Which do you think saves more gas – rolling your windows down or blasting the AC? You might be surprised!
The economy’s still lagging and gas prices are changing more often than Taylor Swift’s romantic status. Chances are your wallet is feeling it. So, if you’re like most drivers, you’re up for anything that will help you save money on fuel costs and still get you from point A to point B safely, if not particularly comfortably.
One way to accomplish that is to turn off your gas-guzzling car air conditioner and roll down the windows instead. It’s not like you couldn’t use a little fresh air anyway, right? And that highway breeze will help you save a fistful of cash at the pump. Win-win, right?
Too bad it’s bunk. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a science and technology laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN, recently put that long-held theory to the test with a 2009 Ford Explorer and 2009 Toyota Corolla. Drivers took each vehicle cruising down the Tennessee highways and up the city streets. Here’s what researchers found…
While travelling at lower- city driving speeds, rolling down the windows did provide a little higher fuel efficiency than did running the car AC. But the savings were minimal, and you’ll have to decide for yourself whether those savings are worth whatever cool factor you’ll get.
However, the highway test proved the real difference maker. Once the vehicles hit 60 to 75 miles per hour, having the windows down presented a real problem in that it created enough drag to significantly diminish fuel efficiency. At those speeds, even blasting the AC at full strength proved a better fuel saver.
Of course, there is another option. Rolling up your windows AND turning off your car AC actually proved the biggest gas saver. But the only real surprise there is the fact that the researchers were able to talk some chump into trying that one in the midst of a grueling nationwide heat wave.
Know what else helps save gas and won’t have you sweating bullets? Replacing your conventional spark plugs with E3 car or truck spark plugs. Our patented DiamondFire design and technology provides for a faster, cleaner, more powerful burn. You see, we have fancy researchers, too. E3 Spark Plugs’ technology was developed with researchers at two leading universities including Michigan Technological University’s Keweenaw Research Center. Those researchers found that E3 Spark Plugs not only improves fuel efficiency but boosts power, reduces emissions and lends a longer engine life.
So go ahead – hook your ride up with a set of E3 Spark Plugs, roll up that window and blast that AC. It’s August, after all. And that means it’s crazy hot outside. We’ll help you keep your cool and keep your money.
