Many drivers today are increasingly aware of the importance of fuel efficiency in reducing daily transportation costs. One of the factors affecting gasoline consumption, including the use of air conditioning, is a major concern. 

So, how does the use of air conditioning affect fuel consumption? Here's the explanation.

1. Compressor Operation Requires Power

The air conditioning system in a car works on the principle of refrigerant compression. The AC compressor, which is the main component, is directly driven by the car's engine via a belt connected to the crankshaft. Therefore, when the AC is turned on, the engine has to work harder to rotate the compressor, which automatically requires more fuel. This effect is more noticeable when the car is moving slowly or frequently stopping, as the engine RPM is low but the compressor still requires the same amount of power.

2. Influence of Various Factors

The extent to which the AC affects fuel consumption can vary. Smaller-engine vehicles typically consume more fuel when the AC is turned on because the compressor "consumes" a significant portion of the engine's power. Meanwhile, larger-engine vehicles are less affected because they have more power. Research data shows that the AC can reduce the fuel efficiency of gasoline-powered vehicles by 5.1% in urban areas and 2.7% on highways.

3. Environment and Road Conditions

Traffic congestion also causes fuel consumption to rise sharply. When the vehicle frequently stops and moves slowly, the engine must continue to run the AC compressor. Additionally, external air temperature plays a role. The hotter it is, the harder the compressor works. It’s no surprise that fuel consumption increases during extremely hot weather.

Tips for Using AC Efficiently

1. Set the Temperature at a Moderate Level  

Set the AC temperature between 23-25°C. The AC compressor will work harder if the requested temperature is too low, even though the cooling effect may not be significantly different. If you’re on a highway or in an area with constant high speeds, lowering the temperature slightly is fine because the engine is more efficient. But if you’re stuck in traffic, it’s better to raise the temperature slightly to avoid wasting fuel.

2. Use the Recirculation Mode  

Once the cabin is sufficiently cool, use the recirculation mode. The cool air inside the cabin will be recirculated, so the compressor doesn’t have to work as hard to cool hot air from outside. This mode is best used once the cabin has reached a comfortable temperature. However, don’t forget to occasionally switch to fresh air mode to maintain good air quality inside the cabin.

A strategy you can try is to use fresh air mode for the first 5–10 minutes to expel hot air from the cabin, then switch to recirculation mode once the temperature has dropped. Periodically (every 20–30 minutes), fresh air mode can be activated for 1–2 minutes to refresh the air inside the cabin. 

3. Lower the Cabin Temperature Before Departing

Before turning on the AC, open the doors and windows first to lower the cabin temperature, for about 1-2 minutes. A car that has been parked under direct sunlight for a long time can make the cabin temperature extremely hot, causing the AC to work harder when turned on. As a preventive measure, you can also use additional accessories like sunshades or good-quality window film to help reduce the heat entering the cabin.

4. Maintain the AC Regularly

Lastly, maintain your car’s AC regularly. Clean the cabin filter, condenser, and evaporator periodically to keep the AC efficient. A dirty AC will make the engine work harder and ultimately consume more fuel.

Indonesia 🇮🇩 

Banyak pengemudi saat ini yang makin sadar pentingnya efisiensi bahan bakar demi mengurangi biaya transportasi harian. Salah satu hal yang mempengaruhi konsumsi bensin, termasuk penggunaan AC, jadi perhatian utama. 

Lantas, bagaimana penggunaan AC bisa berpengaruh terhadap konsumsi bahan bakar? Berikut penjelasannya.

1. Kerja Kompresor yang Butuh Tenaga

Sistem AC di mobil bekerja dengan prinsip kompresi refrigeran. Kompresor AC, yang merupakan komponen utama, digerakkan langsung oleh mesin mobil lewat sabuk yang terhubung ke poros engkol. Jadi, saat AC dinyalakan, mesin harus kerja lebih keras untuk memutar kompresor, yang otomatis butuh lebih banyak bahan bakar. Hal ini makin terasa kalau mobil berjalan pelan atau sering berhenti, karena putaran mesin rendah tapi kompresor tetap butuh tenaga yang sama.

2. Pengaruh Beberapa Faktor

Seberapa besar pengaruh AC ke konsumsi bensin bisa berbeda-beda. Mobil bermesin kecil biasanya lebih boros saat AC dinyalakan karena kompresor ‘memakan’ porsi tenaga yang lumayan. Sementara, mobil dengan mesin besar nggak terlalu terasa karena tenaganya lebih banyak. Data penelitian menunjukkan, AC bisa bikin jarak tempuh mobil bensin berkurang 5,1% di dalam kota dan 2,7% di jalan tol.

3. Lingkungan dan Kondisi Jalan

Kondisi jalan macet juga bikin konsumsi bensin naik drastis. Saat mobil sering berhenti dan jalan pelan, mesin harus tetap memutar kompresor AC. Selain itu, suhu udara di luar juga berpengaruh. Semakin panas, semakin keras kompresor bekerja. Jadi wajar kalau konsumsi bensin naik saat cuaca sedang terik-teriknya.

Tips Mengunakan AC Secara Efisien

1. Atur Suhu di Level Moderat

Set suhu AC di kisaran 23-25°C. Kompresor AC bakal kerja lebih keras kalau suhu yang diminta terlalu rendah, padahal efek pendinginannya belum tentu jauh berbeda. Kalau lagi di jalan tol atau area dengan kecepatan konstan tinggi, menurunkan suhu sedikit nggak masalah karena mesin lebih efisien. Tapi kalau macet, lebih baik suhu dinaikkan sedikit biar nggak boros bensin.

2. Gunakan Mode Resirkulasi Udara

Kalau dirasa sudah cukup dingin, gunakan mode resirkulasi. Udara dingin di dalam kabin akan disirkulasikan ulang, jadi kompresor nggak perlu kerja keras mendinginkan udara panas dari luar. Mode ini paling cocok digunakan setelah kabin mencapai suhu nyaman. Tapi jangan lupa sesekali alihkan ke mode udara segar supaya kualitas udara kabin tetap baik.

Strategi yang bisa kamu coba yakni menggunakan mode udara segar selama 5-10 menit pertama untuk mengeluarkan udara panas dari kabin, kemudian beralih ke mode resirkulasi setelah suhu turun. Secara berkala (setiap 20-30 menit), mode udara segar dapat diaktifkan selama 1-2 menit untuk memperbarui udara dalam kabin. 

3. Turunkan Suhu Kabin Sebelum Berangkat

Sebelum nyalakan AC, buka pintu dan jendela dulu biar suhu kabin turun, kurang lebih selama 1-2 menit. Mobil yang lama terparkir di bawah sinar matahari langsung bisa bikin suhu kabin panas banget, bikin AC kerja keras saat dinyalakan. Sebagai langkah preventif, bisa juga pakai aksesori tambahan seperti sunshade atau kaca film yang bagus buat bantu mengurangi panas yang masuk.

4. Rawat AC Secara Rutin

Terakhir, rawat AC mobil secara rutin. Bersihkan filter kabin, kondensor, dan evaporator secara berkala supaya AC tetap efisien. AC yang kotor bakal bikin mesin kerja lebih keras dan akhirnya bikin boros bensin.