Here’s an overlooked button on your car that can help you save on gas

GAS prices near record highs, rising inflation and gas-related taxes have Americans looking for new ways to save money on fuel.

But most riders have assistance within reach.

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Almost all cars have a recirculation button with a U-turn arrow icon pointing into the car’s outline.

The button is usually located on your car’s dashboard next to the other controls of the vehicle’s climate control system.

Tabitha Ruhl, manager of Joplin Transmission and Auto Center, posted a video saying, “The knob works by helping your car circulate the cool air from your air conditioner as soon as you turn it on.”

Ruhl explained that the air recirculation button helps people save money on gas because less electricity is used to run the air conditioner.

She said: “Cars are usually more economical when the air conditioning is set to circulate the interior air.

“That’s because it takes less energy to cool the same air than to continuously cool the hot air from outside,”

Some new cars don’t have an air recirculation button because they automatically adjust the airflow using sensors that analyze the air and humidity levels in the interior.

Drivers with a manual air recirculation button in their vehicle may be wondering when is the best time to activate the button.

Auto air recirculation systems are most effective when driving in hot weather above 75 degrees as they work in tandem with a vehicle’s air conditioning system.

The button isn’t as functional for drivers who defrost fogged windows or have your car’s cabin heater turned on in cold weather.

The second function of the air recirculation button prevents pollutants, pollen and exhaust fumes from entering the interior of a car.

You can find out whether your vehicle has a manual air recirculation button or automatic climate control in your operating instructions.