Does idling with the air conditioning on harm the car and consume more fuel?

[VonBrody]

Using the air conditioning while the car is idling consumes fuel. Keeping the air conditioning on while idling not only significantly increases fuel consumption but may also damage the vehicle. The power output consumed by the air conditioning accounts for only a small portion of the engine's idling energy. However, when the air conditioning is on during idling, the engine not only drives the air conditioning 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 parked, and keeping them running is a waste of power. Common misconceptions about car air conditioning usage: 1. Randomly adjusting the air vents: Randomly adjusting the direction of the air vents can also affect the temperature inside the car. If the air vents are adjusted haphazardly, the cold air from the air conditioning will cool down high-temperature components that do not need cooling, thereby offsetting the cooling effect. This not only outweighs the benefits but also fails to achieve the desired cooling effect. 2. Keeping the recirculation mode on for long periods: Many car owners keep the recirculation mode on to save energy, which does reduce the number of times the compressor starts and lowers fuel consumption. However, over time, the air inside the car can become stale, and the oxygen levels may drop, leading to dizziness or even hypoxia among passengers. 3. Avoid using the air conditioning while parked: Using the air conditioning while parked is very dangerous because when the car is idling or moving at low speeds, gasoline does not burn completely, producing carbon monoxide. If the air conditioning is in the fresh air mode, it will draw this carbon monoxide into the car, potentially causing carbon monoxide poisoning. This is especially risky during traffic jams when the air intake of the air conditioning may be directly facing the exhaust of the vehicle in front. Therefore, it is best to switch to recirculation mode during traffic jams.