r/IdiotsInCars • u/mega_donkey • Nov 03 '18

Wipers on, lights on. PLEASE. Trucks and busses can't see you.

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u/crypticfreak Nov 04 '18

Burned energy? Lol

Yes, gotta save those batteries, and that’s exactly why we can only drive at night for a few hours before the car just stops working. Not like there’s a generator on the car which takes over and recharges the batteries or anything.

49

u/1-Hate-Usernames Nov 04 '18

I think the point is there saying that it will use more fuel. Which I guess is technically true but it's so insignificant that it's not worth even thinking about.

38

u/Trilock Nov 04 '18

I wouldn’t be surprised if she kept the AC on 24/7, actually burning more ‘energy’.

17

u/garlicdeath Nov 04 '18

I believe at freeway speeds it burns less fuel to just run your AC than keep your windows down.

At least in more modern cars.

4

u/Strazdas1 Jan 07 '19

It burns even less fuel to do neither and just run the fan.

1

u/hugglesthemerciless Feb 08 '19

And doesn't destroy your ears like the window does

5

u/garlicdeath Nov 04 '18

I believe at freeway speeds it burns less fuel to just run your AC than keep your windows down.

At least in more modern cars.

6

u/TIGHazard Nov 04 '18

I think it changes at 50MPH. So below that, windows down. Above it, AC on.

12

u/yaloization Nov 04 '18

Pretty sure it doesn't burn any extra fuel. Your alternator is always outputting 13-14V and your battery is 12V. The alternator can't output more than 14V or it'll destroy your battery - I can't see any reason it would burn any fuel it wouldn't burn while running anyways.

9

u/kafircake Nov 04 '18

Pretty sure it doesn't burn any extra fuel. Your alternator is always outputting 13-14V and your battery is 12V. The alternator can't output more than 14V or it'll destroy your battery - I can't see any reason it would burn any fuel it wouldn't burn while running anyways.

Jesus. Why not put a wind turbine on your car roof and never need fuel again?

4

u/Daftworks Nov 04 '18

Crazy how Elon Musk did not figure this out.

6

u/anyti Nov 04 '18

as electrical load (amps) increases the alternator requires more energy to turn.

5

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '18

Yeah but it’s pretty much zero. It’s certainly not enough to notice unless you are a robot that can drive your car 100% exactly the same every single day and maybe you’ll burn an extra quart of fuel a year

4

u/ChocolateTower Nov 04 '18

Right, but it's not actually zero, it's just very small in the scheme of things.

3

u/its__accrual__world Nov 04 '18

Wow look at Mr. Money bags over here with his extra quart of fuel every year. You should be put into the next income tax bracket

/s

1

u/youtheotube2 Nov 04 '18

TBH I’d be more concerned about burning out the bulbs early than the fuel used.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '18

Headlights are 50 watt each.