XC70: General Heater controls /air con

[yostumpy]

I'm still getting to grips with my very complicated 2016 xc70, and my question relates to the heater /air con controls. First thing, when its on auto climate, no a/c, it warms up very quickly, with the temp set about 19.5 -20.5 deg, lovely. Now, can I have the air con on, and still be warm at this, or must I raise the temp up to 24 ish? as I seem to have to. Really I'm asking , can the air con be on when heating, or is it a cooling effect only. Swmbo's Fiat 500 has a similar thing, but a/c is on and warm,and clears windows quickly. Volvo heater on, windows fug up a bit, a/c on , and it starts to cool down?

[XC70Virgin]

The temp setting internally will try and be maintained regardless of whether or not the a/c is on. Keeping a/c on will cool to maintain this temp if the interior temp goes higher than this. There is really no disadvantage to keeping the a/c on other than a tiny fuel consumption penalty. Keeping the interior fog free is a big advantage whatever the conditions.

[yostumpy]

Originally Posted by XC70Virgin

The temp setting internally will try and be maintained regardless of whether or not the a/c is on. Keeping a/c on will cool to maintain this temp if the interior temp goes higher than this. There is really no disadvantage to keeping the a/c on other than a tiny fuel consumption penalty. Keeping the interior fog free is a big advantage whatever the conditions.

Yep, but can I have the a/c on with the heater? To be warm and clear the windows?

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

Yep, but can I have the a/c on with the heater? To be warm and clear the windows?

With a/c on you will get dehumidification along with temperature management, meaning that it will clear the windows as quickly as it can.

In summer, it's great for clearing the windows after a load of damp travellers have gotten in out of the rain.

In winter it will keep windows clear as you travel a round.

Having said that, if a/c isn't left on at all times, then in winter the moisture held in the atmosphere inside the warm car will far exceed the moisture that can be held in the cold air outside. If the car is then left parked outside overnight, all that moisture will be dumped on the insides of the windows, giving any car a tough job in the morning, even with a/c on.

In winter in the UK, we also regularly see big changes in the weather wherein overnight we go from mild and damp to cold and dry, meaning that every car ends up with windows that are wet inside. No matter how wonderful the car's ventilation, it will require tissues or cloths the get rid of a lot of that moisture.

What I do is leave climate control on auto at all times with the only exception normally being if I need to clear windows in the morning. Putting cloths and tissues to one side, if the car is misted or frosted up inside then I press the windscreen heating button twice to switch on the windscreen heating elements and get the fan going at max power on the windscreen and windows. Once the job is done then I press Auto again and silence returns.

Bottom line is that if you are able to accept a minor (very minor) additional fuel expense then leave climate control on full Auto with a/c on at all times as it will never hinder and will normally help.

In a modern V70 or XC70 climate control in very, very good and all that one normally needs to do is the vary the temperature as required.

[Tatsfield]

For almost all situations it is better to leave a/c running as it gives a full range of climate control and not just heating and it dehumidifies the cabin. It does use a little extra fuel to run it but this isn't something that is a major consideration. Also, a/c which is not regularly used can deteriorate quicker than a/c which is used. The climate control system is designed to run with a/c engaged so it is best to let it do so.

[yostumpy]

ok, so with a/c running, should the air intake be set to recirculate, or in from outside. I was under impression the former, otherwise its like leaving a freezer door open, then complaining the ice cream is soft.