]

From an automotive perspective, practicing driving with the air conditioning on is completely fine. Imagine enduring over 40 degrees Celsius in summer without AC—who could handle that? The key is knowing how to use it correctly. For automatic climate control, setting the temperature around 23 degrees is ideal, and avoid directing the vents straight at your face to prevent drowsiness. Running the AC increases engine load, making smaller-displacement cars feel less powerful, so shift gears slightly earlier than usual. Remember, using recirculation mode cools faster, but switch to fresh air mode every half hour for ventilation. Beginners should first get accustomed to driving with AC on flat roads before attempting hill starts.

[OTanner]

As a seasoned driver, I'd advise you that whether to use the air conditioning during practice depends on the weather. Below 30°C, roll down the windows for practice—it's eco-friendly and lets you clearly hear the engine. But not cooling during dog days is self-torture. The key is proper adjustment: don't set the AC too low, keeping the temperature difference from outdoor within 7°C to avoid dizziness when entering/exiting the vehicle. Start with low fan speed to prevent wind noise from drowning out the instructor's guidance. In heavy rain, close windows and turn on AC plus the front defogger button—master these techniques during practice. Remember, don't block vents with sunshades (a detail beginners often overlook).