
Turning on cleanair does not consume more fuel. Introduction to cleanair: The car air conditioning is a very important comfort feature in a vehicle. It can cool or heat the air and also filter out impurities from the outside air. The cleanair function in cars is an air purification feature, typically found in mid-to-high-end vehicles. The "cleanair" button is merely an indicator and cannot be manually pressed. How air purifiers work: The motor and fan inside the device circulate the indoor air. Polluted air passes through the air filter inside the machine, where various pollutants are removed or adsorbed. Some models of air purifiers also have a negative ion generator installed at the air outlet, which continuously ionizes the air, producing a large number of negative ions. These are then blown out by the micro-fan, forming a negative ion airflow to clean and purify the air.

As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I do think turning on the CleanAir system consumes slightly more fuel, but the impact is minimal. CleanAir mainly operates with fans and air filtration devices, which don't require much power—at most, the fan spins a bit faster. In my experience, compared to high-power devices like air conditioning, this fuel consumption is barely noticeable—turning on the AC noticeably drops the fuel gauge, while CleanAir just makes the fan blow more air to filter dust, hardly affecting daily fuel consumption. The key is to avoid overlapping its use with other high-power-consuming devices, like simultaneously running the audio system and navigation. I suggest drivers use this function without worry, especially on polluted days, as it improves driving health. Just remember to replace the air filter regularly to keep the system running more efficiently, indirectly saving some fuel. Overall, don’t worry about this minor fuel consumption—driving enjoyment and safety are far more important.

From a technical perspective, I've studied automotive systems. Using CleanAir slightly increases fuel consumption because this feature operates through fans and electronic modules, which require electricity. The electricity comes from the alternator, which is driven by the engine, and the engine burns fuel to generate power. However, CleanAir's power consumption is typically very low, usually under 0.2 kilowatts—much less than the several kilowatts used by air conditioning. Therefore, in most vehicles, the increase in fuel consumption is negligible—running it for 10 hours might only burn an extra 0.1 liters of fuel, making it unnoticeable during daily commutes. Modern vehicles also feature energy-saving designs, such as automatic fan speed adjustment, making its impact on fuel monitoring almost imperceptible. Using it wisely in combination with the air conditioning's eco-mode can balance air quality and energy efficiency.

As an environmentally-conscious driver, I believe that running CleanAir does consume more fuel, but it's a reasonable trade-off. Any electronic device consumes energy, and the operation of CleanAir's fan naturally uses a bit more fuel. However, it filters the air inside the car, reducing dust and odors, which is greatly beneficial for health by avoiding the inhalation of pollutants when windows are open. From an environmental perspective, the increase in fuel consumption is minimal—perhaps just a few cents more per day—far outweighed by the health risks of turning it off. I recommend using it only during high pollution or when there are odors inside the car, rather than running it all day and wasting energy. Developing habits like ventilating with open windows alongside its use can save energy, striking the ideal balance between cost and benefits.

Driving daily for ten years to and from work, I frequently use the CleanAir function. With it on, I don't notice any change in fuel consumption—the engine sound and fuel gauge remain stable. This is probably because it's just a small fan working, with power consumption as low as using an in-car phone charger. I've driven through congested traffic for several hours with CleanAir on, and the air feels much fresher without any noticeable increase in fuel costs. Compared to normal driving, it's not worth worrying about; in contrast, driving at high speeds or accelerating sharply consumes more fuel. I recommend car owners not hesitate to use it more often to enhance comfort, especially when urban air quality is poor. A simple check to ensure the fan is functioning properly can prevent unnecessary energy waste.


