Motorists have been urged to check their vehicles for a little-known feature that can save on fuel – and keep your car cooler during the impending heatwave slated to swelter the UK this month
Brits are being urged to check their cars for an often over-looked button that can slash your petrol costs.
With UK temperatures slated to soar to a scorching 30°C by mid-June, many drivers will be reaching for the air conditioning in their cars to stay cool. While whacking the air-con on full blast might feel good, Kwik Fit warns it can increase fuel consumption by between eight and 10 per cent. “Translated into litres, estimates reveal that using your air conditioning while driving can use between 0.2 and 0.4 litres per hour,” the company states.
However, there is a little-known hack to help with both your comfort and fuel economy, which may come in handy during the summer months. An expert from Virtual Driving Instructor recently took to TikTok to highlight the benefits of using the recirculating air button in your car, describing it as a ‘life-saver on a scorcher of a day’.
He explained: “When you press this button, it stops any air from outside coming through these vents, circulating the air inside the cabin.” This means instead of constantly pulling in hot air from outside, the system recycles the cooler air already inside the car.
Using this feature in combination with the air conditioning can be especially effective, keeping ‘all the cool air inside the cabin’. The expert added: “This is going to help you not sweat your a** off inside the car, which usually ends up steaming up the inside of the car, making your windows all misty.”
However, the expert cautioned that if you are not using the air conditioning, you should avoid activating the recirculating air button. Without the air conditioning on, this setting will simply circulate “lukewarm air”, causing the cabin to become warmer and the windows to steam up.
In such cases, the expert advised that your ‘only real option is to have the windows cracked down’ to allow fresh air to enter and prevent the buildup of heat and moisture inside the car. Interestingly, many drivers were surprised to learn about the true purpose of this button, with one TikToker even commenting: “I have been driving for 20 years and finally understand what that button is for.”
So if you were none-the-wiser, fear not — you’re not the only one. This often overlooked, simple yet effective feature can improve comfort and fuel efficiency during hot weather.
As the summer heatwaves hit, try using the recirculating air button alongside your air conditioning to keep your car cooler and help save money on petrol and diesel — it helps save fuel primarily by making the air conditioning system more efficient But remember to turn recirculation off when you are not using the air conditioning, otherwise it can have the opposite effect and make your journey even more unpleasant in the sweltering heat.
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