Drivers warned about aircon 'mistake' during summer which can waste fuel

dailyrecord.co.uk:

There's nothing quite like the swelter of getting into your car on a scorching summer's day, only to be greeted by an oven-like blast of heat.

But as tempting as it is to immediately crank up the air conditioning to full power for some relief, experts caution against this hasty move, pointing out that it could lead to unnecessary fuel consumption and hit your wallet hard.Driving expert Tim Rodie from Motorpoint has stepped in with some advice for those looking to keep cool without burning through their fuel budget this summer.

Rodie advises: "While you might be planning on setting your air conditioning to full blast when driving in summer, it can really be a drain on your fuel."He further explains the problem drivers face when trying to stay cool: "Motorists looking to go longer between filling up might think just opening the windows is an obvious alternative but, at higher speeds, this can make your car less aerodynamic meaning you'll be using more fuel." For those driving more slowly, for example through a city centre or town, Rodie suggests a simple yet effective strategy: roll down the windows, reports the Mirror.

On the flip side, air conditioning proves more effective when you're driving faster along the motorway, so it's a good shout to bear this in mind on those lengthy drives, switching up your cooling tactics as needed.But when faced with the swelter of getting into your car on a scorching day, Tim cautions against firing up the air con to chill the car before hopping in.He points out: "Idling is terrible for fuel efficiency but there's an even more important reason why you shouldn't be leaving your car unattended with the engine running when cooling down the risk of it being stolen."Modern air-conditioning