What does ECON mean on a car's air conditioning?
2 Answers
The ECON on a car's air conditioning is actually a mode of the air conditioning system. ECON only takes effect when the air conditioning's cooling function is turned on. The air conditioning compressor is driven by the engine and can consume up to 20% of the engine's power. After activating the ECON mode, the vehicle will reduce the power consumption of the air conditioning while ensuring its cooling effect, thereby achieving fuel savings. The method to turn on the air conditioning's economy mode is very simple: the owner just needs to press the ECON button after turning on the air conditioning. When the light on the button is on, the air conditioning cooling system is turned off, and only natural air or warm air is provided. Introduction to the ECON mode of car air conditioning is as follows: Usually, the A/C symbol on a car's air conditioning indicates whether the air conditioning is turned on or off, while ECON only takes effect when the cooling function is on, representing the air conditioning's economy mode. In this mode, the compressor still works, but compared to the normal mode, the control point of the compressor is raised. The compressor does not remain engaged continuously; its start and stop points are controlled by the evaporation temperature. In normal mode, the compressor's start-stop point is between 2~4℃. In ECON mode, the compressor's start-stop point is between 8~10℃. The lower the temperature, the longer and harder the compressor works. Activating the ECON mode saves engine power output and fuel. Functions of the car's air conditioning: Uses the continuous phase change cycle of the refrigerant to achieve cooling effects; Removes dust, odors, smoke, and toxic gases from the car's interior air, making the air fresher, and humidifies the interior air to increase relative humidity; Uses the engine's coolant, waste heat, or heat generated by a burner as a heat source for heating. The heater warms the air, which is then blown into the car by a blower, raising the temperature of the air outlets to achieve heating; Draws in fresh external air for ventilation and air exchange, which also helps prevent window fogging. Precautions for using the air conditioning in the car: Do not set the air conditioning temperature too low. A large temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car can easily cause the driver to catch a cold, and excessively low temperatures may also increase the risk of arthritis for passengers. Control the direction of the air vents. Based on the principle that cold air sinks and hot air rises, when using the air conditioning, set the vents upward when cooling and downward when heating. Do not turn on the air conditioning immediately after the car has been exposed to the sun. After exposure, the interior temperature will be very high. First, open the windows to ventilate and let the hot air escape before turning on the air conditioning.
As a commuting office worker who drives frequently, I think the ECON mode is designed to help you save some fuel money when using the air conditioning. Every time you press that button, the AC compressor won’t work as hard as usual—it automatically adjusts its speed. Although the car cools down a bit slower, the engine load is reduced, and the fuel consumption number displayed on the dashboard drops noticeably. I love using this mode for city commuting—it eases my mind even when idling at red lights. However, I turn it off before hitting the highway, otherwise, after two hours under the sun, my kids in the back seat would complain it’s not cool enough.
