Conflicting Advice On Aircon

[Wibbly]

Just had a leak fixed on my 2.3GL at great expense (at Alpinair by Hanger Lane in London, who I'd recommend as seeming to know what they're on about). So now I'm particularly noticing how the aircon works...

 

A. Popular wisdom seems to be to leave in on/run it at least run it once a week during the winter to ensure all the seals stay lubricated and don't dry out

 

B. Popular wisdom is also that the aircon also serves as a dehumidifier, helping to keep the car from misting up

 

But... I'v also read (and my experience seems to support) that the aircon compressor won't enagage at low temps - below 10C?

 

So how does this help with A or B during the whole of the winter, even in the UK, if it never runs when it's cold?!

 

Also, since they fixed it I'm also noticing when the compressor DOES kick in it seems to less a sudden load on the engine...

 

 

W

[RADIOTWO]

Just had a leak fixed on my 2.3GL at great expense (at Alpinair by Hanger Lane in London, who I'd recommend as seeming to know what they're on about). So now I'm particularly noticing how the aircon works...

 

A. Popular wisdom seems to be to leave in on/run it at least run it once a week during the winter to ensure all the seals stay lubricated and don't dry out

 

B. Popular wisdom is also that the aircon also serves as a dehumidifier, helping to keep the car from misting up

 

But... I'v also read (and my experience seems to support) that the aircon compressor won't enagage at low temps - below 10C?

 

So how does this help with A or B during the whole of the winter, even in the UK, if it never runs when it's cold?!

 

Also, since they fixed it I'm also noticing when the compressor DOES kick in it seems to less a sudden load on the engine...

 

 

W

 

Hi W

 

Yes I have heard you should run it all year round, and I can confirm it does help a lot as you put it as a "dehumidifier".

 

But I don't know where you get this about the compresser will not run below 10c ! as far as I know the only reason the compresser won't run is that there is no gas in the system, there is a presure switch , but other than that temp does not come into it.

 

You say you have just had if fixed, and when it kicks in it put a sudden load on the engine !

is there a problem with the compresser?

 

Radiotwo

[Bigjeeze]

Just had a leak fixed on my 2.3GL at great expense (at Alpinair by Hanger Lane in London, who I'd recommend as seeming to know what they're on about). So now I'm particularly noticing how the aircon works...

 

A. Popular wisdom seems to be to leave in on/run it at least run it once a week during the winter to ensure all the seals stay lubricated and don't dry out

 

B. Popular wisdom is also that the aircon also serves as a dehumidifier, helping to keep the car from misting up

 

But... I'v also read (and my experience seems to support) that the aircon compressor won't enagage at low temps - below 10C?

 

So how does this help with A or B during the whole of the winter, even in the UK, if it never runs when it's cold?!

 

Also, since they fixed it I'm also noticing when the compressor DOES kick in it seems to less a sudden load on the engine...

 

 

W

 

Hi W

 

Yes I have heard you should run it all year round, and I can confirm it does help a lot as you put it as a "dehumidifier".

 

But I don't know where you get this about the compresser will not run below 10c ! as far as I know the only reason the compresser won't run is that there is no gas in the system, there is a presure switch , but other than that temp does not come into it.

 

You say you have just had if fixed, and when it kicks in it put a sudden load on the engine !

is there a problem with the compresser?

 

Radiotwo

 

It is correc that there is a sudden load on the engine when the compressor kicks in but the engine management levels that out after a second or two - It's supposed to do that.

 

The Air COn doesn't come on below around 10c because if it did it would be perpetually icing up it may well come on for a while but will soon turn off.

 

Again - it is supposed to do that.

[dipsomaniac]

air con does not come on below 5C. it is recommended that you run the air con at least once a month for 20 mins to lubricate the system.

[Guest wolfie]

But I don't know where you get this about the compresser will not run below 10c ! as far as I know the only reason the compresser won't run is that there is no gas in the system, there is a presure switch , but other than that temp does not come into it.

 

Radiotwo

 

quote.

Mk1

Depending on the engine variant, either a Ford FS-10 compressor with constant delivery rate or a Sanden compressor with variable delivery rate is installed.

 

In order to prevent the compressor from icing up, an additional de-icing switch is fitted on the evaporator of vehicles equipped with a 2.0 DOHC or a 2.3 DOHC engine.

 

It measures the surface temperature of the evaporator cooling fins via a probe. If the measured temperature drops below approx. 1

[Guest gooner52]

thanks for that info wolfie,on the mk2

 

cheers ;)

[Wibbly]

Ok, so be it 10C, 5C, or 2.5C, if the temp is below the threashold, having the aircon 'on for 20mins a month' will have no effect, right, as the compressor won't be engaged anyway? Nor will it help dehumidifying the cabin, will it - just when it's most needed (cold out, with warm people in the car), right?

 

Re the sudden load on the engine when the compressor kicks in, my point is that the effect is it's doing it LESS now. I'm just wondering if that's a sign of something Not Good about the compressor - or maybe they're put some more lubricant in the charge this time?!?

 

W

[Guest gooner52]

well ive been out in my galaxy well below 5c put the press the econ button

windows mist up like crazy,put the aircon on clears up a dream

 

so just for that its worth having it on ;)

[Guest MATT jr]

so far this winter...no matter how cold it is, i seem able to turn the AC on - and the aircon actually work, makes a massive difference to the demisting function!

 

MJR

[AVSDOYLE]

Advice from Honest John (www.honestjohn.co.uk) is to run air conditions at lowest setting for 10 minutes and then at max setting for 10 minutes each month. I alway believe Honest John as he writes in the Daily Telegraph evey Saturday ;)

[Guest gooner52]

Advice from Honest John (www.honestjohn.co.uk) is to run air conditions at lowest setting for 10 minutes and then at max setting for 10 minutes each month. I alway believe Honest John as he writes in the Daily Telegraph evey Saturday :16:

 

 

john is the man ;) :lol:

[dipsomaniac]

as you can probably count the number of days on two hands when the temperature in the UK is constantly below 5C it is not worth worrying about.

 

don't know the reason for it but i would imagine that air con is not so effienct below that temperature as there is not much heat to remove from the air.

 

if your air con is working ok and the compressor is not making any unusual noises - i would say it is ok.

[Wibbly]

as you can probably count the number of days on two hands when the temperature in the UK is onstantly below 5C it is not worth worrying about.

 

don't know the reason for it but i would imagine that air con is not so effienct below that temperature as there is not much heat to remove from the air.

 

if your air con is working ok and the compressor is not making any unusual noises - i would say it is ok.

 

Thanks (all) for your quick replies

 

W

[raymac]

Was wondering why the windows slighty misted the the other week now i know thanks to the intelligensia on this forum :rolleyes: must be why the aircon place where i had the condenser replaced seemed a bit put out to check the system over again :P