Do both AC and Auto need to be turned on for the air conditioner?
2 Answers
The auto switch and AC switch of the air conditioner do not need to be both turned on. The AC button is the switch for the air conditioning compressor, which must be turned on for cooling in summer; Auto means automatic, that is, after this function is turned on, the air conditioner in the car will automatically adjust to a suitable temperature and wind speed. In summer, when the Auto button is pressed, the AC button will be automatically turned on; In winter, after the engine is preheated, the heat is delivered through the water circulation in the engine, so there is no need to press the AC button. Precautions for using the car air conditioner are as follows: 1. Turn off the AC during startup and rapid acceleration: Since the air conditioner (non-independent air conditioner) consumes part of the engine power when turned on, it is best to turn off the AC during vehicle startup and rapid acceleration, and then turn on the AC switch after the vehicle starts moving. This will not only prevent insufficient engine power during acceleration and startup but also save fuel. 2. Do not set the air conditioner temperature too low: In summer, many car owners like to set the temperature very low, thinking it is comfortable, but this is actually a misconception. Excessive temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car can easily cause the driver to catch a cold, and excessively low temperature may also pose a risk of arthritis for passengers in the car. Normally, the temperature inside the car should be 5°C to 6°C different from the outside temperature. 3. Control the direction of the air outlet: Based on the principle that cold air sinks and hot air rises, car owners can follow the rule of directing the air outlet upward when cooling and downward when heating.
As a seasoned long-distance driver, I find air conditioning usage isn't that complicated. The AUTO mode is sufficient - just set your desired temperature (around 25°C for example), and the system automatically controls fan speed, cooling/heating, including AC compressor activation when needed. This means there's no need to manually press the AC button, as AUTO mode will engage AC when cabin gets too hot and disengage when temperature stabilizes, ensuring both fuel efficiency and comfort. During summer, I operate exactly like this - maintaining stable cabin temperature without passenger complaints. Manually activating AC may cause continuous cooling (wasting energy) while requiring manual fan adjustments, which is troublesome. Simply focusing on AUTO mode while driving makes operation simple and efficient.
