Does a car become more powerful when the air conditioning is turned off? Is that true?

(Photo Credit: freepik)

Many people believe that turning off the air conditioning will make the car more powerful, but how true is this? Motorist will explain.

Normally, the air conditioning compressor relies on the engine to generate cool air. As a result, running the air conditioning adds extra work to the engine, causing it to be slightly less responsive when the compressor is operating.

Therefore, turning off the car's air conditioning does indeed make the engine more powerful and can also help save fuel.

However, not all cars will become more powerful when the air conditioning is turned off. Nowadays, newer car models increasingly come with electric air conditioning compressors, such as in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. These systems need to maintain a constant temperature inside the cabin even when the engine is off.

This electric air conditioning compressor does not reduce the engine's power, so even if you turn off the air conditioning, it won't make the car more powerful.

But with Thailand's scorching weather year-round, turning off the air conditioning while driving isn't really practical. It's better to set the air conditioning to a comfortable temperature, without making it too cold, which can help reduce fuel consumption.

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