Cruising through an Aussie summer, windows down, hair blowing—sounds idyllic, right?

But let's face it, most of the time, we're cranking the AC to survive the heat. Then when you hit the petrol station, you may wonder if your air con is sucking up all the fuel!

We get this question a lot: "Does air conditioning use more fuel?" Short answer: yes. But let's take a closer look at why and how to keep those fuel costs down.

The Science Behind Air Conditioning and Fuel Usage

When you switch on your car's AC, it puts an extra load on the engine. The air conditioning system uses a compressor, which is powered by the engine, to circulate refrigerant. This process of compressing and circulating the refrigerant requires energy, and that energy comes from the fuel in your tank.

So, to answer the question “does aircon use fuel,” yes, it directly impacts your fuel consumption.

How Much Extra Fuel Does Air Conditioning Consume?

The exact amount of extra fuel your air conditioning uses varies depending on several factors. These include the size of your car’s engine, the efficiency of the AC system, and how often you use it.

In general, you might see a 5% to 10% increase in fuel consumption when the AC is running. In stop-start traffic, or in very hot conditions where the AC is working harder, this could be even higher.

Tips to Minimise Air Conditioning Fuel Consumption

While you can't avoid using your AC altogether, especially in the Aussie heat, there are ways to reduce its impact on your fuel economy.

One simple tip is to ventilate your car before turning on the AC. Open the windows to let out the hot air, so the AC doesn't have to work as hard initially.

Regular maintenance is also key. An efficient, well-maintained AC system will always use less fuel than one that's struggling to operate. So, to keep those “does aircon use fuel” worries at bay, ensure your system is in top shape.

Looking After Your Air Conditioning System

To keep your car's air conditioning system running efficiently, regular servicing is essential. This not only helps to minimise fuel consumption but also ensures the longevity and reliability of your AC.

Regular servicing should include checking refrigerant levels, inspecting the compressor and other components, and replacing the cabin filter.

Keep Your Cool with Northside Autohaus

Now you're clued up on the link between your AC and fuel. Our team of experts at Northside Autohaus are the top Audi and Volkswagen specialists across Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches. We'll keep you cool without breaking the bank at the pump.

Want to make sure your Audi or Volkswagen isn't guzzling petrol unnecessarily? Book in for an AC check-up at Northside Autohaus today!

Denise Goldhahn

20:04 11 Feb 26

I honestly can’t recommend North Side Autohaus Brookvale highly enough. The service is absolutely amazing, professional, honest, and genuinely customer-focused from start to finish.

The team is knowledgeable, friendly, and take the time to explain everything clearly without any pressure. You can tell they really care about doing the job properly. Their pricing is also very competitive, which makes the whole experience even better.

This is now the only place I’ll be taking my car for any servicing or repairs. Great team, great service, and great value. Highly recommend!

Arthur Roosevelt

22:45 02 Nov 25

I recently took my 2014 VW Golf here for a timing belt replacement and some other minor service work. Their price was very competitive, and Romeo's communication was great. Very satisfied with their work, and as an unexpected bonus they thoroughly cleaned and washed my car afterwards. Would definitely recommend these guys.

Simon D

14:05 16 Jul 25

Chose them as Audi VW specialists as they market them selves this way to create a niche. They did run diagnostics and did the job seemingly well, no blow back yet. The problem is one of the operators attitude. It was unprofessional and unappealing. They claimed my car would be ready at 11:30am, when i arrived he abruptly told me it’s not ready, i asked when. To which he replied when its done! They finished at 12pm and test drove for 15 mins which seemed like forever. I asked when is my car coming back after 15 mins of the car disappearing. He again was abrupt and used a gruff tone stating he’s gone for a test drive and he’ll back when he’s done. It was really unfortunate experience, a rude demeanour, grunting and lack of empathy. I won’t tolerate bad attitudes when i’m the customer paying good $ doesn’t matter if the work is reliable. 1st and last time.

Matt Savage

10:58 16 Jul 25

I take all my cars to Jeff and Romeo as they high standard of work and do best job honestly with fair prices. Matt

Simon Von-Limont

09:54 30 Apr 25

Noemi Bull

03:52 25 Mar 24

Great service

Joel Phillips

07:10 03 Jan 24

Jeff was incredible to deal with. Gave us a loan car at a time I was in desperate need. Extremely good service.

Paula Brennan

01:42 24 Jul 23

Amazing team! Great mechanics and honest with pricing and outcomes! So good

Yolanda Bensdorp

22:20 26 Jun 23

Romeo and his team was very professional and helpful and did a great job on my car

Michael Christie

23:43 22 Jun 23

Friendly and thorough.

Nicola Baker

23:17 15 Nov 22

Could not be happier with Northside Autohaus. From my fist point of call speaking with Romeo, he was quick to fit me in as my Audi Q5 was leaking adblue liquid and needed urgent attention. When arriving at Autohause, Romeo was there to greet my with kindness and respect. He called as soon as they had found the problem and made recommendations with openness and honesty on costings and timelines.
Fantastic customer service all the way through to the end. I will definitely be visiting Northside Autohaus for all my service and repairs from now on. Highly recommend Autohaus.
Nicola

Vlado Markovic

09:41 18 Oct 22

Romeo and the team serviced my Audi A8 to my great satisfaction. This was second time I serviced my car here and I am as happy as I was first time. Quality work and friendly service that is hard to find these days. Would like to recommend Northside Autohaus to any Audi, BMW or VW owner.

Martin Andrew

01:02 27 Aug 22

This week was our second annual service at Northside Autohaus, last year our near 10yr Golf TSI required some semi major servicing with water pump, belts, engine mounts etc (as to be expected with age and kms on the clock), thankfully this year a simple service, wheel balance and tyre rotation to ensure even wear and fuel efficiency, along a quick repair to the rear window washer water line which had broken in the section between the car body and tailgate (another semi common VW fault).

Romeo was helpful as always to discuss any issues or concerns with the vehicle, reach out and call to confirm once the team had inspected the vehicle and what they found, providing an accurate quote and ensuring the vehicle was ready that afternoon (with a clean and vacuum also completed!). Thanks Northside Autohaus for the great service.

Kerem Koş

02:50 25 Mar 22

My Audi Q7 had a sticky and complicated problem. Jeff and his team were able to locate the root cause and fix it. The team was helpful and friendly. I am happy with the service and highly recommend them.

Does Air Conditioning Affect Fuel Economy?

The Science Behind Air Conditioning and Fuel Usage

How Much Extra Fuel Does Air Conditioning Consume?

Tips to Minimise Air Conditioning Fuel Consumption

Looking After Your Air Conditioning System

What our customers say about us

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