How to be smarter with your air conditioning this summer

On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside your car can be upwards of 30 degrees higher than the outside air. As much as we love a road trip, using your car’s AC in these conditions is often unavoidable. But there are some simple ways to keep your car cool while minimising your fuel consumption for a comfortable drive.

Should you pre-cool your car?

To avoid that unpleasant oven-like sensation when you get in the car, you might be in the habit of pre-starting your engine and running the AC before you set off. However, your air conditioning relies on the car’s engine turning to function properly, so you may be doing more harm than good. Instead, open all windows when you first get in the car and turn the AC to minimum temperature and maximum fan speed – this will push all the hot air out of the car as quickly as possible so you can drive in comfort. If possible, always try to park in the shade to ease the strain on your AC, and therefore save fuel.

Cost-effective cooling

You may have heard that the lower your AC temperature, the more fuel your car uses. In fact, the most cost-efficient way to use modern AC systems is to choose a moderate to low temperature with maximum fan speed, and use the recirculation button. This will mean you are recirculating the already-cold cabin air rather than trying to cool the warm air coming from outside the car. Your air conditioner will trigger a higher fuel consumption when idling, so if you’re sitting in heavy traffic, it would likely be more cost effective to turn the AC off and roll the windows down. However, the drag created by having open windows when moving at speed would likely use more fuel than the air conditioner.

Air conditioner settings

As well as using the recirculation mode, there are other settings you can use to maximise efficiency. Many modern cars have multi-zoned climate control, so you can adjust the temperature in varying degrees across different zones. Paying attention to these settings can mean you’re not wasting fuel consumption by blasting cool air into an area with no passengers. If your car only has front vents and you have back-seat passengers, try pointing the vents upwards, which will move the air faster and keep everyone cool, not just the driver.

AC maintenance

Just like your home’s air conditioning system, your car AC requires clean filters to run efficiently – and dirty filters mean your system will be using more fuel than it should be. If you haven’t inspected your filters before, check your car’s manual to see where they’re located and how to replace them if necessary. Your local mechanic can also do this at your next service, along with checking the other parts and levels. Signs that your air con might need attention include reduced airflow, unusual sounds or smells, and difficulty clearing humidity or dew from the windscreen. Keeping your car interior clear of dust and dirt can also help your AC stay in great shape.

Smart air conditioning

As vehicle technologies rapidly evolve, one modern innovation in newer luxury cars is ‘smart air conditioning’. These systems feature sensors that can detect climate variations – such as the angle of the sun – and intuitively adjust your AC to suit. With automatic adjustments of airflow and temperature, your AC can be optimised to reduce fuel consumption. These systems can be voice controlled and work in conjunction with other AI technologies to enhance driver comfort – the future looks pretty cool, indeed.

_{Disclaimer
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}