| When it gets warm outside, your air conditioner | | | | you drive in traffic you aren't going very fast so |
| becomes your best friend. This is most definitely | | | | the drag on the car is minimal. In these cases, |
| true in your car, where temperatures can sky | | | | you burn more fuel running the air conditioner |
| rocket to 170 degrees under direct sunlight. But | | | | than having the windows down. That makes |
| most people these days are under the impression | | | | sense. When you drive on the highway you can |
| that the more you run your air conditioner the | | | | use either the air conditioner or the "window |
| more gas your car will guzzle. Now that gas prices | | | | down" method to cool yourself, because, |
| are higher than the cost to eat at McDonald's, | | | | honestly, there is no noticeable difference in gas |
| people are starting to take precautions and do | | | | usage at those speeds. |
| what they can to help with their cars fuel | | | | Here are some tips about you and the heat in |
| economy. The assumption that running your air | | | | your car. Before you get into a hot car, roll down |
| conditioner burns way more gas is somewhat | | | | the windows and let it air out. There is nothing |
| untrue. Leaving your air conditioner off makes | | | | worse than getting into a hot car, sitting on a lava |
| barely any difference in the amount of gas you | | | | hot seat, touching a super hot steering wheel, and |
| burn. With the advent of modern, more fuel | | | | breathing stuffy super heated air. Your car needs |
| efficient cars, this myth is busted! | | | | some time to cool down for itself and for you. |
| The air conditioner draws its power from the | | | | Once you believe it is cool enough to actually sit |
| engine which uses some gas, but with today's | | | | on the seat, turn on the car and run the air |
| cars, this use of gas is minute. The air conditioner | | | | conditioner on recirculation. This will help the car |
| can decrease the fuel economy of your car up to | | | | cool down much quicker, and you can be on the |
| 20% in some vehicles, but it depends on the type. | | | | road fast without sacrificing a layer of your |
| Driving with the air conditioner is more fuel | | | | precious skin. |
| efficient than driving with the windows down. | | | | So now that you know the air conditioner can be |
| Driving with the windows down creates drag | | | | your fuel efficient friend, maybe you won't be so |
| which means that your engine has to work harder | | | | quick to turn it off or ignore it in favor off putting |
| to keep your car at the current speed; this burns | | | | the windows down and choking on bugs. The air |
| more gas than if you just ran your air conditioner. | | | | conditioner in your car burns much less gas than |
| In the long run, using your air conditioner is far | | | | your window method, so give your air conditioner |
| better than any other means of cooling yourself | | | | a chance and be cool in the heat. |
| off in the car, unless you're driving in traffic. When | | | | |