Does Heating Up In Winter Cost Oil?

By Author: Guchen EAC
Total Articles: 19
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Theoretically speaking, turning on the air-conditioning heater in winter does not cost oil. Although the air conditioner is also turned on, the working principle of the car air conditioner is different when heating and cooling.

When the automobile air conditioner is refrigerated, the compressor needs to do work, and the power of the compressor is provided by the engine. As a result, the engine takes on more work, the power increases, and the fuel consumption increases.

The car air conditioner heating is different.

When the car air conditioner is heating, the blower blows the heat of the circulating water cooled by the engine in the car water tank into the car for heating. The compressor does not work and does not require additional power from the engine, so it will not increase fuel consumption.

To put it simply, air-conditioning heating is "reuse of waste". Whether you turn on the heater or not, the heat generated by the engine is there, no more, no less.

Misunderstanding of the use of air conditioning and heating

It is clearly stated that the air-conditioning heating does not consume ...
... oil. Why is there an increase in the fuel consumption of the heating in real life? It is very likely that you are using the wrong heater.

The following editor will give you a few misunderstandings about the use of air-conditioning heaters, and see how you have won.

Misunderstanding 1: Start the warm air immediately after driving

Although it was cold when you first got in the car, don't rush to turn on the air conditioner. When the cold car is just started, the heat of the engine cooling water is not enough for the air conditioner. After all, the car needs the corresponding heat to start.

If the warm air is turned on immediately, not only will the heating effect be poor, but the warm air will take away a lot of heat and cause the cooling water temperature to rise slowly, which will bring additional workload to the engine, and naturally increase the fuel consumption.

The correct way to start the heater is to start the engine to warm up first, and then turn on the heater when the engine temperature indicator reaches the middle position.

Misunderstanding 2: Turn on the A/C button

Pressing the A/C button means that the compressor is started, and the compressor will definitely increase fuel consumption. However, automobile air-conditioning heating uses the heat generated by the car’s own thermal cycle, and does not require compressor work. Turning on the A/C button for air-conditioning heating is a useless waste.

Misunderstanding 3: Always use inner loop

You may think that the internal circulation mode can avoid the loss of heat inside the car, so the internal circulation will be kept on the way. However, in actual use, long-term use of the internal circulation will cause the oxygen content in the cab to become lower and the air in the car to become worse, causing the driver to become sleepy.

Therefore, when driving for a long time, you can open a small slit in the car window for ventilation, or switch the internal and external circulation appropriately. After the air circulates, the air in the car will be much better.

Misunderstanding 4: Close the doors and windows and open the warm air after parking

When the engine is working, if the fuel burns incompletely, a high concentration of carbon monoxide will be produced. When a car is running, the air in the car generates convection through the air conditioning equipment, and the concentration of carbon monoxide in the car is low.

However, after the vehicle is stopped, if the warm air continues to be driven, the carbon monoxide emitted by the engine will gradually accumulate in the car and the concentration will rise. If the windows are closed at this time, it will easily cause carbon monoxide poisoning and endanger life.

Therefore, when parking, do not close the doors and windows with warm air, let alone sleep in the car with warm air.

So, don’t drive in the winter to keep warm. It’s not a waste of fuel to use the air-conditioning heater reasonably. Turn on the air-conditioning as soon as possible!

I am Isabella S Johnna, Working at Guchen EAC. We are the top manufacturer of HVAC systems, including bus air conditioning, 12V air conditioner for van, electric AC compressor etc.Guchen EAC manufactures and exports a wide range of electric AC compressor, both high voltage (DC320V, DC350V, DC380V) and low volt compressors (DC12V, DC72V).