Does Cranking Up the Car AC Make the Car More Fuel-Efficient?

A few days ago, I was riding in a junior colleague's car on the way to a funeral when I noticed that the AC temperature was set uncomfortably high. He explained that he was trying to save on fuel costs by increasing the fuel efficiency.

But does cranking up the car AC temperature actually improve fuel economy?

The short answer is no.

Setting the AC temperature higher has little impact on fuel efficiency.

Many people believe that setting the AC temperature lower will consume more fuel, leading them to crank up the temperature to save money. However, this is a misconception.

In reality, car AC compressors operate at a constant speed, and the temperature is controlled by mixing engine waste heat with the cooled air. Therefore, the set temperature has minimal impact on fuel consumption.

According to a study conducted by the Korea Energy Economics Institute, using the AC in both gasoline and diesel vehicles can reduce fuel economy by up to 31.43% (3.1 km/L). However, the average difference in fuel economy based on AC temperature settings was found to be only 2.37% (0.4 km/L). This indicates that the AC temperature setting itself has a negligible effect on fuel efficiency.

If you're concerned about fuel economy, it's more important to focus on your driving habits:

  • Drive at a steady speed of 80-90 km/h: Avoid sudden acceleration and braking.
  • Avoid idling: The fuel economy is 1.6 km/l when stopped.
  • Reduce AC and heater usage: AC reduces fuel economy by 30%, while the heater reduces it by 10%.

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