Air conditioning more economical to run manual or set temperature at 77 on front vent recycling air?

[BK007]

I don't care if it's economical or not I like to be cool in the summer heat.

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[ikcelaks]

You are correct thats where I get the 5-15 MPGs

My impression was that you were running the AC on the highway (because of minimal mpg penalty) but not during city driving (because greater mpg hit). My point is that you're paying to be comfortable for X hours (not X miles). It costs the same to be comfortable for an hour of city driving as for an hour of highway driving, so both are worth it if one is worth it.

If I was misinterpreting what you're doing, then my apologies, but hopefully the discussion was useful to someone else.

 

[commadorebob]

I have it set to 70 and mostly just run it on Auto 1. In a pinch, I'll temporarily move it up to Auto 2.

In Alabama, there is no "economical" way to run it. It just runs nonstop.

 

[GmanGM]

Because the hybrid AC system is variable - there is a difference with it's amp draw from the HVB depending on the temp differential your settings are calling for.

Now to how much having your HVB going lower faster will affect your mileage is another matter.
How you drive and opportunities for being in EV may change.
You could have a bunch of areas where you get this long stretch of EV mode, and they are now all cut short because EV mode is shorter due to HVB being used faster on AC.
Then again, you could be on the highway and it matters not.

Auto-mode (you said manual) 1 will still try to get it to set point as fast as possible, just with lower fan speeds - which is actually good for being colder anyway. But you could set that to 77 also.

What will change the response of the AC as to the load applied - is being in Eco mode. Calms that response down a bit, so it's not max amps for ASAP reaching set point.

Since there is no cabin air temp display - your ability to say attempt a 10 F spread between set temp and current temp for some sort of minimal load request can't happen.
Not worth it anyway.

This (and other responses) seem somewhat informative but, 1) what's a nHVB (acronyms should be defined)?, and 2) OP is trying to get to what's more eficient (auto or manual) and I dont see a direct recomendation for this here? (closest truely useful ones indicated nothing much matters at hwy speed but any ac is more of a energy consumption when going slow- but again nothing on auto vs manual)

 

[GmanGM]

My impression was that you were running the AC on the highway (because of minimal mpg penalty) but not during city driving (because greater mpg hit). My point is that you're paying to be comfortable for X hours (not X miles). It costs the same to be comfortable for an hour of city driving as for an hour of highway driving, so both are worth it if one is worth it.

If I was misinterpreting what you're doing, then my apologies, but hopefully the discussion was useful to someone else.

This is good, but I think OP was asking about Auto vs Manual efficiency...

 

[grandpopa'sMPGs]

My impression was that you were running the AC on the highway (because of minimal mpg penalty) but not during city driving (because greater mpg hit). My point is that you're paying to be comfortable for X hours (not X miles). It costs the same to be comfortable for an hour of city driving as for an hour of highway driving, so both are worth it if one is worth it.

If I was misinterpreting what you're doing, then my apologies, but hopefully the discussion was useful to someone else.

I am good with windows down until 50 MPH when the wind noise becomes bothersome. I don't want the AC to where out prematurely.

 

[Randorita]

As far a mileage goes, once you get to 50 or so, you are better off with the a/c than having the windows down anyway. I just don't enjoy sweating. When I moved to Mississippi I was told I would get used to the humidity. They lied to me!

 

[HeyBales]

This is good, but I think OP was asking about Auto vs Manual efficiency...

HVB - High Voltage Battery - which the AC on hybrid runs from ultimately as a variable 3-phase compressor.

In both Auto and Manual modes - you set the temperature.

In Auto mode - you set the range of allowed fan speeds. 1 to 3.
In Manual mode - you set the fan speed. 1 to 7.

In either case - the system is going to go for max cooling to reach set point as fast as possible.
Your fan speed, or the fastest possible in the range. (Eco mode will temper both those down)

The fan uses 2-5 Amps from the 12V system - a minuscule draw on the HVB system in comparison to other things.

In theory... depends.
Auto is going to lower the fan speed once setpoint is reached - less draw.
Manual is going to keep your fan speed - same draw.

Depends on what Auto mode you selected, vs what Manual fan speed you selected.
Depends on the temp differential to outside & how hard the system needs to keep running to keep your setpoint.

That's why there is no strict answer - because it depends.
In theory.
In reality - you can probably find an extreme side of cases where either is best for efficiency, and worst.
But except for those edge cases - doesn't matter, not enough difference.

 

[Dad]

I want to be comfortable, so I have mine on auto and 1, with the temperature set between 67 and 70. I dont change it much in the winter.

That "1" setting blows pretty good. There are times when I wish it was set lower.

 

[Dad]

As far a mileage goes, once you get to 50 or so, you are better off with the a/c than having the windows down anyway. I just don't enjoy sweating. When I moved to Mississippi I was told I would get used to the humidity. They lied to me!

Yep. Windows down buffets the air stream and increases friction.

 

[HeyBales]

This is good, but I think OP was asking about Auto vs Manual efficiency...

I reread the question - actually it sounds confusing like the system hasn't been used in one of the modes to see how it works.

Manual on 1?
You can set that with 77 and recirc - so where's the "or" part to compare?

If Steve meant Auto on 1 - you still need to set the temp for Auto mode.

And what fan speed for the 77 & recirc part of the compare?

 

[MakinDoForNow]

FYI:
https://www.google.com/search?q=cap...IAIAA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#lfId=ChxjMe

 

[ice445]

I don’t use Auto settings at all anymore. My Mustang had a couple of the plenum door motors fail. These are the small motors that open/close the doors in the HVAC system to blend air to achieve the Auto temp setting. And they are not cheap to replace since they’re buried under the IP. I set my AC manually so the motors hardly ever actuate, based on advice from my Ford AC engineer friend.

From how I understand it the temperature set is always automatic, you set a desired cabin temperature and it tries to maintain it. The auto mode just operates the fan speed and directs the air where it thinks it will be most effective.

Or am I wrong, and the set temp is what is supposed to come out of the vents no matter what?

 

[pigsareus]

I would like peoples opinion on what more economical to run the ac in manual on 1 or temp set at 77 on front vent recycling air? Thanks.
[/QUOT if you're typically the only one in the truck then shut down the passenger vents completely, that way you're getting the full thrust of the a/c and not 'wasting it' on the other half of the truck. ME? Here's what I do - I throw the thing on max a/c and drive along happy as a lark and my mpg is about what it is when i don't have the a/c on - about 44 mpg, and it's great. Just set it at your comfort level and enjoy it - you're not saving anything by skimping on this or that or setting it higher than you're comfortable with, in the end even if you're saving 1/10th mpg what's that over one season? About 5 bucks in gas? I love my supercharged a/c - it's the best a/c in any vehicle I have even owned.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I would like peoples opinion on what more economical to run the ac in manual on 1 or temp set at 77 on front vent recycling air? Thanks.

From how I understand it the temperature set is always automatic, you set a desired cabin temperature and it tries to maintain it. The auto mode just operates the fan speed and directs the air where it thinks it will be most effective.

Or am I wrong, and the set temp is what is supposed to come out of the vents no matter what?

That's exactly how I think it operates.
When you set the manual fan speed it does not change. It operates at that setting constantly.

When you set the fan speed using the auto button 1, 2 or 3 and that's the maximum speed that the fan will go. It may adjust lower as the interior cools and then it will speed up to the maximum that's been selected, if it needs too.

Therefore, in my simplistic logic. I think Auto setting is actually the more economical setting electricity wise by a minuscule amount.
The AC compressor is going to cycle off and on, with either setting trying to maintain interior temperature.
The temperature you set is going to be the biggest factor in how much you save.

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