Turning off your car’s A/C can save gasoline, but probably not in the dramatic way some fuel-saving advice suggests. The savings depend heavily on your vehicle, outside temperature, driving speed, and how hard the climate system has to work.
That makes the familiar summer debate more complicated than “A/C off equals better mileage.” Open the windows, and the air pushing against the vehicle creates drag. Keep the windows shut and run the A/C, and the compressor takes energy from the vehicle. Suddenly, the humble climate-control button has entered the fuel-economy department.
