Mythbusters Tonight AC on or windows down

[lotust]

I know there was a thread on this a few days back I think. But Im intrested to see what these guys come up with. I live on the East cost by the way.

[docindahouze]

i say windows down and AC on, but only when you listening to rage against the machine with sunglasses on and drivin slightly faster than you usually do.

[lotust]

so far the computer says AC on windows up beats the drag of the windows down AC off. But the show is still not over.

[jacksnodgrass]

Originally Posted by lotust

I know there was a thread on this a few days back I think. But Im intrested to see what these guys come up with. I live on the East cost by the way.

I was surprised at the tailgate up gives better gas milage than tailgate down. That was pretty
interesting. They tested that on one of their shows.

jack

[BillBrasky]

Slightly off topic, but, someone was telling me that the guy Jamie on that show was a Navy SEAL.

[RningOnFumes]

it's a re-run... AC runs out of gas before windows down

[Adventure North]

There's lots of info about this on the net. SAE tests seem to show that for speeds above 45mph having the AC on is best. For speeds under 45 mph windows down is best. Speed makes a big difference I guess. Here's one of a bunch that are out there that say pretty much the same thing.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20050804a1.asp

[Bakemono]

I agree that speed is a factor. Its nice to see some actual science back up stuff that I figured out years ago.
Windows down, a/c off when driving below 45 mph and windows up, a/c on when driving above 45 mph has always worked the best for me.
For the benefit of us whom dont have cable TV, make sure someone posts what they find out, ok?

[TacoNick]

Hot? A/C on. Cool? A/C off. I'm not going to sweat in a hot truck just to save a few cents on gas.

[BillBrasky]

^ +1

[Bakemono]

Just drive fast with the windows down. My next truck wont have a/c if I have anything to say about it.

[ThunderStruck1]

will always be a factor...

no matter what - windows down or ac on etc. i bet they can't exactly quantify a median - winter or cooler weather or areas with cooler temperate zones vs tropics like maui, hawaii or say in tijuana mexico. unless they test it extensively.

chances are that tests parameters will be flawed or prone to long term arguments....just common sense....for your safety and better mileage windows closed is arguably better...


it would still be interesting what they come up with...

[rpmspeedyBlue]

The results proved that using the A/C burns more fuel than with the windows down going 45 mph. With the windows down the suv went 15 more laps around the track before it ran out of gas.

[Accessdenied]

Air blowin' but a/c off, windows up.....29 mpg
Some one mentioned earlier that tailgate up is better than tailgate down....I wonder how tonneau covers fit into this equation?!?

[jacksnodgrass]

Originally Posted by Accessdenied

Air blowin' but a/c off, windows up.....29 mpg
Some one mentioned earlier that tailgate up is better than tailgate down....I wonder how tonneau covers fit into this equation?!?

Basically they showed that the tailgate up created a air cushion in the bed
and that the air passing over from the cab of the truck hit the air cushion
and passed right over the tailgate. Tailgate down... the air cushion was not
present and the air passing over the cab hit the bed and rear end of the
pickup causing drag.

They didn't show anything with a tonneau cover... I'd guess that it would
act as the air cusion that was created with the tailgate up... but then again....
I would have guessed that tailgate up caused drag...... and it doesn't.

jack