Best Hybrid MPG Air Conditioning Settings

[SoonerBrink]

Any thoughts on best setting for MPG when using the A/C in a hybrid.

Auto fan moves too much air for me on the lowest setting, so I like to use manual.

Fan speed should directly correlate to power consumption, so I usually keep it at lowest setting once cabin in cool.

I don't know how the A/C works based on temperature control. I thought it it was NOT on AUTO, the A/C would blow the temp it was set on? So does that correlate to how much power is used? Colder air = more power? Or is the air all the same temp, and the blend door just makes it warmer by combining with coolant heat from the heater?

Any thoughts or link to info?

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[Timothyd]

Any thoughts on best setting for MPG when using the A/C in a hybrid.

Auto fan moves too much air for me on the lowest setting, so I like to use manual.

Fan speed should directly correlate to power consumption, so I usually keep it at lowest setting once cabin in cool.

I don't know how the A/C works based on temperature control. I thought it it was NOT on AUTO, the A/C would blow the temp it was set on? So does that correlate to how much power is used? Colder air = more power? Or is the air all the same temp, and the blend door just makes it warmer by combining with coolant heat from the heater?

Any thoughts or link to info?

I usually keep mine on minimum and recirculate but I noticed on a road trip to the U.P. last week I took a hit on the MPGs with the AC and the highway speeds of 75mph+. Still, for a pick-up, pretty good.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I usually keep mine on minimum and recirculate but I noticed on a road trip to the U.P. last week I took a hit on the MPGs with the AC and the highway speeds of 75mph+. Still, for a pick-up, pretty good.

Your Hybrid mileage probably took the bigger hit from the 75+ mph speeds - not the fact that the A/C was running.

 

[Timothyd]

Your Hybrid mileage probably took the bigger hit from the 75+ mph speeds - not the fact that the A/C was running.

I know, tried to slow down but I couldn't help it. The Mav wanted to go

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I usually keep mine on minimum and recirculate but I noticed on a road trip to the U.P. last week I took a hit on the MPGs with the AC and the highway speeds of 75mph+. Still, for a pick-up, pretty good.

On hybrid if you select "instantaneous" fuel to be displayed you can see "ELECTRIC" with gas pump grayed out then 999.9 mpg down to whenever electric turns totally off the gas pump turns white. At certain speeds the electric will blink on and off frequently. My electric pretty much ceases between 63-68 mph. Instantaneous is good to learn how and when you can turn electric on and off with gas pedal.

 

[tom_tucker]

Any thoughts on best setting for MPG when using the A/C in a hybrid.

Auto fan moves too much air for me on the lowest setting, so I like to use manual.

Fan speed should directly correlate to power consumption, so I usually keep it at lowest setting once cabin in cool.

I don't know how the A/C works based on temperature control. I thought it it was NOT on AUTO, the A/C would blow the temp it was set on? So does that correlate to how much power is used? Colder air = more power? Or is the air all the same temp, and the blend door just makes it warmer by combining with coolant heat from the heater?

Any thoughts or link to info?

I set the A/C at about 10 degrees below ambient temp and recirc. with manual fan on 1-3. It goes up to 85 deg. but the max I will set it to is 82. I'm in short and tank tops. Still get good mileage in the heat.

 

[wax87]

Any thoughts on best setting for MPG when using the A/C in a hybrid.

Auto fan moves too much air for me on the lowest setting, so I like to use manual.

Fan speed should directly correlate to power consumption, so I usually keep it at lowest setting once cabin in cool.

I don't know how the A/C works based on temperature control. I thought it it was NOT on AUTO, the A/C would blow the temp it was set on? So does that correlate to how much power is used? Colder air = more power? Or is the air all the same temp, and the blend door just makes it warmer by combining with coolant heat from the heater?

Any thoughts or link to info?

Off

 

[SoonerBrink]

Off

Post specifically says “when using a/c”

 

[huunvubu]

Set the temperature to what you would do in your home and adjust the fan speed to the minimum you need for comfort. Also have it on recirculate.

The AC will cycle on and off just like the AC in your home. When the inside temperature is above the set temperature it will turn on and when below the set temperature it will turn off.

I leave the AC temperature setting at 78 degrees and the fan at setting one (the lowest).

I use MAX AC for a minute when I first get in the hot vehicle then switch it off and back to the 78 degree temperature and then vary the fan speed from 3 then to 2 then to one when comfortable.

 

[wax87]

Post specifically says “when using a/c”

but the title does not say that, it was only a joke...

Best Hybrid MPG Air Conditioning Settings

 

[SoonerBrink]

No worries, just got a notification of a reply, hoping to get something useful, took the time to log in to see the comment.

 

[710-oil-614]

The lowest auto speed would be equal to the lowest fan speed, no?

I would set it to your desired temp on auto and the lowest fan speed (1 of 3 lights)

 

[The Real Maverick]

Any thoughts on best setting for MPG when using the A/C in a hybrid.

Auto fan moves too much air for me on the lowest setting, so I like to use manual.

Fan speed should directly correlate to power consumption, so I usually keep it at lowest setting once cabin in cool.

I don't know how the A/C works based on temperature control. I thought it it was NOT on AUTO, the A/C would blow the temp it was set on? So does that correlate to how much power is used? Colder air = more power? Or is the air all the same temp, and the blend door just makes it warmer by combining with coolant heat from the heater?

Any thoughts or link to info?

This was just discussed elsewhere.

You' d want coldest temperature possible with lowest fan setting possible.

Any temperature above "low" wastes some energy. Freon only has one temperature- ice cold. To make 70 degree air it has to chill it to ~34 degrees then warm it back up to 70.
Wasteful. Like keeping your refrigerator door open all day.

Most efficient is just let the "greenhouse effect" of your truck warm the chilled air to your comfort zone.

If you are moving the temperature dial up, you are over-using the air conditioner.

 

[SoonerBrink]

This was just discussed elsewhere.

You' d want coldest temperature possible with lowest fan setting possible.

That's what I thought, but the person that replied earlier seems to think the regular setting still detects cabin temperature and it operates like a home thermostat, rather than the previous car air conditioners I have owned.

 

[SoonerBrink]

The lowest auto speed would be equal to the lowest fan speed, no?

I would set it to your desired temp on auto and the lowest fan speed (1 of 3 lights)

They are not equal. Auto fan lowest blows more than the manual lowest setting. Give it a try.

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