Do you use your air con?

[jonnyf90]

Surely it depends on the car? Modern cars have more efficient systems surely...

My 960 2.5 has nearly not enough power as it is - switching on the A/C gives a noticeable dip in power.
As for fuel consumption - it's hard enough to get 25 or more with general use so I'd dread to think what it'd be with it on all the time

Cheers

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by jonnyf90

Surely it depends on the car? Modern cars have more efficient systems surely...

My 960 2.5 has nearly not enough power as it is - switching on the A/C gives a noticeable dip in power.
As for fuel consumption - it's hard enough to get 25 or more with general use so I'd dread to think what it'd be with it on all the time

Cheers

Fuel economy probably wouldn't be that different to be fair, having the windows open causes more drag than the compressor.

Most modern cars have variable displacement compressors so they are more fuel efficient as they only compress enough gas to reduce/maintain the temperature. Obviously if it's a hot day and you've been away from the car for a while, those will still work at maximum capacity until most of the excess heat is gone.

On the older constant displacement compressors like are fitted to most of the 7/9xx range (not sure on the last of the 9xx, variable displacement compressors were just about here by then), these will work at maximum to reduce the heat (or while clearing the screen) and then cycle on and off to maintain the temperature, exactly as your fridge does at home.

[nickar]

This is enlightening. I've never heard of air conditioning being an all year round thing and quite ashamed of that! I did wonder why the air con light came on whenever I switched my heater to the windscreen position though. I thought it was a fault! Bear in mind my Volvo is a 2001 V40 & my other two cars (not Volvo) are from 1995 and 1983. The first of those two was my newest car and daily drive until recently. It had air con as an available option but the first owner didn't opt for it and it's a lot more primative than what I have in my Volvo anyway (90s style heater without the temp etc). I've always wondered what the effect of air con is on MPG too.

[SignumGB]

No never, have window down a little.

[Ian21401]

Don’t have AC in my old 940 and never owned a car with it so don’t know a lot about it.
Daughter has had AC in her previous V40 and V50 and in her present XC70. I understand that it should be used regularly to keep everything working as it should. Also, it helps to dehumidify the interior even when it is not required to cool things down. It seems to be frequently required to demist the windscreen in certain conditions and kicks in when windscreen defrost is selected.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

Don’t have AC in my old 940 and never owned a car with it so don’t know a lot about it.
Daughter has had AC in her previous V40 and V50 and in her present XC70. I understand that it should be used regularly to keep everything working as it should. Also, it helps to dehumidify the interior even when it is not required to cool things down. It seems to be frequently required to demist the windscreen in certain conditions and kicks in when windscreen defrost is selected.

Working as it should be then!

Definitely a "Use it or lose it" thing, resale values will be effected if it doesn't work so all the people that think they're saving money not using it are under a false impression of economy. Not to mention sweating their bits off in hot weather!

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Most modern cars have variable displacement compressors so they are more fuel efficient as they only compress enough gas to reduce/maintain the temperature. Obviously if it's a hot day and you've been away from the car for a while, those will still work at maximum capacity until most of the excess heat is gone.

You can help the car out a bit here by opening all the doors or windows for a few minutes before you get in and drive off. If you can get the temperature back in to the 20's from 40+ when parked up with all windows and doors closed then that's less work for the a/c system to do in cooling the interior.

It's a set and forget system for me. Set the temperature and leave the car to get on with it.

[alanoconnor]

My air con sort of works. It is cold when it is cold outside. A nice lady in Preston sent me a new air con compressor the other day after I bought some alloy wheels off her. I then looked into changing the compressor and thought I would leave new compressor in shed as it seems too much hassle to swap it over.

I will get the air con re-gassed and change the filter and hope it starts working again, then sell the compressor to pay for part of my new tyres and alloys.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by alanoconnor

My air con sort of works. It is cold when it is cold outside. A nice lady in Preston sent me a new air con compressor the other day after I bought some alloy wheels off her. I then looked into changing the compressor and thought I would leave new compressor in shed as it seems too much hassle to swap it over.

I will get the air con re-gassed and change the filter and hope it starts working again, then sell the compressor to pay for part of my new tyres and alloys.

Don't be too hasty to sell the spare compressor, you may find that while the A/C works once regassed, lack of use has cause the compressor clutch bearings to Brinnel in which case it will sound like a washing machine with duff bearings on spin - but 20 times louder!

[alanoconnor]

Cheers - will wait a while. I have a bunch of stuff taken off the car when I had the modifications done but shed is getting a bit full and 4 wheels and tyres going in there Monday evening