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Old 08-09-2012, 08:59 PM   #3 (permalink)
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It varies from vehicle to vehicle. In my 02 Insight it was a 10 MPG hit, even when you set it on recirc, with low fan speed and just enough temp to be barely comfortable. On my Fiesta its much less, probably barely over 1 MPG. The manufacturers have done a lot with compressor technology as well as orfices instead of expansion valves to reduce the power requirements dramatically. The Fiesta is tolerable on low fan, recirculate, with the temp knob about 25% above max cool. I actually watched the instant MPG reading climb to 46.7 MPG running the AC the last time we rode in the Fiesta. In my Insight it would beat that MPG by about 7 MPG, not a huge difference.

regards
Mech
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