Why does the car consume significantly more fuel when the air conditioning is on?

[LaJanelle]

When the car consumes significantly more fuel with the air conditioning on, it is usually due to an aging air conditioning system or engine, which increases fuel consumption, or it may be related to driving habits. Relevant information is as follows: 1. When the interior temperature is high: During summer days, room temperatures often exceed 30 degrees Celsius. For cars parked outdoors under the sun, the sealed cabin can become extremely hot. Trying to lower the temperature immediately by blasting the air conditioning is not only ineffective—since the temperature cannot drop rapidly—but also leads to a significant increase in fuel consumption due to the air conditioning working at full capacity. 2. Solution: Instead of relying entirely on the air conditioning, it is better to first open the doors and windows to allow the hot air inside the car to dissipate quickly. Once the interior temperature approaches the ambient temperature, you can then turn on the air conditioning in recirculation mode to cool down the cabin.