Does the Recirculation Mode Affect Fuel Consumption?
2 Answers
Recirculation mode is just one factor affecting fuel consumption, with the type of air conditioning compressor playing a more significant role. Here is relevant information:1. Recirculation Mode: The recirculation mode in a car refers to the process where the air inside the vehicle is heated or cooled before being circulated back into the cabin.2. Fresh Air Mode: This mode uses a fan to draw outside air into the cabin, meaning the air ducts connect the exterior and interior. The air blown by the fan comes from outside, and even if the fan is off, airflow is still drawn into the cabin while driving to replenish fresh air.3. Functions of Recirculation and Fresh Air Modes: The recirculation mode allows the air inside the vehicle to circulate in a closed loop; the air inside the cabin is heated or cooled before being recirculated.
During my daily driving, I've noticed that the air recirculation mode has a slight impact on fuel consumption. On extremely hot days, using the fresh air mode draws in scorching outside air, forcing the AC compressor to work harder to cool it down, which increases engine load and causes fuel consumption to rise noticeably. With recirculation mode, the cabin air is recycled, putting less strain on the compressor and saving some fuel. As someone who frequently drives in congested urban areas, I've tested switching between modes - continuous use of fresh air mode during heatwaves can increase fuel consumption by about 0.8L per 100km, equivalent to burning 3%-5% more gasoline. However, prolonged use of recirculation can lead to stale air or humidity buildup, causing windows to fog up, so it's important to switch to fresh air mode for ventilation every half hour. My recommendation is to adjust flexibly based on temperature: use recirculation for energy savings during scorching summers, and briefly switch to fresh air when air quality is poor or during rainy conditions for safety.
