{"id":475572,"date":"2022-07-19T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/"},"modified":"2022-07-19T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T12:00:00","slug":"which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/","title":{"rendered":"#Which Uses More Gas: Open Windows or AC?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e7cff22ec2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e7cff22ec2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/#%E2%80%9CWhich_Uses_More_Gas_Open_Windows_or_AC%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Which Uses More Gas: Open Windows or AC?&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/#Its_All_About_Air_Resistance\" >It\u2019s All About Air Resistance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/#When_to_Open_the_Windows\" >When to Open the Windows<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/#When_to_Use_Air_Conditioning\" >When to Use Air Conditioning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-uses-more-gas-open-windows-or-ac\/#A_Simple_Rule_of_Thumb\" >A Simple Rule of Thumb<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhich_Uses_More_Gas_Open_Windows_or_AC%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Which Uses More Gas: Open Windows or AC?&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-818960\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/window-down-AC-car.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/air-conditioning-button-inside-car-interior-1808479783 + https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/cheerful-woman-looks-out-window-car-1293857806\">ShotPrime Studio\/zedspider\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You\u2019re driving your car on a hot summer day. There are two options to stay cool\u2014put the windows down and enjoy the breeze or turn on the air conditioning. Which one is better for fuel efficiency? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a pretty well-known fact that running the AC in your vehicle has a negative impact on MPG. This is true for both gas and\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/116956\/does-running-the-a-c-or-heat-lower-your-ev-range\/#autotoc_anchor_1\">electric vehicles<\/a>. So rolling the windows down is the better choice for efficiency, right? It\u2019s not that simple.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Use Fuel-Efficient Routes in Google Maps<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_All_About_Air_Resistance\"><\/span>It\u2019s All About Air Resistance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-818963\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1444387703.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Car aerodynamics. \" width=\"1000\" height=\"574\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-illustration\/sports-car-concept-made-3d-software-1444387703\">ktsdesign\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Opening the windows and using the AC both have an impact on MPG, but how they do it is very different. When the windows are open, air that normally would flow over the vehicle goes into the car. This creates resistance known as \u201cdrag.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cars and other vehicles are designed to be somewhat aerodynamic, which helps minimize air resistance. If air can flow easily around something, it doesn\u2019t push back on it so much. More drag means your vehicle has to work harder to propel itself forward.<\/p>\n<p>Air conditioning is simply an extra component (air compressor) in the vehicle that needs power to function. Gas is the primary power source in a gas-powered vehicle. Anything you\u2019re doing\u2014even charging your phone\u2014uses more of it. Therefore, when the AC is on, your vehicle is using more gas.<\/p>\n<p>There have been a number of studies on fuel efficiency with windows open vs. air conditioning. It boils down to whether the vehicle is using more gas to overcome air resistance than it is to run the air conditioning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Cut Your Summer Electric Bill by Supercooling Your Home<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Open_the_Windows\"><\/span>When to Open the Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The consensus among the studies is that driving with the windows down is more efficient at slower speeds. Essentially, what we\u2019re talking about is \u201ccity driving.\u201d This means driving on non-highway roads, stopping at lights, making turns, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>This has to do with air resistance again. When you\u2019re driving at slower speeds, there\u2019s less air resistance overall. Aerodynamics is not as big of a deal. Turning off things that use more gas\u2014like air conditioning\u2014will have a more direct impact on MPG.<\/p>\n<p>Since vehicles are so different, there\u2019s not a specific speed cutoff that will work for everyone. Studies <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/auto.howstuffworks.com\/fuel-efficiency\/hybrid-technology\/driving-with-windows-down.htm\">generally show<\/a> it\u2019s better for fuel efficiency to open the windows under around 40 MPH. Between 40-75 MPH is more of a gray area.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Use_Air_Conditioning\"><\/span>When to Use Air Conditioning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As you may have guessed from the previous section, air conditioning is more fuel efficient at higher speeds. This is when air resistance starts to play a bigger role. It takes more power to overcome the drag than it does to power the air conditioning.<\/p>\n<p>Again, there\u2019s not a perfect speed threshold that works for every vehicle. A nice rule of thumb is to use AC when you\u2019re on the highway\u2014or speeds <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.motortrend.com\/news\/myth-buster-save-fuel-with-ac-on-or-windows-down-389831\/\">above 75 MPH<\/a>. Anything under that\u2014but above 40 MPH\u2014is not as clear cut. That\u2019s where the differences aren\u2019t as pronounced.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Simple_Rule_of_Thumb\"><\/span>A Simple Rule of Thumb<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s the short answer\u2014roll the windows down when you\u2019re driving around the city and crank the AC when you\u2019re on the highway. If you need specific speeds, open the windows under 40 MPH and use the AC above 75 MPH. The MPG differences in the range between those speeds aren\u2019t as great. Your wallet will be thankful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Use Your Phone to Pay for Gas<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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There are two options to stay cool\u2014put the windows down and enjoy the breeze or turn on the air conditioning. Which one is better for fuel efficiency? Let\u2019s find out. It\u2019s a pretty well-known fact that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":475573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/window-down-AC-car.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-475572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475572"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475572\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/475573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}