Fuel Saving Tips

Beat the heat and reduce A/C use

When parked in the sun, a car's interior temperature can rise 30F degrees above ambient temperature in thirty minutes and over 40F in forty five minutes. Rolling down the windows a quarter inch seems to help lessen the temperature spike, but might be a security issue. The first thing I do when I get into a hot car is fully open the windows. Then I start the car and turn on the A/C. Opening the windows for 20 - 30 seconds (while I'm still in the parking lot) vents the very hot air. I also avoid the blast of super hot air from the fan when I turn on the A/C. Within thirty seconds, the A/C has started to get cold and I roll the windows back up. My A/C doesn't have to work as hard against the hot interior, I get cooler quicker, and I also save gas because I reach a comfortable interior temperature and can turn down the A/C quicker.