|
In the handbook for my elderly neighbour's new Corsa, it says "Switch off all auxiliary electrical loads (e.g. air conditioning, heated rear window) when not needed" in the interests of fuel economy. The best advice for air conditioning seems to be "use it or lose it", which is what I told her. Hence, she's confused. Any views?
|
To keep the seals lubricated it should be used for at least 30 minutes a week.
|
HJ Says
www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=14
The gist of this is that the a/c system is best left 'selected' all the time. If it is running the seals etc are being lubricted but, if the system is not producing cool air, it is not affecting fuel consumption. The cost of repairing a failed a/c system could well exceed the cost of 1 or 2 mpg on fuel consumption.
|
|
My Scenic has climate control. I select a temperature and it keeps the car at that temp. At this time of the year am I right in assuming that the CC will not be switching the air con on at any time so should I be manually putting the air con on?
|
|
VW Golf manuals warn not to switch off climate control (can be left in economy mode) unless there is a fault in the system. I usually drive with the sunroof open, which leads to the fan speeding up either trying to cool/heat. Not sure which is best for the system in these circumstances.
|
VW Golf manuals warn not to switch off climate control (can be left in economy mode) unless there is a fault in the system. I usually drive with the sunroof open, which leads to the fan speeding up either trying to cool/heat. Not sure which is best for the system in these circumstances.
I thought on VW's and Audi's that if you leave the CC in Econ mode, this prevented the A/C compressor operating at any time, and thus wouldn't lubricate the system. I would say that the only thing to do is 'force' the system on periodically by selecting Low temp occasionally even in the cold weather. Also, I think when you select demist, this switches on the A/C compressor to dry the air.
|
|
|
|
if the system is notproducing cool air, it is not affecting fuel consumption.
Can't see that. My engine ticks over about 500rpm faster with AC on only blowing hot air.
|
|
|
|
To keep the seals lubricated it should be used for at least 30 minutes a week.
If I did that with mine in winter I would have a problem of the windscreen steaming up for the rest of the week.
--
L\'escargot.
|
|
On several cars I've had there's been a comment to say that the system won't work below (I think) 4C anyway - I presume to stop itself freezing up?
|
The a/c in the Fabia doesn't work below 5degrees - so it hasn't worked since last summer here.... :-)
Lee -- Without bills, magazines and junk mail, there is no mail
|
I have left A/C switched on all year in all my cars since 1990 with no problems.
madf
|
|
|
|
|
my last two cars have printed in their manuals;do not use the air-con when the outside temp is below 5C.
|
|
|
|
|
It shouldn't steam up as one of the functions of the a/c is to dry the circulating air; do you have a blocked pollen filter perhaps?
|
It shouldn't steam up as one of the functions of the a/c is to dry the circulating air;
For that resaon, I have been leaving the a/c in my Almera on all the time. Without it the car mists up quickly in this damp weather.
|
Steve Angell of
www.aircool.biz/
has just left after servicing the A/C in two of my cars. I asked his opinion and he said he would advise my neighbour to use it at least once a month, which was less often than I was expecting.
I shall continue to follow HJ's advice. One interesting bit of history: my first MB W124 Coupé (1995 model) had A/C off by default; my second one (1996) has it on. Seems consistent with the idea that on is better than off.
|
|
|
|
Mine stays off apart from running every week as I don't want the air to be too dry. Obviously it goes on if the car mists up etc.
|
|
so what should you do if you store a car over the winter ?
|
A/C systems automatically turn off the recirculating feature if you got past a certain point on the Demist mode control knob - as far as I am aware it's to prevent the windscreen and windows misting up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
Factor in the cost of a full a/c overhaul/service in the Spring!
|
What is an a/c service. I am sure HJ said that it was unecessary and just to run it full hot once a week winter and summer to kill the bugs through all of the vents. a/c permanently on in Master van. Wouldn't be without it.
vbr.........md
|
No such as an aircon service, it there? You can suck the gas/oil out of it and then replenish. But there are no 'serviceable' items as such - unless you count the belt.
Incidentally, its interesting that manufacturers exclude gas as a warranty item. Apparently if the gas leaks out then you are supposed to pay for it - its considered 'consumable'. I wonder if I have a leaky cooling system if they consider the water and antifreeze to be 'consumable'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If driving my Skoda Superb with climate control not in "econ" mode and during the course of a journey the temp drops from say 7deg to 5deg the car will steam up a little as the temperature hits 5deg(ie compressor cut off temp). This is presumably the last of the moisture removed by the de-humidification action of the air con. Because of this, if I know the temperature is going to be 6deg or less I leave the climate control in "econ" mode.
|
|
|
|
It shouldn't steam up as one of the functions of the a/c is to dry the circulating air; do you have a blocked pollen filter perhaps?
Sorry, I didn't explain sufficiently. In winter the windscreen steams up (for quite a few days) after I switch the aircon off. (The handbook mentions that this can happen under certain circumstances.) This deters me from using the aircon just to keep the seals supple and lubricated in winter. I assume that the moisture removed from the incoming air collects in the aircon/heater system and this gradually evaporates and comes into the car. The handbook recommends turning the aircon off when it is not required.
--
L\'escargot.
|
Excuse my loose use of the word "servicing", but when a specialist comes along and gets an automotive system back up to scratch then it does appear to me to be some sort of service.
But to be more specific, we are of course talking about draining, recharging, adding dye and checking that the recharged system is working properly. The amount drained out can be interesting: my MB appeared to be normal, but less came out of the Golf than should be expected and that may mean a leak or other weakness in the system, so we're keeping an eye on that, hence the dye.
HJ's words are "Opinions are divided on servicing":
www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=14
and draws a distinction between servicing and regassing, which is fair enough.
Try:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=31440&...f
for more, including a contribution from the guy who worked on my cars.
|
|
|
Sorry, I didn't explain sufficiently. In winter the windscreen steams up (for quite a few days) after I switch the aircon off. (The handbook mentions that this can happen under certain circumstances.) This deters me from using the aircon just to keep the seals supple and lubricated in winter. I assume that the moisture removed from the incoming air collects in the aircon/heater system and this gradually evaporates and comes into the car.
All the cars I've had with A/C do that to some extent - the Jazz my wife has now is one of the the worst for it.
I generally don't use the a/c in winter, and even in summer I try to remember to turn it off a couple of miles from home to dry it out, in the hope that that will prevent nasty things from breeding in the wet system.
|
|
SFAIK the best way to dry out an a/c system is to run it full hot for a few minutes. Turing it off, in this weather particularly, will just allow it to stay damp as it will have no means of srying out. It needs moving airflow and warmth!
|
SFAIK the best way to dry out an a/c system is to run it full hot for a few minutes. Turing it off, in this weather particularly, will just allow it to stay damp as it will have no means of srying out. It needs moving airflow and warmth!
>>
Also, you will eventually get that sweaty socks smell as bacteria grows in the aircon ducts due to the above.
|
>>as bacteria grows in the aircon ducts due to the above.>>
This has been the subject of a number of recent threads.
I spray the interior with Neutradol (or Banish and other similar products), leave the A/C running in recirculating mode (with the doors closed!) and switch it off after five to 10 minutes.
It both kills the bacteria and freshens up the A/C system.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
My friend, who does lots of aircon work, reckons not to use the dye if possible. He says that it causes the oil to break down over time. No idea if this is true or not - but he's been working on all kinds of vehicle aircon for about 20 years so he's probably correct.
He also reckons to be wary of some of the cheap re-gas people. Apparently then often vac out the systems and regas without replacing the oil - hence compressor packs up some while later.
|
I don't know about not using a/c below 5 degrees - my a/c comes on automatically when I choose the demister blower so I don't have a choice.
I must admit that I do tend to turn it off unless its really warm ... which I guess now isn't the right thing to do - from what Im reading on here I guess the concensus is to leave it on all the time unless you really need to turn it off.
Im a little confused tho, I must admit :/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
