Cab air-con? (1 Viewer)

[Scattycat]

For those who have it, how often do you use it?
We have ours on, when driving, all the time.
I know it lowers fuel consumption, but for me it seems to make the cab less stuffy when its on.

 

[EX51SSS]

For those who have it, how often do you use it?
We have ours on, when driving, all the time.
I know it lowers fuel consumption, but for me it seems to make the cab less stuffy when its on.

I open the window. Apparently less fuel consumption than AC and can't get fresher especially travelling in Narfook.

 

[Figaro]

On a motorhome I doubt you would see any detectable decrease in fuel consumption.
On a car it`s roughly equivelant to opening a window
It`s nice to have on in the summer but not when it`s 5c outside !

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[Teuchter]

For those who have it, how often do you use it?
We have ours on, when driving, all the time.
I know it lowers fuel consumption, but for me it seems to make the cab less stuffy when its on.

Us too

 

[Lenny HB]

In the Motorhome and the car always permanently on.
Can be expensive if you don't use it, seals dry out and you can end up with a few grand repair bill.

 

[rosalan]

Almost only in southern Spain, in the summer. We are not being awkward, it just feels fine in the cab most of the time.

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[DBK]

Use it all the time. Even when it isn't hot it is a brilliant demister in winter. This is because it dehumidifies the air.

 

[DavidG58]

I am never quite sure with mine, can never remember on a Merc if light on is air con on or off, seem to recall that light on is air con off

Can usually only tell by turning temp right down and see if my knuckles freeze

 

[Madcaravanner]

Would have been really nice but when we got to France in July we realised ours didn't work

Now we are home we will get it looked after local firm £49 if under 600g of gas £72 if over will be going out and checking under the bonnet in the morning

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[pappajohn]

will be going out and checking under the bonnet in the morning

Checking what ???
You can't see the refridgerant and there's no dip stick.
I think they are referring to replacing any lost fluid.
They remove the refrigerant by vacuum, clean it of contaminants and water then put it back in the system along with lubricating oils, topping up fluid as necessary and charges depend on how much extra fluid is needed.

 

[EX51SSS]

Can be expensive if you don't use it, seals dry out and you can end up with a few grand repair bill.

Never heard that. Is there any confirmation about this or is it just??????

 

[EX51SSS]

You can't see the gas and there's no dip stick

Apparently there is a dip stick. The one who's opening the bonnet and checking gas.

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[Lenny HB]

Never heard that. Is there any confirmation about this or is it just??????

General opinion of aircon engineers is to use the air con for minium of 10 minutes on every journey to keep the oil circulating which keeps the seals lubricated. If you don't use the aircon the seals dry out joints start leaking and the compressor can fail often happens on cars where the owner doesn't use the aircon over the winter. If you get a decent aircon engineer to service your aircon he will drain it refill with a measured quantity of fresh oil before re-pressurising the system.

 

[Bognor Saint]

Would have been really nice but when we got to France in July we realised ours didn't work

Now we are home we will get it looked after local firm £49 if under 600g of gas £72 if over will be going out and checking under the bonnet in the morning

 

[DavidG58]

Would have been really nice but when we got to France in July we realised ours didn't work

Now we are home we will get it looked after local firm £49 if under 600g of gas £72 if over will be going out and checking under the bonnet in the morning

do I recall you lived in Chesterfield, before you moved to 'on our way home'

Bolsover car sales £35 might need to wipe the greasy paw prints off when finished but very good value

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[Bognor Saint]

Would have been really nice but when we got to France in July we realised ours didn't work

Now we are home we will get it looked after local firm £49 if under 600g of gas £72 if over will be going out and checking under the bonnet in the morning

I made a mistake a few years ago of having a non working air con in a car regassed. Big mistake as it only worked for a short period before all the gas had gone again. Turned out to be a leak in the compressor. To test for leaks I think they pump a dye through the system with nitrogen, the dye will show where the leak is.

 

[Lenny HB]

If it's not been working for a while get it serviced by a proper engineer, he can check for leaks, refill with oil then re-pressurise. The cheap garage jobs are OK if is just not quite working at full pelt and just lost a bit of gas but not much point in having re-gased if the system has problems, they just hook it up to a machine that filters the gas/oil and re-pressurises.

 

[Bognor Saint]

In the Motorhome and the car always permanently on.
Can be expensive if you don't use it, seals dry out and you can end up with a few grand repair bill.

This is what I have been led to believe as well.

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[EX51SSS]

General opinion of aircon engineers is to use the air con for minium of 10 minutes on every

General opinion so not fact then?
So what happens if your journey is only 5 minutes?
I do appreciate what you are saying but 10 minutes on every journey?
It is suggested, with night heaters in wagons to run it for a few hours once a month in the summer so as to keep it working throughout the winter but tbf, AC for 10 minutes every journey?

 

[simsy56]

I use mine in the car almost daily. Air conditioning is a system or process of controlling the temperature AND humidity of a given parcel of air. So when you are misted up, use it. You can have the a/c on and adjust the temperature to suit. It doesn't just blow cold. And if you don't use it, you will lose it. Then you will have to pay dearly.

Craig

 

[Geoff185]

Always switched on in car and van. Was a must on our last van change. A few years ago travelled down to south of France about 40C no aircon was a trial, never again
Yes seals dry out if not used, good garage will purge and check no,leaks before regassing. Dye can be put in to check leaks check with ultraviolet light

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[pappajohn]

To test for leaks I think they pump a dye through the system with nitrogen, the dye will show where the leak is.

My ex boss used an ultra violet dye and special torch.
Didn't leave visible coloured dye on the pipe joints etc.

 

[pappajohn]

General opinion so not fact then?
So what happens if your journey is only 5 minutes?
I do appreciate what you are saying but 10 minutes on every journey?
It is suggested, with night heaters in wagons to run it for a few hours once a month in the summer so as to keep it working throughout the winter but tbf, AC for 10 minutes every journey?

Needs 'exercising' for 20 minutes every month or so to redistribute the lubricant and refrigerant.

 

[WillH]

Had a new compressor fitted in the spring, godsend in France this summer. Run it every fortnight on the advice of the fitter.

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[EX51SSS]

I use mine in the car almost daily. Air conditioning is a system or process of controlling the temperature AND humidity of a given parcel of air. So when you are misted up, use it. You can have the a/c on and adjust the temperature to suit. It doesn't just blow cold. And if you don't use it, you will lose it. Then you will have to pay dearly.

Craig

Tbf, when I got my new car (6 months old), I did query with the Mercedes dealership about the max demist mode and the AC came on at the same time and he said, that's correct in Mercedes, sir!

 

[two]

My 1978 Volvo never lost any gas. Perhaps they used different seals then? More recent vehicles have lost gas as they got older and re-gassing became an annual procedure. Told to switch air/con on at least once a month, but how can you remember and what if you don't use it over winter? Latest one is left in "auto" mode, so it decides for itself whether to use air/con or not.

 

[EX51SSS]

Needs 'exercising' for 20 minutes every month or so to redistribute the lubricant and refrigerant.

Now, 20 minutes a month is a LOT different than 10 minutes every journey. I'd do 40/50 minutes every day and that would probably equate to 60 times more than 20 minutes a month.

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[tacr2man]

Never heard that. Is there any confirmation about this or is it just??????

It is advised to exercise for small time at regular intervals. It isn't required to have in use all the time .
With modern cars with modern compressors its reckoned to be less drag inducing to use aircon rather than open a window, would not think this would apply to mobile barn doors that most motorhomes are . If you want to use as demister effectively you should use on recirc not fresh air mode. They can also be used in fresh mode to help to pressurise interior to keep bull dust out , but not if following vehicle making dust in front unless you have a incoming air filtration system . All based on working on aircons in Australia.

 

[Lenny HB]

My 1978 Volvo never lost any gas. Perhaps they used different seals then? More recent vehicles have lost gas as they got older and re-gassing became an annual procedure. Told to switch air/con on at least once a month, but how can you remember and what if you don't use it over winter? Latest one is left in "auto" mode, so it decides for itself whether to use air/con or not.

They used to use Freon in those days banned now. The modern gases the particals or whatever you call them are much smaller and can permeate through rubber hoses in the system so you always loose a small amount of pressure hence modern systems need topping up.

 

[TheBig1]

i use it all the time. in fact it was a godsend this evening. popped out to get a takeaway. the screen on my navara was dripping with condensation. 2 minutes with air con on and the blower going full belt and it was bone dry and safe to drive

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