UK drivers are being warned they've been cranking up the air conditioning 'all wrong' as temperatures soar.
Amidst the rising temperatures in the UK, many motorists are left confused on how to effectively utilise their car's air con system, with some taking to the web for advice.
With that in mind, motoring enthusiasts from LeaseLoco.com have stepped in to clear up any queries. They explained that using the car's air con system for brief trips is actually inefficient fuel-wise. In fact, putting on the air con during short journeys can bump up fuel use by a whopping 10%.
This is due to the fact that air conditioning can take a while to circulate properly as the system needs time to cool down the air that is going to be pushed through the vents.
If you've left your vehicle to bake in the sun, you should expect an even longer wait for your car to cool down.
The experts champion winding down the windows as the main method to beat the heat on low-speed drives under 40mph, without draining any petrol.
Going faster than 40mph with the windows open can create a lot of drag, however, causing your car to work harder.
John Wilmot, chief executive of LeaseLoco.com explained: "When you turn the AC on in your car it can take a while for the system to get going because it needs to make the refrigerant cold. This is the fluid that is used to cool the air.
"Once the fluid is cool, it's then blown through the vents to cool the car down but replacing all of that warm air can take some time. It can take even longer if your car has been parked in the sun previously.
"This makes your car hotter and means the air conditioning has to work even harder in cooling the car down which is why it's best to park in the shade or use sunshades."
He added: "If you're on a short journey and you're driving under 40mph, you're actually better off just opening the window to cool down rather than waiting for the air con to kick in. It'll be much more efficient and you won't be using any more fuel.
"If you're driving in an area that exceeds 40mph then you'll want to switch to using air conditioning. Driving at higher speeds with your windows open can create a drag which will make your engine work much harder and will ultimately cause your car to use more fuel."
Air the car out first
If you have been parked in the sun and your car is particularly warm, consider rolling the windows down for a bit first before putting your air conditioning on. This will cool down the car, which means the air con will have less work to do and will begin to fill your car with cool air quicker.
Begin driving
Air con works best when your engine is running so start the car up and begin driving for a few minutes before turning it on.
Make use of the recirculation button
Pressing the recirculation button in your car whilst the air con is on will mean that your car will reuse the cool air already inside instead of constantly pulling new, hot air from outside.
Don't set it to maximum immediately
When you're feeling hot and flustered, it can be tempting to turn up the air con on full blast in the hopes of cooling down, but this is actually much less efficient. Instead, start the air con on medium and gradually increase it.
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Close the windows
If you're driving with the air con on then it's important to keep your windows shut. Having them open means that all of that cool air is escaping, which makes your air con less effective and causes your car to use more fuel.
Park in a shady spot if possible
Where possible, try to park your car out of the sun and in a shady spot instead. This will help keep your car cooler so that when you get into it, the air con has less work to do.
If your driveway naturally gets a lot of sun, consider using a sunshade on your car.
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