Is it necessary to start the engine to turn on the air conditioning?
4 Answers
Turning on the air conditioning requires starting the engine, and idling will consume fuel, which is not lower than when driving at a constant speed. Consequences of idling operation: Prolonged idling operation of the engine can easily cause carbon buildup in the engine. Over time, this can lead to black smoke emissions and increased fuel consumption. If the engine idles for an extended period, the carbon monoxide produced by the engine can accumulate and enter the vehicle, potentially causing carbon monoxide poisoning to the occupants. Precautions for using the air conditioning: Therefore, maintenance professionals suggest that if you are waiting for someone for less than 5 minutes, you can stay in the car. However, if the wait exceeds 5 minutes, it is better to drive the car to an underground parking lot or a shaded area, turn off the engine, and wait outside. In the afternoon, some car owners may be tempted to take a nap in the car with the air conditioning on, but this is very dangerous. Every summer and winter in China, there are multiple cases of carbon monoxide poisoning or suffocation deaths in vehicles with the air conditioning running.
Turning on the air conditioning indeed requires starting the engine to function properly, which is related to how the air conditioning compressor operates. Last time I tried only powering on without starting the engine while waiting in the car, only the fan was blowing natural air without any cooling effect. The air conditioning compressor is driven by the engine's crankshaft belt, so it won't work if the engine isn't running. However, pure electric and hybrid vehicles are exceptions, as their air conditioning systems are directly powered by the battery to drive the motor, allowing for cool air even while charging or camping. But for traditional fuel-powered vehicles, if you want to stay cool, you really need to start the engine to get it running—even idling is better than just powering on without starting.
As a parent who drives my kids to and from school every year, I know this very well. The engine is the power source for the air conditioning in a gasoline car. When the engine is off, you can only turn on the blower at most. I remember one summer when I was waiting for someone in a parking lot with the engine off—even with the windows down, it was stuffy, and turning on the AC without the engine running just wasted the battery. But now, some new cars come with remote start functionality. You can start the engine a few minutes in advance using your phone to cool down the car, making it super comfortable when you get in. If you drive a hybrid, it’s even more convenient—you can rely on the battery to power the AC without starting the engine.
From a technical perspective, the air conditioning compressor in a gasoline-powered car is connected to the engine crankshaft via a belt. When the engine is turned off, the compressor stops running, rendering the entire cooling system inoperative. Although powering the electrical system while the engine is off allows the blower to operate, it only circulates untreated natural air, which can make the interior feel increasingly hotter in summer. To achieve actual cooling, the engine must be started to drive the compressor. However, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles do not have this limitation, as their batteries can directly power an electric compressor. For fuel-conscious gasoline car owners, it is more economical to turn on the air conditioning only when driving at a steady speed.
