We doubt there’s anyone who doesn’t turn on the air conditioning in their car during the summer months, but the following tip could be very economical for you during this relatively more bearable weather period. With rising fuel prices, many are trying to save more on fuel costs, so they open windows instead of using air conditioning. However, does turning off the air conditioning really save you fuel? It turns out not in every case.
There are two main factors to consider when approaching the question of which option saves you more money: An open window or open air conditioning? The first relates to how the air compressor in your car operates and how much additional fuel the engine needs to continue running. The second is what’s known as air resistance or “drag force.” This force is the resistance that the vehicle, and all moving objects, encounter when they move through the air at any speed. Most modern cars are designed to be relatively aerodynamic, allowing them to drive against the wind with minimal resistance. However, when the car windows are open, air enters the vehicle instead of flowing over it, causing resistance that didn’t exist when the windows were closed. You can think of it a bit like a parachute: When the parachute opens, it catches the air and creates a massive amount of resistance, enough to slow the skydiver down and allow them to land safely on the ground. Unlike a parachute, you definitely don’t want a lot of resistance in your car, as this makes the engine work harder to maintain speed and thus consume more fuel.
So does resistance really affect fuel consumption more than air conditioning? Above certain speeds – indeed, it does. Chris Evans from the car comparison site Leasing.com warns that wind resistance due to open windows can deplete your fuel tanks faster when driving at high speeds. However, when driving at low speeds, avoiding air conditioning in favor of natural ventilation may actually be more economical. “It’s more efficient to drive with the windows open at low speeds because there’s less aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, the drag force on the car also increases,” he explained.
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Additionally, at lower speeds, the engine produces less power, so it has to work much harder to operate things like the air compressor for air conditioning. When the engine is running at higher speeds, it already produces a lot of power for both the engine and the additional equipment – like air conditioning.
At what speed is it better to use air conditioning?
Evans also specifies the speed at which the open window should switch to air conditioning. According to him, you can drive with the windows open up to a speed of 70 km/h. He told the Express: “This may sound unnecessary, but this mistake can have a significant impact on your fuel consumption. Using air conditioning can increase your fuel consumption by 10%, but opening the windows at higher speeds can increase fuel consumption by 20%.”
Car experts explain that resistance does not increase linearly, but exponentially. For example, when the car is traveling at a speed of 110 km/h, there is actually four times more force on the vehicle than when it is traveling at 55 km/h. This means that although the speed of the car has only doubled, the resistance has increased fourfold.
Nextbase expert Brian Brooker reinforced the message, saying: “If you can tolerate the noise, opening your windows will be a more efficient choice than running the air conditioning at lower speeds. Above about 80 km/h, the resistance from the open windows means that air conditioning will be more efficient.”
The team from the fuel additive manufacturer Redex joined the discussion and also recommended not to open windows during high-speed trips. They stated: “As tempting as it is to catch some sea breeze or some countryside air on a road trip, open windows threaten the aerodynamics of your vehicle, leading to excessive fuel consumption. On highways, stick to air conditioning.”
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Some have different opinions
The British insurance company RAC challenged this view, citing research from General Motors and the SAE engineering group, which indicates that the advice to open the air conditioning is incorrect. According to their study, which examined the impact of open windows versus air conditioning on fuel efficiency at speeds of 50, 80, and 110 km/h, lowering the window actually proved to be more economical in all scenarios. They also recommended that air conditioning users use it regularly and explained: “It’s worth remembering that the air conditioning will stop working if you don’t use it regularly, which may require costly repairs, so it’s a good idea to turn it on occasionally.”
Additionally, they note that in newer, more efficient vehicles, the difference between an open window and air conditioning may be negligible. The SAE conducted a test in 2013 on a 2009 Toyota Corolla at different speeds. They found that the Corolla had to travel at speeds above 130 km/h with the windows down before aerodynamic drag made it less efficient than traveling with the air conditioning on. The SAE also tested a 2009 Ford Explorer and found that driving with the windows down was more efficient at lower speeds, but there was not a significant difference between the two methods above 95 km/h.
In conclusion, the benefits or lack thereof of driving with open windows depend on several variables, such as the shape of the vehicle, engine size, and compressor efficiency. Each car will behave differently, so there are no hard and fast rules. However, regardless of what you choose (windows or air conditioning), it’s advisable to save fuel using methods such as keeping tires properly inflated, removing excess weight from the vehicle, and regular maintenance on all parts of the car.