How much fuel does a 1.6L engine consume when idling with AC on for one hour?
2 Answers
1.6L engine idling with AC on for one hour consumes approximately 1 liter of gasoline. Here is a brief introduction about gasoline: 1. Basic information: Gasoline is a volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid obtained from petroleum through fractionation and cracking, used as fuel. It appears as a transparent liquid, is flammable, with a distillation range of 30°C to 220°C. 2. Composition: Mainly consists of C5~C12 aliphatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkanes, along with a certain amount of aromatic hydrocarbons. Gasoline has a high octane number (anti-knock combustion performance) and is classified into grades such as 89, 90, 92, 93, 95, 97, and 98 based on the octane number.
I've driven quite a few 1.6L cars, and idling with the AC on for about an hour consumes roughly 1 liter of fuel, but it really depends on the car's condition and the weather. I've tested it with my old car—during hot summers when the AC is under heavy load, it can go up to 1.5 liters; in cooler spring or autumn weather, it might drop to around 0.8 liters. Idling itself consumes fuel, and turning on the AC adds compressor operation, requiring even more fuel to power it. So if you do this often, not only will your fuel tank deplete faster, but carbon buildup will also increase, leading to higher maintenance costs. Switching to fresher oil or regular cleaning can help mitigate some effects, but it's best not to idle with the AC on for too long—moving the car a bit will save more fuel.
