Does the car consume fuel when idling in P gear with the air conditioning on?
3 Answers
When a car is idling in P gear with the air conditioning on, it consumes approximately 1-2 liters of fuel per hour. Below are specific details about prolonged idling in P gear with the air conditioning on: 1. Carbon monoxide poisoning: In a parked state, if the air is not circulating and the vehicle's exhaust is not promptly expelled, it may seep into the car, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. When the air conditioning is on, the doors and windows are generally closed. If the air conditioning is set to recirculate, even without carbon monoxide poisoning, the oxygen inside the car will gradually deplete, potentially causing suffocation. 2. Increased fuel consumption: The formation of carbon deposits can increase the car's fuel consumption. Carbon deposits in the combustion chamber can raise fuel consumption by 4%-5%. The air conditioning compressor is driven by the engine. When the engine is off, only the blower operates, which is powered by the battery. Prolonged idling with the air conditioning on can drain the battery, and in severe cases, the car may even fail to start.
When it comes to whether running the air conditioning in P gear consumes fuel, I have to say, as someone who frequently works with cars, it indeed does consume fuel. This is because when the car is in P gear, the engine is still running and hasn't stopped working, while the air conditioning relies on the engine's power to drive the compressor and fans, among other things. This increases the engine's load, leading to higher fuel consumption. To give a simple example, the last time I waited for a friend in a parking lot for 20 minutes with the air conditioning on full blast, the fuel gauge showed a noticeable drop of nearly half a segment, burning about 0.5 liters more fuel than usual. The exact amount of fuel consumed depends on the size of the vehicle and the intensity of the air conditioning, generally ranging from 0.4 to 1 liter per hour. The key point is that this habit not only wastes fuel but also causes additional wear on the engine and may drain the battery. I recommend only using the air conditioning for short waits, like within 5 minutes. For longer waits, it's better to turn off the engine and open the windows or find a shady spot to stay, saving fuel and protecting the car. In the long run, developing good habits can save a lot on maintenance costs and gasoline expenses.
I've been driving for over a decade, and I can personally attest that running the AC in P mode does consume fuel. Two summers ago when I went to pick up relatives at the airport, I left the car in P mode with the AC on for half an hour. While the cabin did cool down, I noticed the fuel gauge dropped by a small segment, and I ended up spending over ten yuan more on gas later. Normally, AC usage during highway driving doesn't noticeably affect fuel consumption, but when idling, the engine works solely to power the AC, resulting in extra fuel waste. I've since become wiser - if I need to wait for extended periods, like picking up my kids from school for more than 10 minutes, I turn off the engine and either roll down the windows or use an umbrella for shade. If it's unbearably hot, just a few minutes of AC is sufficient. I recommend trying my method instead of needlessly burning fuel like I used to. It's a simple adjustment that saves money and is environmentally friendly - small actions done right make a big difference.
