Does Using the Heater While the Car is Running Consume More Fuel?
1 Answers
If you turn on the heater immediately after starting the car without allowing it to warm up, it will consume more fuel. However, if you turn on the heater after the car has warmed up, the fuel consumption is minimal and almost negligible. The details are as follows: Using the heater in winter while driving does not consume extra fuel because the cabin heating relies on the car's cooling system, which is independent of the engine's RPM and power. However, if you idle the car and enjoy the heater while stationary, it will consume fuel. Precautions for using the car heater include: 1. Do not press the A/C button. Pressing the A/C button activates the compressor, which is essentially turning on the air conditioning. The heater does not require this, as it utilizes heat from the engine's cooling system. Using the A/C will counteract some of the engine's power, leading to higher fuel consumption. 2. Turn on the heater only after the car has warmed up. When the car is first started, engine oil needs time to circulate from the oil pan to lubricate all components. Turning on the heater during this period will increase the engine's workload.