What do AC and ECO on car air conditioning mean?
2 Answers
AC on car air conditioning is the cooling switch; ECO is the economy mode. AC stands for air control or air conditioning, which achieves cooling or heating through different operation modes of the air conditioning compressor, thus having dual meanings of cooling and heating. ECO is the economy mode indicator for automatic transmission vehicles. It refers to the vehicle's comprehensive judgment and analysis of conditions that affect fuel consumption during driving, such as automatic transmission shifting, engine speed, vehicle speed, braking, and transmission oil temperature. The ECU control unit calculates the fuel amount to provide the engine for operation, resulting in lower fuel consumption compared to normal driving mode.
The AC button on the air conditioning panel is actually very straightforward—it's the switch for the air conditioning compressor. When you want to cool down, press it to turn it on, and the compressor will start working, removing moisture from the hot air, and cool air will come out immediately. The ECO button is somewhat like the power-saving mode on your phone; the AC won't work at full capacity to cool but will use a gentler airflow to gradually lower the temperature, which saves some fuel. However, using ECO on very hot days can make cooling slower, so it's better suited for less humid weather. Some cars automatically switch to recirculation mode when ECO is turned on to avoid constantly inhaling exhaust fumes. Remember to replace the cabin air filter before each summer, or else the air might come out with a strange smell—don't ask me how I know.
