Saving Fuel Myths

I cannot say for sure if this is true or not, but I have heard many people
suggest that they roll all of their windows down and turn off the AC to save
fuel. I can only think that does nothing. The wind drag must make up for the
AC not being on. What do you think?

Have any more myths, regardless if the above is true or not?

Go Mavs wrote:
> I cannot say for sure if this is true or not, but I have heard many people
> suggest that they roll all of their windows down and turn off the AC to save
> fuel. I can only think that does nothing. The wind drag must make up for the
> AC not being on. What do you think?

In slow-moving traffic or non-moving traffic, the aerodynamic effects
are small, so keeping the windows open instead of using air-conditioning
would save fuel.

In highway traffic, using air conditioning would result in lower fuel
use than keeping windows open. Of course, using the vents with
air-conditioning off would save more fuel.

Jeff

> Have any more myths, regardless if the above is true or not?
>
>

In article <oaLSi.1492$uE4.1188@trnddc07>,
"Go Mavs" <Mavz@Maverickz.com> wrote:

> I cannot say for sure if this is true or not, but I have heard many people
> suggest that they roll all of their windows down and turn off the AC to save
> fuel. I can only think that does nothing. The wind drag must make up for the
> AC not being on. What do you think?
>


Mythbusters did that one. IIRC, they found out that the AC uses more
power than the wind resistance of open windows.

"Smitty Two" <prestwhich@> wrote in message
newsrestwhich-0068B5.20455021102007@news.phx.highwinds-media.com...
> In article <oaLSi.1492$uE4.1188@trnddc07>,
> "Go Mavs" <Mavz@Maverickz.com> wrote:
>
>> I cannot say for sure if this is true or not, but I have heard many
>> people
>> suggest that they roll all of their windows down and turn off the AC to
>> save
>> fuel. I can only think that does nothing. The wind drag must make up for
>> the
>> AC not being on. What do you think?
>>
>
>
> Mythbusters did that one. IIRC, they found out that the AC uses more
> power than the wind resistance of open windows.

I recall them doing the truck with the tail gate down or up...They found the
truck got better gas mileage with the tail gate down than up, and more with
that tail gate removed...

I did not see the car with the windows down. I just have to wonder the drag
when someone rolls their two front windows down.

"Smitty Two" <prestwhich@> wrote in message
newsrestwhich-0068B5.20455021102007@news.phx.highwinds-media.com...
> In article <oaLSi.1492$uE4.1188@trnddc07>,
> "Go Mavs" <Mavz@Maverickz.com> wrote:
>
>> I cannot say for sure if this is true or not, but I have heard many
>> people
>> suggest that they roll all of their windows down and turn off the AC to
>> save
>> fuel. I can only think that does nothing. The wind drag must make up for
>> the
>> AC not being on. What do you think?
>>
>
>
> Mythbusters did that one. IIRC, they found out that the AC uses more
> power than the wind resistance of open windows.

It was one of their more flawed tests. In the original test they drove
around on a very small oval track and didn't exceed 50 mph. Hardly a fair
test of highway economy. They did the test over in a later episode. As I
recall, after the second test they concluded that at low speed, windows
down, A/C off was best, at high speed A/C on windows up was best, except
that windows up, A/C off was best at any speed. Personally I have never been
able to tell much difference in summer/winter fuel economy and don't worry
about the A/C's effect on fuel economy.

Ed