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YACT: fuel consumption difference between AC on high and low
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Fan speed by itself won't affect your mileage.
The only way I can see that running the fan on high with the A/C on could possibly make a difference, is that the compressor would run longer between times when it cycles off.
If you run the fan on low, the compressor will, once the car is as cool as you want it, cycle on and off, based on the low side pressure. When the pressure gets high enough, it turns the compressor on...when it gets low enough, it cuts it off.
If you run the fan on high, and it's pretty hot outside, chances are the compressor will never cut off, especially if you're in traffic. It might if you're on a long highway run, but not in traffic.
So, even though the difference in mileage will be minute, this is the only way that running the fan on high might change it.
The only way I can see that running the fan on high with the A/C on could possibly make a difference, is that the compressor would run longer between times when it cycles off.
If you run the fan on low, the compressor will, once the car is as cool as you want it, cycle on and off, based on the low side pressure. When the pressure gets high enough, it turns the compressor on...when it gets low enough, it cuts it off.
If you run the fan on high, and it's pretty hot outside, chances are the compressor will never cut off, especially if you're in traffic. It might if you're on a long highway run, but not in traffic.
So, even though the difference in mileage will be minute, this is the only way that running the fan on high might change it.
thomsbrain
Lifer
the compressor will cycle on and off with most cars (even my old Accord). the higher the fan setting, the more time it spends cycled on. at "1," my A/C barely cycles on. and i know when it comes on and off because i can feel the difference in power very distinctly (yay for 4 cylinder "power"). so yeah, a lower setting will save a tiny amount of gas. but damn, you'd never notice it. just turn it up as high as you want.
and BTW, my car gets way better mileage with the A/C than with the windows down. most "tests" you see, including the myth busters bullsh!t, were done at ridiculously low speeds, and with the A/C cranked up so high the driver had to wear ski clothing. this does not even remotely represent the real world. drive 80 MPH, make it comfortable inside, and try it again, dumbasses. not only does the drag become more of an issue, but 5 HP out of the 30 your car might need at 40 MPH is a much bigger difference than 5 HP out of the 70+ you might be using at 80 MPH. on a percentage basis, the A/C becomes more and more trivial the faster you drive, whereas the drag of having your windows down becomes more and more of a problem.
and BTW, my car gets way better mileage with the A/C than with the windows down. most "tests" you see, including the myth busters bullsh!t, were done at ridiculously low speeds, and with the A/C cranked up so high the driver had to wear ski clothing. this does not even remotely represent the real world. drive 80 MPH, make it comfortable inside, and try it again, dumbasses. not only does the drag become more of an issue, but 5 HP out of the 30 your car might need at 40 MPH is a much bigger difference than 5 HP out of the 70+ you might be using at 80 MPH. on a percentage basis, the A/C becomes more and more trivial the faster you drive, whereas the drag of having your windows down becomes more and more of a problem.
mercanucaribe
Banned
Why would you drive on the highway with the windows down? That is LOUD and ANNOYING.
That is a matter of opinion. I am a classic car guy so I am used to driving cars that do not have AC, in fact I prefer not to use the AC. I don't even use it in my Lexus on a daily basis in Texas in the middle of the summer unless there are women with me. I don't like AC. I grew up with the windows down at 70 mph and that is the way I prefer to drive. Shelby doesn't have AC and I love to listen to the engine roar and it is especially cool hearing the mechanical lifters and exhaust echo off the median wall. To each their own buddy, to each their own.
I agree on lots of this, however I think what you drive plays a huge factor in whether or not a person might like to drive with the windows down.
We drove a Grand Marquis to Dallas this past weekend, in that with the windows down at highway speed, there is hardly any wind buffeting at all. Now in everyday life I drive a full sized pickup or SUV, driving in either of those with the windows down at highway speed is downright torture.
I understand what you are saying and you are right about different cars having different noise levels. The reason there is more noise/buffeting in a lot of newer cars is the lack of wing windows which most classic/older cars have. There are plenty of newer cars that don't have a lot of problems with noise like my SHO. My Lexus is a lttle worse but then again it is a car designed for people that would die if they didn't have AC in Monterey CA.
Personally I have not found a car that the noise from having the windows down at speed bothers me. I guess I am so used to having the windows down I don't even notice it.
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