Exact button to press on dashboard that will cool down your car even when air con is off
Motorists may not be aware that pressing a simple button can significantly reduce the fuel they consume on sweltering days. An expert who appeared on BBC Morning Live indicated that engaging this function ensures the air conditioning system doesn't have to combat hot air pouring in.
Harry Kind, a consumer expert, offered advice during a discussion with presenter Rav Wilding about the effects of open car windows on fuel efficiency. Rav explained his car 'shouts at him' for having the windows down while driving – he wondered whether the vehicle's warnings about wasted fuel were accurate.
Mr. Kind responded: "It's kind of telling the truth - if you were driving very fast then keeping your windows down will increase drag. That is bad for your car. If you're going slowly your air con is probably going to use a lot more fuel so it would be worth opening the windows on a hot day through a city to get rid of the hot air inside and if you are going to use air con use the recirculation mode. That will keep the cost down, but ultimately going down the motorway with your windows down - not so great."
Additionally, employing the recirculation mode can even help maintain cooler temperatures without the air con running. With the UK experiencing a spell of high temperatures, drivers are being advised to make use of the dashboard button that can help cool down their vehicles more effectively.
This button, which displays a small arrow along with a symbol depicting the interior of a car, is the 'recirculate air' button - an effective approach to cooling your vehicle even when the air conditioning is switched off. As the name indicates, it shuts off all external air and solely recirculates the existing air within the vehicle, reports the Express.
It also proves beneficial for individuals with hay fever, as it prevents fresh pollen from entering through the air vents. This function ensures the car isn't continually heated up by an influx of hot air from outside.
One strategy to consider is initially activating the air conditioning, which consumes considerable power and, in turn, fuel or battery life, and then utilising the recirculation button. Additionally, if the air conditioning is drawing in hot air from outside, it will need to expend more power to cool it down.
Conversely, if it's cooling the already cooler air inside the vehicle, the process becomes more efficient.
The RAC advises: "Once the air conditioning is blowing cold, close all the windows and switch to (pre-cooled) recirculated air. You can now open the upper air vents and adjust the flow as required. More advanced 'climate control' air-conditioning systems allow you to set and maintain a constant temperature within the car."
This week on BBC Morning Live, Mr Kind offered advice to viewers on how to save fuel costs by reducing their speed on the motorway, emphasising that even a small reduction can have a significant impact. He stated: "What makes a huge difference way more than the price of fuel is how you drive. "When you are motoring along I would say reduce your speed.
This is one of the biggest factors. The Department for Transport says that going down from 80 to 70 miles per hour saves you 25 per cent on your fuel and also it's not illegal.
"Then when you go down from 70 to 60 that will save you about 9 per cent. The savings get less and less as you get slower and slower.
"When you're driving along at those speeds, make sure you're going consistently, you're not breaking all the time, and ideally use cruise control."
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