Can You Use Air Conditioning to Remove Formaldehyde in a New Car?
2 Answers
You can use air conditioning to remove formaldehyde in a new car. The more the air conditioner cools, the longer the compressor runs, thus consuming more fuel. Impact of Air Conditioning Fan Speed on Fuel Consumption: Using air conditioning consumes more fuel mainly because the air conditioning compressor requires significant power to operate. However, changes in fan speed have little effect on power demand. Therefore, within a certain speed range or wind resistance, using air conditioning increases fuel consumption, while not using it saves fuel. The impact of air conditioning fan speed on fuel consumption is negligible, including when only using the heater in winter. Impact of Air Conditioning Temperature on Fuel Consumption: When it's too hot or too cold and you must use air conditioning, avoid setting it to the coldest or hottest extremes—moderate settings are best. Excessively low or high temperatures waste fuel.
When I talk about the formaldehyde issue in new cars, I remember when I first bought my car, there was a pungent smell as soon as I got in, probably formaldehyde. Turning on the air conditioning's external circulation does help bring in some fresh air and dilute the odor, but relying solely on the AC isn't enough because it can't directly break down formaldehyde molecules; at best, the AC aids in ventilation. New car interiors, like seats and adhesives, slowly release formaldehyde, and keeping the AC on internal circulation for long periods actually blocks air flow, making it easier for formaldehyde to accumulate. To effectively remove formaldehyde, I suggest opening the windows more often for ventilation, especially when parked on nice days, and using activated charcoal packs for adsorption—it's cost-effective and safe. In the first few months when the new car smell is strong, don't just rely on the AC—I tried using only the AC and didn't see much improvement, plus it increased fuel consumption. It's more practical to ventilate frequently.
