Quote:
Originally Posted by mazeroni
I am also super impressed with the AC so long as you are moving. I find that when at a stop the air blowing out the vents gets a good deal warmer (talking 100 F ambient temps). I am sure there is a good explanation. Also the super small interior makes it easy to modulate. My GTI was a bit of a pain. Go around a corner and the air in the hatch would move to the front.
Though my fuel economy tanks when running the AC. I don't know whether i trust the instant MPG gauge, but the different between AC on and off is at least 6 mpg. I have no statistical evidence, but I feel like I started to use at least 25% less fuel when the temps dropped to 70 around here and I keep the windows down.
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My ac goes on in March and off in October since I do not like heat. I have seen zero impact on my mileage from the ac on either the average gauge nor my calculated number. Not one single mpg difference when running it and certainly no 25% drop. Dadhawk's very extensive data also shows only a 1 mpg difference between winter and summer and I would have to believe he uses his ac loads since he is in Georgia. The instant gauge is useless for any practical purpose and I don't even know why they have it. It always just seems to mess with people's head. Other than a very brief moment of playing catchup when the compressor kicks in the engine is not demanding more revs or fuel when the ac is running. These aren't the old school systems that had parasitic draw all the time and the compressor clutch kicks in and frequently to prevent excessive fuel use. Can probably find some numbers someplace and bet you would be surprised at how little fuel a modern ac system uses compared to those right up into the 90s.