How much fuel is wasted by running the air conditioner for one hour without turning off the engine?
2 Answers
Fuel consumption when running the air conditioner without turning off the engine: Under normal circumstances, if the car's fuel consumption is 10L, turning on the air conditioner will increase fuel consumption by about 2L. Here are some related details: Precautions: (1) Fuel consumption is relatively high when the car is idling with the air conditioner on, generally reaching about 2L/h. Therefore, a significant amount of fuel will be burned if the car is left idling with the air conditioner on for a long time. If the car is low on fuel, it will continue to burn until the engine shuts off. (2) When the car is idling, incomplete fuel combustion produces a large amount of carbon monoxide. The longer the idling time, the higher the concentration of carbon monoxide around the car. Prolonged idling in place can lead to extremely high concentrations of carbon monoxide inside the car. If there are people in the car, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and death, leading to safety accidents.
As a regular commuter who drives frequently, I've noticed that idling with the AC on during traffic jams for about an hour wastes approximately 0.6 to 1 liter of fuel, depending on whether you drive a compact car or an SUV—smaller cars consume less. Converting this to cost, at 8 yuan per liter of fuel, you're essentially throwing away 5 to 8 yuan every hour. The main reason is that the engine remains running and has to power the AC compressor, operating at low RPMs without saving fuel. I recommend turning off the engine during prolonged stops and using natural ventilation instead of the AC, or investing in a solar-powered fan for the car. Short waits at traffic lights are acceptable, but exceeding 10 minutes really adds up—not only wasting money but also increasing wear and tear on parts, leading to costly repairs. Developing good habits can save a significant amount; for example, I save dozens of yuan on fuel each month, enough for a milk tea. Ultimately, the AC isn't a free lunch—it consumes fuel when the engine is running, so managing its usage frequency is a smart choice.
