simple air cond. question

[seanish4042]

question...when u run the air conditioner...gas mileage is clearly affected. but what is the DIRECT cause of it. i understand that the compressor takes some power away from the engine.

the compressor takes the power from the engine...so in order to create the torque neeeded to move the car, the engine must be at a higher rpm than normal?...thus decreasing the normal fuel economy?

for instance...my 95 max makes 90% of its 205 lb ft (186 lb ft) at 1800 rpm. so...with the air conditioner running...is this figure different than normal?

i hope im not confusing the shit out of mad heads, but im just curious. any knowledge would be straight.

[i3o2Matt]

the compressor doesn't necessarily take power from the engine, it just adds another load onto it, thus making it have to work harder to give you the same type of performance as you would have without the a/c running