vent instead of A/C

[mush3gan]

hey if i roll up my windows and turn off the A/C but instead also open the vent / turn on the fan.. does that waste gas also? should i not have anything on at all?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

It uses some, but not nearly as much as running the A/C. Crack the windows and run the fan.

[Johnny Mullet]

With just the vent open in the panel position, I think in most cars this uses no power at all unless you have the blower fan on.

[Bicycle Bob]

The lack of proper diffusers in the ventilation system means that air can get around a car easier than through it. For maximum economy with some cooling, I'd leave the vents open, the vent fan off, and run an accessory fan to blow on my body. In a hot, dry area, I'd add an occasional water mist.

[whokilledthejams]

I find vents more or less worthless, other than on those odd days in the spring and fall when it's not that warm out, but the sun makes the inside of a car hot anyway.

As I suggested in the post about pulsing AC, driving with the passenger-side windows both open an inch or two in a 4 door sedan or wagon creates a nice breeze without massive amounts of drag, especially at higher speeds.

[nascarnation]

My Saturn SC1 seems to have lost about 3 mpg since A/C season started.
Typically my interior air temp after being parked outside all day in the sun with windows closed (white car with light tan interior) is 130-135F.
Gas is gonna have to be $10/gallon before I scuttle the A/C.

[azraelswrd]

Sun blocking devices work wonders. Generic accordian for the front; static and fabric shades for the side windows and even rigged up wire hangers and pillowcases that hang off the handles above the doors for extra protection. It may not look pretty but getting in a car that is only 100 versus one that is 130 is good enough for me.

whokilledthejams is right with just using the windows ajar. That bit of air circulation moving through the cabin will drop the interior temp dramatically. If humidity is an issue, try a portable dehumidifier (passive or plug-in) -- the cabin is small enough that most should work.

[mush3gan]

ok, so i will go with the inch or so crack in the windows.

what if i turn on the fan, but no A/C? is that using up a lot of power?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hiya,

The fan uses only a little bit of power; relative to the A/C.

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hiya,

The fan uses only a little bit of power; relative to the A/C.

Generally, but unfortunately not on my elantra. As soon as I turn the ventilation on, with or without A/C, at idle GPH goes up 0.1. There is only a 0.02 GPH difference between fan level 1 and 4.

Cracking my window and the opposite rear window an inch is the best solution at speed.