2015 Corolla Gas Gauge Needle Drops...

#1
I got a 2015 Corolla a year ago. It gets terrific gas mileage as long as I am not using the air conditioning. Even at higher speeds on Texas highways it gets pretty good gas mileage. But when I start using the air conditioning I can see the gas gauge literally slowly dropping. Also when I arrive somewhere and get out of the car it seems like there is an excess amount of condensation puddling under the car and running off. I have been paying attention to many other kinds of cars and trucks and I've only seen one truck that had what seems like excess condensation under the truck after it was parked. Is this normal for a Corolla? It doesn't seem like it should be using that much gas just because I have the air conditioner on.
 
#2
Is this normal for a Corolla? It doesn't seem like it should be using that much gas just because I have the air conditioner on.
The size of the puddle has more to do with the weather/temp/humidity of the day than anything else, including brand. MPG will be less with AC. How much less ? There are so many factors affecting mpg it's hard to determine if yours is "normal" or not. Even the rate of the needle going down isn't a constant thing (sensor output is not linear). You'd need more precise mpg number for a same path, the same condition and the same driving habits without then with AC to see how your mpg is actually affect.
 
#3
Good to know. Thanks. San Antonio is very humid most of the time. I used to drive an old Ford Taurus and when the air was still working on it it never put out as big of a puddle underneath the car. But this little Corolla has a much better air conditioner that gets a lot colder than the Taurus ever did. The Taurus was 20 years old when I got rid of it and had been on its last leg for a long time. It was leaking a lot of different things. It just really scared me when I saw that much water underneath the Corolla.
 
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