Does idling with the AC on consume more fuel?

[WestonDella]

Running the air conditioning while the car is idling does consume fuel. Keeping the AC on during idling not only significantly increases fuel consumption but may also damage the vehicle. Here are the relevant details: 1. Principle of idling with AC on: The power output consumed by the AC only accounts for a very small portion of the engine's idle energy. However, when idling with the AC on, the engine not only drives the AC compressor but also needs to maintain the normal operation of the power steering and brake booster pumps. The latter two functions are completely unnecessary when the car is stationary, and keeping them running is a waste of power. 2. Health hazards: Running the AC while parked is very dangerous because when the vehicle is idling or moving at low speeds, gasoline cannot fully combust, producing carbon monoxide. If the AC is in external circulation mode, it will draw carbon monoxide into the car, potentially causing carbon monoxide poisoning for the occupants. This is especially risky during traffic jams when the AC's air intake is directly facing the exhaust pipe of the vehicle in front. Therefore, it is best to switch to internal circulation mode during traffic congestion.