Does the air conditioner fail when driving with an open window?

The car system works differently than at home

It is widely believed that using the air conditioner with the windows open leads to breakage. This is largely true when it comes to home conditions. With the current received, the air evaporates and the air conditioner is turned on at maximum speed to compensate for the heat entering the room. Some hotels even have sensors that signal or shut down the system to prevent overloading. Sometimes it happens that the fuses are not blown.

However, in cars, air conditioning works differently. It collects air from outside the car and passes it through the coolers. Then the cold stream enters the cab through the deflectors. The air conditioner works in conjunction with the stove and can simultaneously dry the air heated by it, creating a flow that is as comfortable as possible for the driver and passengers.

That is why the power of the air conditioning system in the car is enough not only to work with open windows, but also with the stove turned on at maximum. It is no coincidence that even convertibles are equipped with such devices in which not only the windows are removed, but the roof also disappears. In them, the air conditioner creates a so-called "air bubble." "Which, due to the greater weight, remains in the lower part of the cabin, in the area of ​​the seats.

At the same time, driving with the windows open and the air conditioner on increases the load on the vehicle's electrical system. The generator is loaded and the fuel consumption increases accordingly. If in normal mode the air conditioner consumes 0,5 liters of gasoline per hour, then with the windows open, the consumption increases to about 0,7 liters.

Owner costs are rising for another reason. This is the impaired aerodynamics of the car due to increased air resistance. When driving with open windows at speeds up to 60 km / h, the effect is not noticeable. But when the car leaves the city at a speed of more than 80 km / h, fuel consumption increases significantly. Turbulence is created in the area of ​​the rear windows, as a zone of increased pressure is formed, which sucks in air from the passenger compartment and the driver's ears become deaf.

In addition, a low-pressure zone (something like an airbag) is formed immediately behind the car, where air is literally sucked in, and this makes it difficult to move. The driver is forced to increase speed in order to overcome the resistance and the cost increases accordingly. The solution in this case is to close the windows and thus restore the flow of the body.

Therefore, the best solution to reduce fuel consumption is to drive with closed windows and air conditioning. This saves up to a liter of fuel per 100 km, and is also good for the health of the driver and passengers in the car. Air enters the passenger compartment through an air filter that protects against dust, soot, harmful microparticles from tires, as well as microorganisms .. This cannot be done with open windows.