Is this true?

[SUPER KING]

Someone once told me that any car, when driving, is not always a good idea to turn on the AC on high or on for a long time because it can break the car by using twice the power. But it's okay to turn on the heat in the winter. Weird. They told me that if you can, you should open the window rather than turn on the AC. It sounds so ridiculous to me, but is it true? If so, how will it break the car? What a silly thing....


Thanks

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by SUPER KING

... What a silly thing....
Thanks

Yes.

Read pages and links in link below.

[BeZerK2112]

......

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by SUPER KING

Someone once told me that any car, when driving, is not always a good idea to turn on the AC on high or on for a long time because it can break the car by using twice the power. But it's okay to turn on the heat in the winter. Weird. They told me that if you can, you should open the window rather than turn on the AC. It sounds so ridiculous to me, but is it true? If so, how will it break the car? What a silly thing....

I don't know what you mean by "break the car," but you've been told wrong.

First, the heater and the air conditioning use different systems (aside from the fans), so comparing the operation of the two is basically meaningless.

Second, the air conditioning unit is designed for long-term use.

Third, I think the point that was being expressed was the economy of using air conditioning over rolling the windows down. If you're driving at slower speeds around town, rolling the windows down is more efficient (uses less of the engine's power) than using the air conditioning. At highway speeds, however, the change in the vehicle's aerodynamics caused by opening the windows is more of a draw on the vehicle than the air conditioning system, so it's more efficient to run the A/C.

[SUPER KING]

Originally Posted by Hudson

I don't know what you mean by "break the car," but you've been told wrong.

First, the heater and the air conditioning use different systems (aside from the fans), so comparing the operation of the two is basically meaningless.

Second, the air conditioning unit is designed for long-term use.

Third, I think the point that was being expressed was the economy of using air conditioning over rolling the windows down. If you're driving at slower speeds around town, rolling the windows down is more efficient (uses less of the engine's power) than using the air conditioning. At highway speeds, however, the change in the vehicle's aerodynamics caused by opening the windows is more of a draw on the vehicle than the air conditioning system, so it's more efficient to run the A/C.

Thanks for replying. "break the car" is what I don't get neither, that's why I want to know how and why the air conditioner was design to be no good to the vehicle. What he probably mean was "not good to the vehicle" or "do harm to it".

Well, anyways... what will it actually do to the vehicle when the AC is on (high or for long period of time)? From what I've experienced with my previous cars (Accord and Camry) was that it makes the car weak when accellerating from a stop light or top sign. It makes the gas pedal feels soft. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? At highway speeds I don't notice anything at all.

So, you are saying I should open the windos at slow speed and turn on the AC at high speed? I was actually doing the opposite with my previous cars. That's probably why my cars kept breaking. Gotta go now. Thanks.

[BeZerK2112]

AC will do that to any car. In 97-99 maximas it even runs with the heater on on the auto climant control.

[SUPER KING]

Originally Posted by BeZerK2112

AC will do that to any car. In 97-99 maximas it even runs with the heater on on the auto climant control.

Why is it like that? Why do car manufacturers build AC that will be no good to the car? This is one reason I'm afraid of turning on the AC. But is it okay to turn on the AC when the vehicle is not in motion?

[rather_b_boatin]

No, running the A/C WILL NOT "break the car". The technologically challenged people who told you this may have broken a car or two.