Hello all,

Just a queary, i've been using my aircon quite a bit just latley just wondering if anyone can tell me if it effects the fuel consumption drastically as i seem to be using more than norm of could i have another problem any ideas

the car is five months old octavia 1.6 fsi ambient

As the car has climate control, you'll find that the hotter it is, the more power (and therefore fuel) the air con consumes... Reckon on anything up to a couple of bhp for the compressor at full whack, so it's probably going cost you 2 or 3 mpg. Anything more than, say, 5mpg might mean something else is up...

I've had 3 Octavia Tdis over a period of 7 years. Each of them had climate control (my current vehicle as the slightly more advanced Dual Control). Despite frequent attempts to measure the impact of using and not using air con, I've never been able to record any difference whatsoever. I understand that high torque diesel engines are likely to be less effected anyway.

Dave.

I've never noticed a difference when using CC that couldn't be put down to other factors like differing journey patterns or traffic.

In my experience, diesels seem to be able to handle the extra burden of an A/C compressor much better than a petrol (as Dodgy suggests). I am driving a petrol right now and the difference is very noticeable when the A/C compressor is running compared to a derv.

It doesn't matter how snazzy the climatronic system is, there is still a switch that turns the comp on or off (ECON) and the heating system is used to trim the air temperature coming into the cabin. The compressor operation is fairly constant other than that.

I have check my fuel comsumption many times on my regular commute with the Climate Control on normal or Econ (compressor off)- mode and can see now difference at all.

I for one leave my climatronic on ECON until it is necessary to mechanically cool the cabin. Despite not seeing any obvious differences in fuel consumption physics dictates there must be an increase. As my car is well loaded up it needs all the help it can get

hi all thanks for the info

i,m just being over cautious didn,t notice it with my last car(ford mondeo 2.0 tdci)

thanks for the replies will try and do a check one week with and one week without see if i can see

thanks again:thumbup:

On my car (1.6 FSI) the live consumption figure on the maxidot when the car is idling goes from 0,6 lt/h to 1,2 lt/h when the a/c is switched on. So it looks that there is a significant increase in consumption although I have not tried to measure it during normal driving.

Checked fuel consumption over last two weeks for Fabia vRS - it had gone down 3mpg (I always brim to brim and zero odometer - have readings from last 7 months from when we bought it).

Reason, I sussed after a bit, aircon has been on most of the time (never had one before).

On the new Octavia, I have found that the ambient temp does play a big difference in the MPG. I have ssen 40+ mpg, driving like my wife, but it can also

drop to 20 MPG at times......

ive not notice much difference between it on or off, still can get 40mpg on long journeys with it on or off.

I've had 3 Octavia Tdis over a period of 7 years. Each of them had climate control (my current vehicle as the slightly more advanced Dual Control). Despite frequent attempts to measure the impact of using and not using air con, I've never been able to record any difference whatsoever. I understand that high torque diesel engines are likely to be less effected anyway.

Dave.

Have had the same experience with both my 1.9 TDI 110 Mk I Ocky and the current 1.9 TDI 105 MK II Ocky. No noticable difference in fuel consumption. Other factors such as right boot depression have far greater impact.

And of course remember the compressor doesnt have a clutch so it is always running.

However load does vary.

Anybody who is not running the aircon on a regular basis could find the repair costs will outstrip any fuel savings if the gas escapes from dried out seals or worse. If A/C is fitted - use it for at least 20mins per week to keep it running smoothly or you will find it will let you down in the long run.

I have my climate control on all the time, winter or summer.

I average about 40mpg when doing longer journeys and it was not much different on Tuesday going from Peterborough to Norwich on the A47.

I had air con in both my fabias and like the Octavia, if there is a saving, it is hardly recognisable, yet if you use Ron 95 petrol and then use Ron 99, that shows a bigger saving than turning the air con off from my experience.

Apologies for what is undoubtedly a very stupid question, but what exactly is the "economy" setting for on the dual zone system?

One way to get an approximation would be to find a flat and straight bit of road eg a motorway and set cruise control or hold a steady speed and have the central display on mpg readout and see if there is an apparent difference with aircon on and off. My gut feeling is only about 1 mpg difference pephaps more in real hot weather. At the end of the day the aircon has cost a few hundred pounds to have and you'd have to do a lot of motoring for it to cost you the same again in extra fuel. I agree with others always run the aircon frequently as the refridgerent also lubricates the system and broken aircon is expensive to put right.

Something I'm not sure anyone else has mentioned, what would have the most impact on fuel economy in warm weather (75 degs say)?

1. Climate Control on windows closed

2. A car without climate and windows open?

I reckon option 1 would be the most economic.

Dave.

It's all relative to speed and increased drag with the windows open.

This theory has been explored in detail by the Mythbusters

Low speed: windows open, air con off.

High speed: windows closed, air con on.

Anybody who is not running the aircon on a regular basis could find the repair costs will outstrip any fuel savings if the gas escapes from dried out seals or worse. If A/C is fitted - use it for at least 20mins per week to keep it running smoothly or you will find it will let you down in the long run.

Like I said its always running so the seals wont dry out.

Apologies for what is undoubtedly a very stupid question, but what exactly is the "economy" setting for on the dual zone system?

It is just that. It provides what cooling it can with the compressor load knocked right back to its minimum and it may even switch the a/c fan off.

Hi all, I'm a new Skoda driver ('07 1.9TDI Octavia Estate). Experience with my previous vehicle (Peugeot 306 Hdi) I found no difference in fuel consumption when leaving A/C on or off. I leave mine on all the time for reasons already stated:- Keeps seals, gaskets and rubber hoses lubricated with the compressor oil, minimising leakage of refrigerant (all vehicle A/C systems leak due to the compressor being what is termed 'open drive' (has an input drive shaft which has an oil seal through which some refrigerant is lost)) therefore keeps down the cost (and regularity) of A/C repairs.

Not all vehicles use an open drive compressor. With hybrid cars (namely the Prius and Lexus "h" cars) capable of producing in excess of 300 volts you can run the air conditioning via an electric compressor which is hermetically sealed and leak free.

In years to come you will see electric compressors become more common as EU refrigerant regs become more strict for cars.

I've had 3 Octavias, 1 Superb (TDis) and one Fabia (petrol).

No noticable difference on the diesels. I'm therefore inclined to leave it on all the time - really helps with good all round demisting of windows regardless of the weather conditions.

I would consider cruise control to have a bigger impact on economy. I avoid it unless my leg really needs a rest on a long journey.