WITH the cost of gas going up, drivers are asking whether turning on the car air conditioning will be too costly.

It comes as the average cost of a gallon of gas hit $3.80 in August 2022.

Car air conditioning units run on a compressor that contains refrigerant - much like your fridge.

As fresh air enters the unit, the refrigerant causes the temperature of the air to drop.

The combined air and liquid reach a thermal expansion valve where the flow can be changed.

This gives you control over the internal car temperature.

The combined product is turned into vapour that travels through evaporation coils and into your air vents.

The refrigerant then returns to gas and the whole process is repeated again.

According to KwikFit, engaging the compressor requires energy to run, which will come from your car's fuel system.

This could chomp away at 10 percent of your fuel and can be noticed during short trips.

Rolling the windows down is more fuel efficient, but isn't a sure way to cut fuel consumption completely.

According to Business Insider, opening windows increases drag and slows down the car.

This means the vehicle needs more fuel to run and eats away at your reserve.

A 2004 study by General Motors and SAE looked at which form of cooling was more efficient.

Researchers used a wind tunnel and laps to track a sedan and an SUV's fuel usage at differing speeds in 86 degree F.

What they found was using the A/C required more gasoline per mile than driving with the windows down.

If your goal is to save money at the gas pump then keeping your windows down is the best way to go.

If you're looking to stay cool, quick, and for long periods, then it might be best to use A/C.

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