Do You Need to Turn on AC When Using Car Air Conditioning in Winter?

[Cook]

You do not need to turn on the AC when using car air conditioning in winter. Here are the reasons why you don't need to turn on the AC when using car air conditioning in winter: 1. In winter, the weather is cold, and people usually turn on the heater. To activate the heater, you only need to adjust the fan speed button to blow warm air. However, many people mistakenly turn on the A/C switch when using the heater, which may lead to increased fuel consumption or higher engine coolant temperature. A/C stands for Air-conditioning, and the A/C button is the car air conditioning switch, which essentially controls whether the compressor operates. Inside the compressor, there is an electromagnetically controlled clutch. When its coil is energized, the electromagnetic clutch engages, and the compressor works. Otherwise, the compressor's pulley just spins idly, and the compressor does not operate. Keeping it on continuously at high engine speeds, if heat dissipation is poor, the engine may cause the coolant temperature to rise. 2. Turning on the AC activates the air conditioning's cooling system, with the main working component being the compressor. For the compressor to function properly, the ambient temperature switch must also be closed. In winter, the ambient temperature switch cannot close, so power cannot be supplied to the compressor. This results in the compressor not working, so the cooling system does not operate, and only the heating system remains active. In fact, the heater simply utilizes the car's internal heat circulation and does not require the compressor to be activated. To use the heater, you only need to adjust the air conditioning button without turning on the AC switch. However, even if the A/C switch is turned on, generally speaking, it does not cause any damage to the engine, but it may consume a bit more fuel.