Does the car consume more fuel when idling with the AC on?
2 Answers
Only when cooling in summer, turning on the car's AC will affect fuel consumption. Fuel consumption when idling with the AC on: Under normal circumstances, if the car's fuel consumption is 10L, turning on the AC will increase fuel consumption by about 2L. The impact of fuel consumption and whether the AC is on is significant, and the effect varies with different fan speeds. Below is relevant information: High fuel consumption when idling with the AC on: Generally, it can be around 2L/h, so long-term idling with the AC on can significantly deplete the remaining fuel. If the remaining fuel is insufficient, the car will burn until it stalls. Carbon monoxide production: When idling, the car produces a lot of carbon monoxide due to incomplete fuel combustion. The longer the time, the higher the concentration of carbon monoxide around the car. Prolonged idling can lead to extremely high carbon monoxide levels inside the car, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and even death, resulting in safety incidents.
I've always believed that idling with the air conditioning on does significantly increase fuel consumption. Take my personal driving experience for example - one summer day while waiting in the car for over an hour with AC running, I noticed the fuel gauge dropped much faster than usual. Although the engine keeps running at idle, the increased compressor load for AC power reduces engine efficiency, naturally consuming more fuel. Estimates suggest idling with AC may consume 0.5 to 1 liter extra fuel per hour, equivalent to burning several extra yuan. Moreover, this practice easily causes carbon buildup and may lead to engine problems over time. It's also environmentally unfriendly as increased exhaust emissions pollute the air. Therefore, I recommend avoiding prolonged AC use while parked. If it's too hot, use ventilation, crack the windows, or turn off the engine and step outside to cool down.
