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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  February 21, 2009 05:41 AM

Is horsepower reduced when driving your car with the AC on?

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jp95zm6 jp95zm6
 
 February 21, 2009 06:37 PM
Horsepower is not reduced, but you 'spend' some of it running the compressor. 5 to 7 horsepower would not be uncommon. Lowering the blower will reduce the load on the compressor, since less air moving through the system results in less heat transferred to the a/c system. Raising the temperature setting typically will not reduce the a/c load, though. It just reheats the air after the a/c chills it. Running recirculation mode or 'Max' is the most effective way to reduce the load from the system, and thus maximize fuel economy with a/c on, especially for longer trips when the cabin has a chance to cool off.
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pvera pvera
 
February 21, 2009 07:14 PM
Another thing we did not mention is the size of the engine. A 300 HP V-8 engine with a 7HP penalty due to AC won't feel it at all. The same 7HP drain on a 120HP 4-cylinder car will make it feel sluggish.

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pvera pvera
 
February 21, 2009 04:40 PM
If it runs off a belt that feeds from the engine power, yes, it is considered parasitic, so it lowers the available power that can be used to move the car.

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cee-jay cee-jay
 
February 21, 2009 06:24 PM
My suggestion, is really just use the AC if you need it. You do get a better agility without it on.
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pvera pvera
 
February 21, 2009 06:29 PM
I agree, if you are going to be putting a heavier than normal load on the engine you should switch to just the fan. Also, if you are going to be driving at a steady speed, say an interstate, then you can probably use just the fan and the car won't get too hot.

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