Money Saving Tip: Will Rolling Down Windows Save Fuel or Not?

Here's a great article on saving on gas from Bankrate.com. It asks the question: which saves you more money on gas, windows up and AC on or windows down and AC off? There are actually two answers to this question. The first:

"Several experts were interviewed to find out just who is correct. The results are unanimous: Driving with your windows down and the air conditioning off consumes less gas than having the windows up and the air conditioner running. This is absolutely true -- that is, when you're cruising around town.

"When you're driving across town, in stop-and-go traffic," says Frank Hampshire, director of market research with the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, or AASA, "it's more fuel efficient to drive with the air conditioning off, windows down."

"Consumer Reports' auto-test department reports that the air conditioner reduces your car's fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. So to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, motorists should avoid using the air conditioner at speeds below 40 mph and travel with their windows down, explains Gabe Shenhar, senior auto test engineer at Consumer Report's auto-test department."

But, rolling down the windows is not always the best option:

"But as your speed increases to 45 mph, or highway speeds," says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, "wind drag becomes an issue. Driving with the windows down increases the drag on your vehicle, resulting in decreased fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Drive at speeds over 55 mph with windows down and you'll decrease fuel economy by up to 20 percent or greater."

Translation: windows up and AC on is better once you hit 45 mph or more.

In addition, the article gives some great, cost-effective tips for cooling down your car in the first place. They are:

• Park in the garage or in the shade or use windshield shades. Your car will be cooler when you first get in.
• Open your windows and vents to blow the hot air out faster before turning your air conditioner on full blast.
• Fan speed does not affect fuel economy. Turn the fan on the highest setting to cool the vehicle down faster, then adjust for comfort.
• Select your vehicle's recycle-inside-air feature. It recirculates the cooling inside air, rather than pulling in the hot outside air.
• Different cars react differently, and so the point at which you should roll up the windows and kick on the air will be different for each car. A 2004 study by the Society of Automotive Engineers found, for example, that the aerodynamic drag for sport utility vehicles was particularly high, especially the ones they drove on a test track at speeds above 100 mph. Automotive engineers have all the fun.

Or, if you really want to save money at all costs:

An unlucky test driver was assigned to what turned out to be the most-fuel efficient way to travel: Driving with the windows up and the air conditioner switched off.

I think I'll spend a bit of money on the AC, thank you very much. ;-)

Comments

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