Turning off the air conditioner saves fuel? Six major misconceptions

Turning off the air conditioner saves fuel? Six major misconceptions Zhang Zhaohong Will you be shocked by the price of gas after filling up your tank? Now a gallon of unleaded gasoline costs less than four yuan, and with...

Turn off the air conditioner to save fuel? Six Misconceptions Zhang Zhaohong Are you shocked by the gas price after filling up your tank? A gallon of unleaded gasoline now sells for slightly less than four yuan, and with the unstable international situation, oil prices will continue to be high. However, people cannot go to work or school without driving, so they have to find ways to save fuel. But in fact, some common fuel-saving methods are ineffective. The following are six wrong fuel-saving concepts. 1. Turn off the air conditioner. The air conditioner at home will significantly increase the electricity bill, so it seems reasonable that the air conditioner in the car will also consume more gasoline, but this is not the case. Tests conducted by Consumer Reports magazine confirmed that the fuel consumption of car air conditioners is negligible, so there is no need to overheat yourself to save fuel. Rolling down the windows will increase wind resistance and consume more fuel. Therefore, the most fuel-efficient way is to close the windows and let in the cool breeze. 2. Refuel when the temperature is cooler. Most people mistakenly believe that gasoline is thicker in cold weather, so you should refuel in the early morning or evening. In fact, gasoline is stored in low-temperature underground tanks, and the temperature difference between noon and night does not change much, so you won't save money by waiting until it's cooler to refuel. 3. Increase tire pressure. Many people believe that fully inflated tires are more fuel-efficient. Indeed, under-inflated tires will increase fuel consumption by 3.75%. However, over-inflating tires will reduce the tire's grip and increase the risk of a car accident. Proper tire pressure is not only related to driving safety, but also extends tire life, but it has little impact on gasoline consumption. 4. Use of additives The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out that many gasoline additives that claim to improve fuel efficiency actually only cost consumers money. 5. Change the air filter frequently. Proper car maintenance can extend the service life of the car and save repair costs. But changing the air filter frequently will not increase gas mileage per gallon. Tests conducted by Consumer Reports magazine show that current vehicle devices are computer-controlled, and clogged air filters do not increase gasoline consumption. Maintenance can extend the life of your car, but it cannot save you money on gas. 6. Leave the engine running. Some people think that starting the car consumes fuel, so the engine should still be running when the car is stopped. In fact, today's vehicles are designed so that starting the engine no longer consumes fuel. On the contrary, leaving the engine idling for an hour will consume half a gallon of gasoline, so it is best to turn off the engine when you are not driving for a while. There are many misconceptions about fuel saving, so how can we save fuel? Instead of starting with the car, it’s better to change your driving habits. When driving on the highway, you should stay calm and do not overtake and change lanes at will, or slam on the accelerator to accelerate the car as quickly as possible in a short period of time. This can reduce fuel consumption by up to 33%. Removing unnecessary heavy items from your car can save 2% on gasoline. Under the highway speed limit, maintaining a speed of 60 miles per hour can save 23% of fuel consumption. In short, driving smoothly and safely is not only the best way to save fuel, but it is also a driving habit that should be adopted regardless of the price of fuel.