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xBeastx
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Instead of using the air conditioning, could I just turn the temperature dial all the way to the cold side? I have actually found that this works (or is it just my imagination?)...anybody else know if it really makes a difference.
P.S. I'm doing this for better fuel economy.
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Potenza
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xAbSoLuTexZeRo wrote:
Instead of using the air conditioning, could I just turn the temperature dial all the way to the cold side? I have actually found that this works (or is it just my imagination?)...anybody else know if it really makes a difference.
P.S. I'm doing this for better fuel economy.
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xBeastx
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Potenza wrote:
Basically that knob simply operates the "blend door," which controls whether or not you're getting straight ambient air or whether the air is sent through the heater core, or a mixture of both. If you set it all the way left (cold), the blend door will block off the heater core and you will be getting fresh/ambient air. So it's not warmed up, however it's not air conditioned, either. If the ambient air is very hot, then the air coming through the vents won't exactly be refreshing. It all depends on what you can stand or prefer. But you are correct, it is more efficient than air conditioning, because the engine is not running the A/C compressor in that case.
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Thanks for the information, Potenza! Now I know how the system works! =D
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danielgr
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xAbSoLuTexZeRo wrote:
Instead of using the air conditioning, could I just turn the temperature dial all the way to the cold side? I have actually found that this works (or is it just my imagination?)...anybody else know if it really makes a difference.
P.S. I'm doing this for better fuel economy.
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That said, where I live I personally can't stand driving without a/c in the hot and humid summer, and I'm not going back to my 80's Spanish roots cars without it. Yes, you can survive without it, but living is more than just about surviving !!!
On tips for saving fuel without cooking up in your car in hot climates (for my humidity level that is above 22 or 23ºC exterior temperature):
- Always leave the windows slightly opened when parking your car under the sun. That will make the most difference when you start the road and short trips, because you basically kill the greenhouse effect that's the main cause for it to warm.
- Also when parking it, always put some curtain or reflective sheet to prevent interior dash plastics from absorbing all the heat.
- At low/city speeds open your windows (if that's enough for you), because your a/c is likely to use more fuel than the aero-drag penalty of keeping them opened.
- At high speeds (highway, main roads, etc.) close your windows and turn your a/c ON with the air-entry set to "recirculation". If you keep it in the position of your photo you'll be constantly cooling down hot air, wasting your a/c power for nothing. If you keep air recirculating in the cabin the compressor will need to work less to keep it cool.
- On hilly terrain, while keeping it in recirculation position, turn it OFF when going up and accelerating, ON when going down and braking. Whenever you step off the accelerator pedal your a/c comes for free (well, you pay it with "higher engine friction", but if you are braking or going down hill then it's for free and you also help saving up your brakes pads...).
If you have a Honda with ECON mode and AUTO climate control you should let it do its job, simply turning the A/C off when outside temperature is cool enough. And that is likely to get you the best possible FE without bothering about it.
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FiSH-Chan
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danielgr wrote:
On tips for saving fuel without cooking up in your car in hot climates (for my humidity level that is above 22 or 23ºC exterior temperature):
- Always leave the windows slightly opened when parking your car under the sun. |
On my car it simply cycle the A/C compressor on and off, so setting it to medium allows the A/C to cycle off less. Seems very different on yours.
Also, tinting the windows will definitely help a lot. We regularly see above 36ºC outside temp btw, so inside temp is higher..
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danielgr
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FiSH-Chan wrote:
danielgr wrote:
On tips for saving fuel without cooking up in your car in hot climates (for my humidity level that is above 22 or 23ºC exterior temperature):
- Always leave the windows slightly opened when parking your car under the sun. |
On my car it simply cycle the A/C compressor on and off, so setting it to medium allows the A/C to cycle off less. Seems very different on yours.
Also, tinting the windows will definitely help a lot. We regularly see above 36ºC outside temp btw, so inside temp is higher..
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Sorry but I'm not sure how does your post relate to my quote, nor how what you said contradicts anything of what I said.
Just to make it clear, most of what I wrote was gor cars with manual a/c like the Fit on the OP's post. The only part of my post referring to cars with auto climate system was the last paragraph.
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FiSH-Chan
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danielgr wrote:
Sorry but I'm not sure how does your post relate to my quote, nor how what you said contradicts anything of what I said.
Just to make it clear, most of what I wrote was gor cars with manual a/c like the Fit on the OP's post. The only part of my post referring to cars with auto climate system was the last paragraph.
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The first sentence is meant for the OP, the 2nd sentence is meant to add on your tip or saving fuel without roasting in the car. I did not quote them properly, sorry to confuse you.
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TonyEX
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danielgr wrote:
- At high speeds (highway, main roads, etc.) close your windows and turn your a/c ON with the air-entry set to "recirculation". If you keep it in the position of your photo you'll be constantly cooling down hot air, wasting your a/c power for nothing. If you keep air recirculating in the cabin the compressor will need to work less to keep it cool.
-
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But that's doing my bit to combat Climate Change... ;-)
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A77
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FiSH-Chan wrote:
danielgr wrote:
Sorry but I'm not sure how does your post relate to my quote, nor how what you said contradicts anything of what I said.
Just to make it clear, most of what I wrote was gor cars with manual a/c like the Fit on the OP's post. The only part of my post referring to cars with auto climate system was the last paragraph.
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The first sentence is meant for the OP, the 2nd sentence is meant to add on your tip or saving fuel without roasting in the car. I did not quote them properly, sorry to confuse you.
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Do Malaysian cars still come without heaters? They never used to have them - if you imported a car with a heater and wanted a/c they would whip the heater out and put an a/c in its place. that and remove the cars' thermostat to give a bit more breathing room if stuck in traffic before engine explodes... and having a full throttle cut out - ie if foot is on the floor a/c turns off....I guess things are more sophisticated now. But those old hang on the dash MkIV a/cs were bloody efficient.
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FiSH-Chan
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A77 wrote:
Do Malaysian cars still come without heaters? They never used to have them - if you imported a car with a heater and wanted a/c they would whip the heater out and put an a/c in its place. that and remove the cars' thermostat to give a bit more breathing room if stuck in traffic before engine explodes... and having a full throttle cut out - ie if foot is on the floor a/c turns off....I guess things are more sophisticated now. But those old hang on the dash MkIV a/cs were bloody efficient.
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Yes, it's not needed. Can't say for the more expensive cars sold here, but the only use of heater I can really think of is to prevent the engine from overheating, so it is totally unnecessary. I believe most cars for this region will have bigger radiators and more powerful fans. Not sure about the full throttle A/C cut, since I very seldom go full throttle, need to test it :). I know my old cars don't have the cut. Their A/C is not very effective anyway, so better without the cut..
I have friends who have exploded the compresssor before because they like many many others put the temp to the coldest setting with the A/C and they take the car for long trips at high speed... the engine speed and the A/C constantly on at speed will break the compressor soon enough.
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