Air conditioner bar graph in center display
04-01-2015, 04:02 AM
#12
AudiWorld Member
I have a 2012 2.0. That graph will supposedly show consumption with not only AC usage but also accessory usage. Try turning the seat heaters and fog lights on and off. The bar will move. Also open and close the glass roof while driving at freeway speeds...It will also move and tell you to shut the roof to cut down on air resistance. I'm not too sure about accuracy but it does make folks aware that use of accessories effects gas mileage.
04-01-2015, 10:29 AM
#13
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I think "A/C" is used in a very liberal form here because even when air is not being cooled (i.e. the compressor is not running), it's showing the amount of fuel/hr being used to generate the electricity to power the fan pushing warm/cool air around.
Turn the A/C button off, vary fan speed manually, and you'll see what I mean. If you crank the fan to 11, the fuel use goes up a very surprising amount.
Turn the A/C button off, vary fan speed manually, and you'll see what I mean. If you crank the fan to 11, the fuel use goes up a very surprising amount.
04-01-2015, 10:59 PM
#14
AudiWorld Senior Member
I think only cars with MMI have this function.
I believe the AC compressor may be on more than we think even if the AC button is off. In the case of defog and other instances. I've often wondered why it always says AC even when it's off too.
I believe the AC compressor may be on more than we think even if the AC button is off. In the case of defog and other instances. I've often wondered why it always says AC even when it's off too.
04-03-2015, 12:32 PM
#15
AudiWorld Super User
I think "A/C" is used in a very liberal form here because even when air is not being cooled (i.e. the compressor is not running), it's showing the amount of fuel/hr being used to generate the electricity to power the fan pushing warm/cool air around.
Turn the A/C button off, vary fan speed manually, and you'll see what I mean. If you crank the fan to 11, the fuel use goes up a very surprising amount.
Turn the A/C button off, vary fan speed manually, and you'll see what I mean. If you crank the fan to 11, the fuel use goes up a very surprising amount.
You are correct about this...it's very subtle and most won't notice.
I checked my A4 this afternoon and varying the fan speed from 0 up to 12 definitely moves the bar chart to the right. A/C compressor was off.
04-04-2015, 09:21 AM
#16
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So since Barraged pointed this out, I've been toggling through the driver display options. Regarding the AC graph, with automatic climate control, I'm also assuming that even if I haven't manually pressed the AC button (so the red light is lit), the AC might still be in use at times as the automatic climate control does its thing to regulate the temperature?
04-04-2015, 12:39 PM
#17
AudiWorld Expert
Nope. If the AC button is off, the compressor is supposed to be off, other than maybe if you hit the front window defrost will will automatically turn the AC compressor on.
04-04-2015, 02:29 PM
#18
AudiWorld Super User
Just to reclarify, it's not an "A/C" graph but an energy efficiency graph that besides A/C, can display other activated energy consumer functions i.e. heated steering wheel, heated seats, rear defogger that can affect fuel mileage.
03-09-2018, 09:32 AM
#19
Audi puts "Air Conditioning" on this graph when just the blower is on. Turn the blower off and you'll see it disappear (and on the TT the idle drops further). And yes, the blower is one of the biggest motors in the car, it can use a lot of power turned all the way up. I'm very happy they included this readout, people seemed mind-blown when I tell them that having their AC on for no reason when it's 60 degrees out actually uses gas...
