Ok let’s make this easy; AC system in your car should be used every time you drive, the compressor works by engaging the clutch inside it, which has tendencies to seize up when not used during winter months. AC systems also use PAG oil, which lubricates various moving parts and stops the seals from drying out and becoming brittle, thus preventing leaks in the system. And lastly, the AC system removes moisture in the air which helps de-mist your windows, even de-icing them, and keeps the moisture levels low which prevents condensation buildup.
I litearlly searched up yesterday "How to use the car AC in detail conquer driving" because I was trying to demist the fog, but I found nothing until you dropped this video today 😂😂 Thanks.
I've been on the "old man" mindset of never using AC unless it's really really hot and cannot have your windows rolled down. This video has really changed my perspective about it. Thank you Richard! I will be testing this on my 2010 Focus.
When I started driving many cars didn't have aircon so we just used the heater, It worked fine then and to be honest it works fine now. However I will be experimenting with aircon now.
I never, ever turn off the AC. Even while living in Sweden, when we can have -20C in the winter, I never turn it off. As you say, it dries out the car from humidity. I often have wet kayak gear in the car and need to dry the air, especially in the winter. Driving a Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the electric heater is fantastic!
I've been driving for 54 years and a petrolhead since in my pram with an Alfa Romeo racing car Dinky toy. I didn't realise how much I didn't know about Aircon until this video popped up. Brilliant.
Excellent explanation. If I may, two other points on ventilation - For those that do turn off aircon, I've seen cars where people are driving with all their windows steamed up except for a little clear spot where their side blowers are frantically trying to clear the windows. This is usually because they have left recirculate on. Secondly, the importance of changing cabin filters (also called pollen filter) - These often get left out of servicing, but if they get blocked or degraded, again it increases window fogging if no AC on.
And if I may elaborate on that: some cars will mist up, because the drain for the condensed water from the system foing it's work, is clogged. That leads to bad smell and a very inefficient system. SO make sure the drain is NOT clogged. Cheers.
This is absolute spot on advice, and if your car has full climate control just leave it on auto. The other thing I’d recommend going into winter is buy a frost cover for your windscreen, get a good quality quilted type one, it takes about a minute to put on the car at night but it’ll save you loads of time and money in the morning when you take it off and have a frost free windscreen.
If you have an EV you can remote pre-condition your car to cool or heat before getting in it. Most will activate rear and front demister and/or rear window heating and if your vehicle has it wing mirror heating/heated or cooled seats and heated steering wheel as appropriate. I’ve not had to manually scrape/de-frost my EV in three winters. And in Summer I can always ensure it’s a comfortable temperature on entry from the Connected Car App on my phone. Just another advantage of EVs.
@@Antiguan_Dart It doesn't have to be an EV. My F-Types had this function, as does my current RS5 Vorsprung coupe with the myAudi app including heater/heated seats/steering wheel....& I can go further than 300 miles without stopping for 45 minutes to recharge the pathetic battery. Disclaimer: I hate EV's.😁
@@ph8077Genuine question in those ICE cars does it do the cabin heating without firing up the engine? I understand heated steering wheel, heated seats uses the 12V battery.
In the 18 years I own my 20 year old BMW, the only button that ever changed position is the temperature button. The "Auto" button (wich also activates the aircon) was turned on the day I baught it second hand and has never come off again 😎... And I have tried to explain this to so many people. Great video! Now I can share this with the so many people I still will have to convince to leave their "Auto' button on 😅
@leenevin8451 most cars with AC have an external temperature sensor. When it detects that outside temperature drops that low, it doesn't send a signal to the compressor bagnetic pully.
i have been watching your videos for quite some time now and i can finally say i passed a few days ago with 5 minors, thank you so much for all the help you are a legend!!
I generally agree, although on longer journeys in winter it tends to dry out the air a lot making my face and eyes very dry, so I force the AC off after half an hour while leaving the climate control on full auto.
You can try to adjust which air vents the air blowing out from, and the direction of the air vents. In the summer, if I didn't adjust properly, the air keeps blowing towards my hands and face, making my hands feels freezing, sometimes blow it towards the window and let those air bounce back maybe a better setting
I just passed my test this morning first time with only 4 minors! Thank you so much Richard, your mock test videos helped so so much for my preparation and making me feel less nervous for the test. Woo!!
I feel sleepy as soon as I turned on the cars AC.. It's very tough for me to drive with AC on.. Even in hot summers, I rarely turn on... Everyone shouts at me😅.. But I don't care about them.. Cause if I got sleep while driving, no one knows what's gonna happen next..
I've seen some of your videos and i'm always blown by the amount of information you achieve to jam in those 15 minutes and this one is no exception. Keep up the great work, you earned yourself a new sub +1
My vw sportwagen ac always kicks in automatically when i use cold air or hot air. I just let it do its thing. Havent noticed it killing my fuel economy at all. The engineers knows what they are doing with these things. Awesome video, learnt so much
It's air conditioning, not air colding as most people think. Thus, you use it to get the best out of, and remove the unwanted effects, in every/any temperature. I drive for a living, I use it more in the cold months than the warm.
The auto 'defog' on my i30 works brilliantly, as soon as it senses damp on inside, it automatically clicks on Aircon (if it was off) and quickly blasts the screen . Cheers Richard a excellent topic 👍👍
Hello Richard, I just wanted to come on here and say a huge thank you, just passed my driving test this morning and your videos played a big contribution to helping me pass 😁
Greta video mate! This is the perfect video for people who are worried about waisting fuel in winter. Basically, not running the AC in winter lead to a car drenched in humidity inside and always steaming inside even when parked up. Cheers
Not only that but - as pointed out in this video - the AC can eventually fail if not used all winter. This is because the refrigerant contains lubricant which lubricates the compressor and stops the seals from drying out. If this is not circulating the seals will eventually dry out allowing the refrigerant to escape. The system will then have to be regassed. (A low pressure sensor in the circuit should prevent the compressor from running if there is no gas - otherwise it would seize due to lack of lubrication)
I noticed the drying effect pretty quickly when I got my first car with AC so and have had it set on auto all year round. If you have it on auto and AC on then it will use the AC to heat the car quicker on cold mornings as well. With AC on when you switch on the windshield defogger the AC will kick in right away as well.
My A/C compressor died, I got a new one fitted, then that quickly died and, due to needing the car quickly, I had to get the old compressor fitted again. So I'm back to square one again, minus a few hundred euros. BUT this video has given me the buzz to get it fixed again! I'm actually excited about having it working again! Great vid.
I keep on seeing comments like this so I am happy to say its finally my turn :) Today (October 29th) I passed my driving test first time with 1 minor, to say I was happy is a complete understatement, I was overjoyed and delighted! I want to express my thanks to Richard for posting these sorts of videos as they seriously helped me more than you can imagine!
Some cars also use the A/C in reverse, so the condenser becomes the evaporator and vice versa. This makes the interior warm a lot quicker and, in electric cars, much more efficiently than by a resistive element.
My car has a 4-speed fan dial and a temperature dial for the AC. It does a great job at keeping a consistent temperature - I like 18 degrees. I have noticed that the revs fall faster with the AC on, though, so I need to channel Colin McCrae whenever I change gear.
brilliant advice, i've been driving for over 40 years and never knew it was best to leave the AC on, also always wondered what the auto was on my Kia sportage..! thanks very much
I assume the condenser is before the heater core in the air box. I've never taken one apart, but it just seems logical. Dry the air first, then heat it, and it becomes a sponge, just sucking up all excess humidity in the car. Great way to keep the windows clear year-round. I've driven cars without an Auto HVAC mode, that will still automatically engage the A/C if you select the windshield defog vents on the HVAC airflow knob. If it's just blowing to the floor or from the dash vents, no A/C, but once you direct air to the windshield, the compressor kicks in. Nice feature.
2:10 what i learnt watching V8 Supercars (aussie touring cars) over the years, putting the cloth onto a stick and clean the windows that way, including the blind spots (i know aussie touring car lot don't care about blind spots and different from normal driving, someone did it years ago doing it and cleaning the front window and probably not advised to do it)
Unbelievable that I have just been wondering about that in my new car that has the auto AC in it, and you dropped this video. I couldn't get rid of the misty windows 9 out of 10 times I was driving it...😂 Cheers mate, I've learned so much with you!
I live in Canada and what works great in the winter to absorb the moisture from melting snow is to partially fill a pair of socks with cat litter, and place them inside your vehicle. It'll absorb the moisture and make the inside misting on the windows less of a problem. Cleaning the inside of your windows with shaving foam (buff it well) somehow prevents the moisture condensing on the glass at all. Which at 5 degrees F means no frost on the inside of your windows.
Really like the dual zone auto climate in my Volvo S40. It has multiple sensors in the footwells etc and will blow warm air depending on which areas are coldest. Tend to keep it on 22 or even 25 when its freezing outside. Takes about 5 mins of driving before warm air becomes available
Great video! One thing I’d like to mention is that modern air conditioners utilize a technology called thermal displacement. Instead of using traditional refrigerants, they shift warm air particles out of the room by creating a pressure differential at the molecular level. This method not only heats the space more efficiently but also reduces the environmental impact since it doesn’t rely on chemical heatrans.
As an HVAC technician in Sweden our recommendation and the recommendation of the companies that make the heat pumps is to never use auto. Rather to use heat during winter and cool during summer. To prevent the air conditioner fighting another heat source like radiators by cooling in the winter. But in a car I leave it at auto.
Thank you for taking the time to do all the research so that I don’t have to (let’s face it , even if I did, I won’t go no where near it) Really appreciated.
13:05 hard agree here. As an instructor, any car I buy _must_ have climate control. My first year of teaching was in a school vehicle that didn't have it, and it was such a distraction to keep the car at an appropriate temperature while working. It's literally the first thing I check if I look at a car ad when buying.
You CAN’T buy a car now WITHOUT AC. It’s like 50 years ago cars never had heated rear windows. You could buy heated rear window stick on filaments advertised in car magazines. Manufacturers won’t go backwards….
@@PhilbyFavouritesThe OP is talking about automatic climate control which is far more advanced than standard a/c. Climate control manages the temperature, fan speed and recirculation in addition to many other less obvious things.
My Prius scores the climate and when I have it in auto and at a moderate temperature it gives me the highest score. Also the ac is on in auto even when my temp is high and I thought my system was messed up but your video explained why the ac is on in auto. Great video :)
kept my ac off during winters, will try it on this year, thank you for the video. btw, I passed my driving test 6 month ago but still watching your videos, the content is informative and useful. 👍
Great idea, tried the a/c on in cold damp weather and it works great, stops the windows from fogging up,even tho the heating in the car is on max!! Thank you 😊 💯👍
I leave the aircon. on all the time in what ever vehicle I drive. I once got a taxi from Palma Mallorca to Cala Millor, and the driver, I feel was dangerous not having the aircon on in the rain, and kept rubbing the windscreen with the back of the hand. Also, with aircon on, I have had the windscreen mist up on the outside at the bottom before now. Finally, I have found most vehicles now have heated mirrors, which is on the same switch as the rear window. It only takes around 2 minutes to clear the mist from the mirrors if needed.
Manual AC on all my cars so far, but I will make it a point to use it more often. Being more of a motorcyclist than a car driver, I tend to dress warm when it's cold and leave the windows open when it's warm. My wife does complain when the car is cold though, especially when I crack the windows open to prevent condensation!
Side note, if you turn on your windshield defroster setting, or the defrost and floor setting, both automatically run the AC compressor whether you push the AC off button or not. This helps remove moisture, even if the user doesn't know that the AC helps dry the air
It's no fun in a little 1.2, 3 cylinder engine. Hills are a killer and end up causing problems. It's noticable even more when you've got a full car. Although this video does make sense
My '21 Elantra (Avante) has the base "3 Knob" heating - no windshield elements or automated or zone. I had the long habit going back to my Neons of turning the air off a couple blocks before I shut the car down to dry it out I thought. In winter with no elements in the windshieldI have more and more just been leaving the 2 defrost modes going (windshield and windshield/lower ducts) but I was shutting it off and going to regular vents a couple block before but it is just fogging too much so I was think - as you said - no problem in winter just leaving it in the modes that cue the compresser.
I've been driving since the early 90s and am one of those who used to think climate control was a waste of precious fuel. Mind, you, I also had no clue what its function was, still less could I tell the difference between it and the AC. So this was a real eye-opener.
THANK YOU! So often a friend or family member or (annoyingly) my partner will get in my car and turn off the AC without asking me and I'll ask why and they'll say "saving you some money" and the never believe me when I say that's not true!! Sending everyone I know this video 🤣
yep, have been driving with my AC on a LOT recently to help demist my windows. when it's really cold, it helps leaving the hot air running before setting off, then leaving it on at low until the ac is enough to take over
We recently moved from a fairly low spec Fiat Panda to a top spec VW Golf, both same age but the VW cost twice as much. I was pleasantly surprised how much better than the Fiat the VW's aircon performed, no more arguments with my wife on aircon settings as it just works with no intervention. Both happy now 😊
When you turn on the AC, it will engage the AC coolant compression which will bring down the fuel efficiency. There is also a problem when the outside temperature is very cold. The coolant can be frozen and crack the pipe or damage the compression pump. Therefore, many cars will not turn on the compressor below certain temperature which will have no de-humidification.
The 2004-2009 Prius does all of the things listed in this video. Very advanced system for its time. And of course hybrids use a HV battery driven compressor which is more efficient.
In the winter, you can actually turn your ac on but turn off the blower, and the extra work required by the motor to turn the ac helps it warm up faster. Also, Recirculate helps warm up the car faster.
Modern cars automatically cycle the AC compressor when you select defrost to keep the compressor running periodically. Most things don’t do well when they sit idle for too long. I run the AC in my cars at least once a week during the winter to keep the compressor running smoothly. The trick to that is do it when the car interior is burning hot (after you’ve been driving for a while). If you do it ice cold, the temperature sensor may not activate and the compressor-even on defrost.
In old Mercedes W168 A-class from 1998 I also had Eco button which turn AC off, it was also predefined to have it on in automatic mode which is actually nice from reliability point of view of this system.
@ not at all because I was an owner just for 6 months. But I know that my colleague near my desk which I bought this car from did it once in 3 years. And he also was using it in auto mode (without ECO).
I regularly use AC in my 2002 Volvo S40 even in winter, but I also do so because moisture builds up very easily and it struggles to defrost the windows because of old worn seals that have to be changed behind the dashboard next year. Plus anytime I set the air direction to the windshield to defrost, it turns on AC by itself and you can't turn it off until you redirect it. It also has auto AC, and although I usually don't really see a change in power or fuel consumption (whether AC is on or not at all), since it's a relatively big 2.0 liter NA petrol engine. The controls might also needs some fixing since sometimes it likes to set the fan speed on its own, even if it's not on the Auto setting.
We've had our car for 10 years and the climate/AC has never been off 😁 the car behaves the same whether on or off so I just left it on. Also helps keep all the windows clear in winter 💪
@@adamek9750 A petrol engine is the most efficient when it's at about 70% load. And that's where I try to keep it and ac kicking on and off isn't wery helpful at that. At least on my car (2007 9n4 polo with 1.2 6v engine) it happily just logs the engine and get's it to ritch mixture.
It's smart because you maximize your power going uphill, and on the downhill it's essentially free A/C because your fuel injectors stop spraying fuel when coasting with your foot off the gas. Engine is still turning, which lets the A/C compressor run, but using no fuel.
@@josefsvitak4313 A petrol engine may have high a volumetric efficiency at 70% load, but it'll be using more fuel than it would at say 50% load. Switching off AC makes so little difference, it's not worth messing with. Simply driving to keep the engine running efficiently is more beneficial.
Videos like this makes me think, i wish the engineers behind products had information manuals for folks who WANT to know more. They come up with great dummy proof tech, only for non-dummies to then overthink it and undo the good that was built into things in the first place.
This is really useful. I have an 18 plate Ranger and keep the aircon off generally because it can’t get much less efficient! It suffers terribly from condensation though
I only turn the AC off when i need to do some zoom zoom business because it sharpens the throttle response and the engine feels like it got atleast 5 more horsepower. The fun lasts until the windows got covered up by mists
When your low temperature symbol comes on, usually at 4degC, it locks out the electromagnetic clutch on the AC compressor, and you have no more AC. The gas inside won't evaporate below 4degC at the evaporator pressure so the compressor is locked out to protect it. I wish more cars had heated windscreens as they overcome this issue and avoid you excessively idling a cold engine, plus they melt ice quickly and snow slides off in sheets.
Thanks for this video. It's incredible at how many people think that air conditioning is just to make cold air. Cold air is an unexpected byproduct of air conditioning actual purpose, which is to dehumidify as you said. I've had people tell me that they have issues with their windows fogging up around this time of year and they were shocked when I told them to use their air conditioning with the heat turned up. They had no idea that was a thing you could do.
This advice is good for moderate climates, but the r134 boils at -26. If its colder than that, running the ac can damage the compressor. You will not need the deforst effect as the air will be very dry in extreme cold.
This chanel is brilliant! you have helped me pass my driving test last year and I still continue to watch for all the useful knowledge and helpful tips, thanks!
I bought a Landrover discovery 4 HSE 13 years ago. I set climate control on 24C and aircon on and never turn it off. Never had to regas the entire time.
The biggest tip is ensure you don't have air recirculation on when the heater is running. Old cars never let you use recirculation when heat is on. New cars allow it. Your windows will fog up a lot if you have recirculation on. If you want recirculate on with the heater for some reason, then switching to ac to dehumidify will work. (or crack a window to vent)
I love the Automatic HVAC system on cars! It is more efficient, comfortable, and one less thing you need to worry about. The only thing I do, when I am finishing a long Summer drive (for 2+ hours), is, 5 minutes or so from home, to hit the "AC off" button. By doing this, the fan will blow hot dry air into the evaporator and air filter . which is particularly relevant if you will leave your car inside a dark bad ventilated garage. I do this because, during that long drive, those components accumulated high humidity levels. If let that way, mold can quickly form, which leads to bad smells and bacteria. Some Owner's Manuals actually advise this.
I have a Leon ST FR 184 euro 5 diesel with EA288 motor. MY 2014. It's done 90,000 miles and the AC is on all the time. I have had the dreaded silica bag burst and ruin the heating but the AC has run perfectly without issue. My car has dual zone and auto but it is always run in manual mode
You save fuel when using AC in -25C. Set the air to recycling + AC. Windows will not fog up and the AC temps are higher than what you have outside - more temperature for the engine and other components to rotate smoother. But everything else comes down the individual cars - some has pre-heated air - air duct runs past firewall to be pre-heated when it enters the cabin, to get less moisture on the windows. Some car manufacturers position air intake under the hood for the same reason and to avoid the smell of the window washer fluid. Some cars AC units turn off with everything lower than +4C, typically, older cars. Heatpumps usually operate until -25C, then they just become useless.
Joking aside this was a very informative video. Very clearly explained even for technophobes like myself. Think I will leave my Lexus Climate Control on Auto & see how much it affects av mileage in winter. Many thanks 👍🙏
let's be clear guys, first of all what is Winter for you stands for? In Northern Europe winter means -10 and below :) at this temperature AC compressor will not engage due to internal logic, which prevents from engaging. Depending from car manufacturer logic can change, but basically Ac most of the time will disengage automatically bellow 2 degrees Celsius of evaporator (BMW service manual information: A/C compressor function is controlled by the Engine Control Module (ECM) based on inputs from the IHKA control panel. Pressing the "snowflake" button is a request for A/C activation. As long as the evaporator temperature is above 2°C (36°F), the IHKA signals the ECM to activate the compressor.). At least i speak about BMW and FORD, cars i own :) but i believe all cars have some sort of similar logic. So button line during Normal winter, not like Winter in UK, this function are useless :)
Ok let’s make this easy; AC system in your car should be used every time you drive, the compressor works by engaging the clutch inside it, which has tendencies to seize up when not used during winter months. AC systems also use PAG oil, which lubricates various moving parts and stops the seals from drying out and becoming brittle, thus preventing leaks in the system. And lastly, the AC system removes moisture in the air which helps de-mist your windows, even de-icing them, and keeps the moisture levels low which prevents condensation buildup.
But why every time? Why not just once a week? It would do the same things but you won't have to use it as much
Yes you should use your A/C regularly all year round to mitigate maintenance issues...."every time" is a bit OTT though.
If you turn the ac off the last 5 minutes that you drive, the condensor dries up so the next time you drive away the windows don’t fog up.
@@ph8077 probably, but it’s not caused any issues thus far
@@cameItotem Are you poor? Just put the A/C on and forget about it looool . . .
I just passed this morning with 3 minors and your videos were the main reason, thank you very much i hope you keep uploading and helping people
That's really great to hear! Thank you for your generosity and congratulations on passing!
I am sorry to hear that you got a worse score because of this channel. I think you are owed an apology.
Minors like children?????💀
I litearlly searched up yesterday "How to use the car AC in detail conquer driving" because I was trying to demist the fog, but I found nothing until you dropped this video today 😂😂 Thanks.
AC doesn't usually cure fogging as AC often doesn't have a dryer......Climate conditions the air and cures all.
I've been on the "old man" mindset of never using AC unless it's really really hot and cannot have your windows rolled down. This video has really changed my perspective about it. Thank you Richard! I will be testing this on my 2010 Focus.
How on earth do u get rid of condensation on the windscreen without AC??!
@@raafichowdhury Having my windows rolled down :D
When I started driving many cars didn't have aircon so we just used the heater,
It worked fine then and to be honest it works fine now.
However I will be experimenting with aircon now.
@ Oh okay im relatively new to driving and I find the ac working like magic for mist, the heater seems to make it worse on my cheap Toyota
If you turn the ac off the last 5 minutes that you drive, the condensor dries up so the next time you drive away the windows don’t fog up.
Not from UK but recently passed for a driving license in my country, for the most part I've learned driving maneuvers with this man's help :)
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
@@ConquerDriving ;)) you are an absolute legend
I never, ever turn off the AC. Even while living in Sweden, when we can have -20C in the winter, I never turn it off. As you say, it dries out the car from humidity. I often have wet kayak gear in the car and need to dry the air, especially in the winter. Driving a Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the electric heater is fantastic!
This video was truly a breath of fresh air.
Blows my mind how he ventilated the subject staying cool in the process...
Very interesting video, I've been driving for 50 years and never knew that much about AC, I do now.
Well done .
I've been driving for 54 years and a petrolhead since in my pram with an Alfa Romeo racing car Dinky toy. I didn't realise how much I didn't know about Aircon until this video popped up. Brilliant.
Excellent explanation. If I may, two other points on ventilation - For those that do turn off aircon, I've seen cars where people are driving with all their windows steamed up except for a little clear spot where their side blowers are frantically trying to clear the windows. This is usually because they have left recirculate on. Secondly, the importance of changing cabin filters (also called pollen filter) - These often get left out of servicing, but if they get blocked or degraded, again it increases window fogging if no AC on.
And if I may elaborate on that: some cars will mist up, because the drain for the condensed water from the system foing it's work, is clogged. That leads to bad smell and a very inefficient system. SO make sure the drain is NOT clogged.
Cheers.
@@monzarace You are spot, on trouble is i have no clue as to where the drain is on my nissan pulsar.
This is absolute spot on advice, and if your car has full climate control just leave it on auto. The other thing I’d recommend going into winter is buy a frost cover for your windscreen, get a good quality quilted type one, it takes about a minute to put on the car at night but it’ll save you loads of time and money in the morning when you take it off and have a frost free windscreen.
or get a webasto heater which defrosts the windows and warms up the interior aswell. could be pricey but it is so darn worth it in cold climates.
@@Johnny91832damn a webasto on my truck? Sounds sick
If you have an EV you can remote pre-condition your car to cool or heat before getting in it. Most will activate rear and front demister and/or rear window heating and if your vehicle has it wing mirror heating/heated or cooled seats and heated steering wheel as appropriate. I’ve not had to manually scrape/de-frost my EV in three winters. And in Summer I can always ensure it’s a comfortable temperature on entry from the Connected Car App on my phone. Just another advantage of EVs.
@@Antiguan_Dart It doesn't have to be an EV. My F-Types had this function, as does my current RS5 Vorsprung coupe with the myAudi app including heater/heated seats/steering wheel....& I can go further than 300 miles without stopping for 45 minutes to recharge the pathetic battery.
Disclaimer: I hate EV's.😁
@@ph8077Genuine question in those ICE cars does it do the cabin heating without firing up the engine? I understand heated steering wheel, heated seats uses the 12V battery.
In the 18 years I own my 20 year old BMW, the only button that ever changed position is the temperature button. The "Auto" button (wich also activates the aircon) was turned on the day I baught it second hand and has never come off again 😎... And I have tried to explain this to so many people. Great video! Now I can share this with the so many people I still will have to convince to leave their "Auto' button on 😅
A mechanic here, most AC units are set that they don't turn on the compressor below 5-7 degrees Celsius
I wonder how this works
@leenevin8451 most cars with AC have an external temperature sensor. When it detects that outside temperature drops that low, it doesn't send a signal to the compressor bagnetic pully.
So at 5-7c your car is pulling in very dry air anyway. The air is simply too cold to hold much moisture.
True but - 5 is a warm winter day anyways @@DMC888
Thankfully someone with brain and uses it in the comments
i have been watching your videos for quite some time now and i can finally say i passed a few days ago with 5 minors, thank you so much for all the help you are a legend!!
Great news!
yo it’s the twitter guy
Coming from a car without ac to a car with double zone climatronic was indeed a change for me.
This guy is a treasure, not only helped when I was doing my driving lessons but also gives further guidance and tips after passing my licence.
Good advice. I would only add that at around 4 Celsius the car will disable the aircon to protect the condenser from freezing.
True. This is mentioned in my car's handbook.
Guess he lives in LOndon where they dont have normal winters
I generally agree, although on longer journeys in winter it tends to dry out the air a lot making my face and eyes very dry, so I force the AC off after half an hour while leaving the climate control on full auto.
I have to drink a lot while using AC for long periods
@@Ale-bj7nd Yes, it can be a serious health risk on long journeys, the combination of dehydration remaining seated for too long.
You can try to adjust which air vents the air blowing out from, and the direction of the air vents. In the summer, if I didn't adjust properly, the air keeps blowing towards my hands and face, making my hands feels freezing, sometimes blow it towards the window and let those air bounce back maybe a better setting
I always have the fans facing away from my face and body.
@@michaelma3385 Yes I have it directed away, but eventually the whole cabin becomes rather dry regardless.
I just passed my test this morning first time with only 4 minors! Thank you so much Richard, your mock test videos helped so so much for my preparation and making me feel less nervous for the test. Woo!!
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Spot on advice. I have not turned AC off since 1997 when I first got a car that had it. Helps keep you awake on long drives too.
I feel sleepy as soon as I turned on the cars AC..
It's very tough for me to drive with AC on..
Even in hot summers, I rarely turn on...
Everyone shouts at me😅..
But I don't care about them..
Cause if I got sleep while driving, no one knows what's gonna happen next..
What does sleep have to do with AC? I'm not aware of anything like that.
@@serban2139 I get 🥱 this and feels to start sleeping 😴 .
@@serban2139 Just knobs!
@@serban2139 I find it stops the car getting 'stuffy' feels fresher hence I stay more alert. Perhaps it is just me?
Passed my driving test today after years of watching your videos I have learnt alot and I am going to keep watching your videos thanks.
I've seen some of your videos and i'm always blown by the amount of information you achieve to jam in those 15 minutes and this one is no exception.
Keep up the great work, you earned yourself a new sub +1
My vw sportwagen ac always kicks in automatically when i use cold air or hot air. I just let it do its thing. Havent noticed it killing my fuel economy at all. The engineers knows what they are doing with these things. Awesome video, learnt so much
Thank goodness for this video. I’ve been telling people for years to use AC in winter as well as summer. It’s wonderful demisting a windscreen.
It's air conditioning, not air colding as most people think. Thus, you use it to get the best out of, and remove the unwanted effects, in every/any temperature.
I drive for a living, I use it more in the cold months than the warm.
Intreating video, I’m of the age where one would simply open the windows for air con and demisting windows, long before air con luxury’s 🤩
@@Windsurfingaddict I still do that more then AC on ,helps so much to not fall a sleep on longer trips
The auto 'defog' on my i30 works brilliantly, as soon as it senses damp on inside, it automatically clicks on Aircon (if it was off) and quickly blasts the screen . Cheers Richard a excellent topic 👍👍
Hello Richard, I just wanted to come on here and say a huge thank you, just passed my driving test this morning and your videos played a big contribution to helping me pass 😁
Greta video mate! This is the perfect video for people who are worried about waisting fuel in winter. Basically, not running the AC in winter lead to a car drenched in humidity inside and always steaming inside even when parked up. Cheers
Not only that but - as pointed out in this video - the AC can eventually fail if not used all winter. This is because the refrigerant contains lubricant which lubricates the compressor and stops the seals from drying out. If this is not circulating the seals will eventually dry out allowing the refrigerant to escape. The system will then have to be regassed. (A low pressure sensor in the circuit should prevent the compressor from running if there is no gas - otherwise it would seize due to lack of lubrication)
I noticed the drying effect pretty quickly when I got my first car with AC so and have had it set on auto all year round. If you have it on auto and AC on then it will use the AC to heat the car quicker on cold mornings as well. With AC on when you switch on the windshield defogger the AC will kick in right away as well.
My A/C compressor died, I got a new one fitted, then that quickly died and, due to needing the car quickly, I had to get the old compressor fitted again. So I'm back to square one again, minus a few hundred euros. BUT this video has given me the buzz to get it fixed again! I'm actually excited about having it working again! Great vid.
I keep on seeing comments like this so I am happy to say its finally my turn :)
Today (October 29th) I passed my driving test first time with 1 minor, to say I was happy is a complete understatement, I was overjoyed and delighted!
I want to express my thanks to Richard for posting these sorts of videos as they seriously helped me more than you can imagine!
Well done :) enjoy your entended range of freedom
@@ryanwatterson4038 thank you mate!
While it still lasts…🙄@ryanwatterson4038
Some cars also use the A/C in reverse, so the condenser becomes the evaporator and vice versa. This makes the interior warm a lot quicker and, in electric cars, much more efficiently than by a resistive element.
Blows my mind how he ventilated the subject staying cool in the process... 👍
Have had my first car since 2020. Never turned off my AC, always on Auto.
Ya because cold air is needed when it's 20°f outside
My car has a 4-speed fan dial and a temperature dial for the AC. It does a great job at keeping a consistent temperature - I like 18 degrees. I have noticed that the revs fall faster with the AC on, though, so I need to channel Colin McCrae whenever I change gear.
Yes! I noticed I would stall a couple of times when the warm season comes - I suspected it must be turning on AC and I guess it is
brilliant advice, i've been driving for over 40 years and never knew it was best to leave the AC on, also always wondered what the auto was on my Kia sportage..! thanks very much
The refrigerant contains lubricant which helps to condition the seals.
I assume the condenser is before the heater core in the air box. I've never taken one apart, but it just seems logical. Dry the air first, then heat it, and it becomes a sponge, just sucking up all excess humidity in the car. Great way to keep the windows clear year-round. I've driven cars without an Auto HVAC mode, that will still automatically engage the A/C if you select the windshield defog vents on the HVAC airflow knob. If it's just blowing to the floor or from the dash vents, no A/C, but once you direct air to the windshield, the compressor kicks in. Nice feature.
You have the knack of being able to explain things thoroughly and understandably, thanks for the explanation.
2:10 what i learnt watching V8 Supercars (aussie touring cars) over the years, putting the cloth onto a stick and clean the windows that way, including the blind spots (i know aussie touring car lot don't care about blind spots and different from normal driving, someone did it years ago doing it and cleaning the front window and probably not advised to do it)
Unbelievable that I have just been wondering about that in my new car that has the auto AC in it, and you dropped this video. I couldn't get rid of the misty windows 9 out of 10 times I was driving it...😂 Cheers mate, I've learned so much with you!
i just passed my test today and i remember watching you how to start a manual car. thanks for everything
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Thanks to your videos I was able to past my driving test 3 months ago Keep up the good work
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I live in Canada and what works great in the winter to absorb the moisture from melting snow is to partially fill a pair of socks with cat litter, and place them inside your vehicle. It'll absorb the moisture and make the inside misting on the windows less of a problem. Cleaning the inside of your windows with shaving foam (buff it well) somehow prevents the moisture condensing on the glass at all. Which at 5 degrees F means no frost on the inside of your windows.
Really like the dual zone auto climate in my Volvo S40. It has multiple sensors in the footwells etc and will blow warm air depending on which areas are coldest. Tend to keep it on 22 or even 25 when its freezing outside. Takes about 5 mins of driving before warm air becomes available
Great video! One thing I’d like to mention is that modern air conditioners utilize a technology called thermal displacement. Instead of using traditional refrigerants, they shift warm air particles out of the room by creating a pressure differential at the molecular level. This method not only heats the space more efficiently but also reduces the environmental impact since it doesn’t rely on chemical heatrans.
That sounds space age
As an HVAC technician in Sweden our recommendation and the recommendation of the companies that make the heat pumps is to never use auto. Rather to use heat during winter and cool during summer. To prevent the air conditioner fighting another heat source like radiators by cooling in the winter. But in a car I leave it at auto.
Thank you for taking the time to do all the research so that I don’t have to (let’s face it , even if I did, I won’t go no where near it) Really appreciated.
13:05 hard agree here. As an instructor, any car I buy _must_ have climate control. My first year of teaching was in a school vehicle that didn't have it, and it was such a distraction to keep the car at an appropriate temperature while working.
It's literally the first thing I check if I look at a car ad when buying.
You CAN’T buy a car now WITHOUT AC.
It’s like 50 years ago cars never had heated rear windows. You could buy heated rear window stick on filaments advertised in car magazines.
Manufacturers won’t go backwards….
@@PhilbyFavouritesThe OP is talking about automatic climate control which is far more advanced than standard a/c. Climate control manages the temperature, fan speed and recirculation in addition to many other less obvious things.
My Prius scores the climate and when I have it in auto and at a moderate temperature it gives me the highest score. Also the ac is on in auto even when my temp is high and I thought my system was messed up but your video explained why the ac is on in auto. Great video :)
kept my ac off during winters, will try it on this year, thank you for the video. btw, I passed my driving test 6 month ago but still watching your videos, the content is informative and useful. 👍
How have you kept the ac off during winters if you only passed your test 6 months ago?
Great idea, tried the a/c on in cold damp weather and it works great, stops the windows from fogging up,even tho the heating in the car is on max!! Thank you 😊 💯👍
I leave the aircon. on all the time in what ever vehicle I drive. I once got a taxi from Palma Mallorca to Cala Millor, and the driver, I feel was dangerous not having the aircon on in the rain, and kept rubbing the windscreen with the back of the hand. Also, with aircon on, I have had the windscreen mist up on the outside at the bottom before now. Finally, I have found most vehicles now have heated mirrors, which is on the same switch as the rear window. It only takes around 2 minutes to clear the mist from the mirrors if needed.
Manual AC on all my cars so far, but I will make it a point to use it more often. Being more of a motorcyclist than a car driver, I tend to dress warm when it's cold and leave the windows open when it's warm. My wife does complain when the car is cold though, especially when I crack the windows open to prevent condensation!
Side note, if you turn on your windshield defroster setting, or the defrost and floor setting, both automatically run the AC compressor whether you push the AC off button or not. This helps remove moisture, even if the user doesn't know that the AC helps dry the air
Thanks for this. One important point is that the rear dehumidifier also heats the orvm and helps maintain visibility esp in a wet weather.
Orvm ?
@CyberChrist I assume it stands for 'overhead rear view mirror'
@@Breadlocks I didn't have the "O", makes sense 👍
It's no fun in a little 1.2, 3 cylinder engine. Hills are a killer and end up causing problems. It's noticable even more when you've got a full car. Although this video does make sense
My '21 Elantra (Avante) has the base "3 Knob" heating - no windshield elements or automated or zone. I had the long habit going back to my Neons of turning the air off a couple blocks before I shut the car down to dry it out I thought. In winter with no elements in the windshieldI have more and more just been leaving the 2 defrost modes going (windshield and windshield/lower ducts) but I was shutting it off and going to regular vents a couple block before but it is just fogging too much so I was think - as you said - no problem in winter just leaving it in the modes that cue the compresser.
I've been driving since the early 90s and am one of those who used to think climate control was a waste of precious fuel. Mind, you, I also had no clue what its function was, still less could I tell the difference between it and the AC. So this was a real eye-opener.
I passed my test a few days ago and your videos helped so much particularly the mock tests so thank you very much 😀
That's great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
THANK YOU! So often a friend or family member or (annoyingly) my partner will get in my car and turn off the AC without asking me and I'll ask why and they'll say "saving you some money" and the never believe me when I say that's not true!! Sending everyone I know this video 🤣
Would have been me. Sorry! Sometimes we make mistakes
yep, have been driving with my AC on a LOT recently to help demist my windows. when it's really cold, it helps leaving the hot air running before setting off, then leaving it on at low until the ac is enough to take over
We recently moved from a fairly low spec Fiat Panda to a top spec VW Golf, both same age but the VW cost twice as much.
I was pleasantly surprised how much better than the Fiat the VW's aircon performed, no more arguments with my wife on aircon settings as it just works with no intervention. Both happy now 😊
keep up the consistent uploads!
Brilliant video. Thanks. Something in there for motorists at all levels of experience.
Great video. I’ve been driving for 50 years, but have learned loads. Thanks
When you turn on the AC, it will engage the AC coolant compression which will bring down the fuel efficiency. There is also a problem when the outside temperature is very cold. The coolant can be frozen and crack the pipe or damage the compression pump. Therefore, many cars will not turn on the compressor below certain temperature which will have no de-humidification.
The 2004-2009 Prius does all of the things listed in this video. Very advanced system for its time. And of course hybrids use a HV battery driven compressor which is more efficient.
In the winter, you can actually turn your ac on but turn off the blower, and the extra work required by the motor to turn the ac helps it warm up faster.
Also, Recirculate helps warm up the car faster.
Modern cars automatically cycle the AC compressor when you select defrost to keep the compressor running periodically. Most things don’t do well when they sit idle for too long. I run the AC in my cars at least once a week during the winter to keep the compressor running smoothly. The trick to that is do it when the car interior is burning hot (after you’ve been driving for a while). If you do it ice cold, the temperature sensor may not activate and the compressor-even on defrost.
In old Mercedes W168 A-class from 1998 I also had Eco button which turn AC off, it was also predefined to have it on in automatic mode which is actually nice from reliability point of view of this system.
How often you gas it?
@ not at all because I was an owner just for 6 months. But I know that my colleague near my desk which I bought this car from did it once in 3 years. And he also was using it in auto mode (without ECO).
I thank the all-mighty algorithm for showing me this suggestion. Great piece of information about AC
I regularly use AC in my 2002 Volvo S40 even in winter, but I also do so because moisture builds up very easily and it struggles to defrost the windows because of old worn seals that have to be changed behind the dashboard next year. Plus anytime I set the air direction to the windshield to defrost, it turns on AC by itself and you can't turn it off until you redirect it. It also has auto AC, and although I usually don't really see a change in power or fuel consumption (whether AC is on or not at all), since it's a relatively big 2.0 liter NA petrol engine. The controls might also needs some fixing since sometimes it likes to set the fan speed on its own, even if it's not on the Auto setting.
You disgust me!!!! After so many years only now do we find this out??? Seriously Bravo!
We've had our car for 10 years and the climate/AC has never been off 😁 the car behaves the same whether on or off so I just left it on. Also helps keep all the windows clear in winter 💪
If you turn the ac off the last 5 minutes that you drive, the condensor dries up so the next time you drive away the windows don’t fog up.
I actually turn the ac off most often when it's hot outside. Whenever I'm in a hilly area I shut if off uphill and turn it back on downhill. 😉
does that actually do anything? AC has a clutch and disengages when the engine is under high load
@@adamek9750 A petrol engine is the most efficient when it's at about 70% load. And that's where I try to keep it and ac kicking on and off isn't wery helpful at that. At least on my car (2007 9n4 polo with 1.2 6v engine) it happily just logs the engine and get's it to ritch mixture.
It's smart because you maximize your power going uphill, and on the downhill it's essentially free A/C because your fuel injectors stop spraying fuel when coasting with your foot off the gas. Engine is still turning, which lets the A/C compressor run, but using no fuel.
@@adamek9750usually it disengages when floored, otherwise it's still going on and off.
@@josefsvitak4313
A petrol engine may have high a volumetric efficiency at 70% load, but it'll be using more fuel than it would at say 50% load.
Switching off AC makes so little difference, it's not worth messing with. Simply driving to keep the engine running efficiently is more beneficial.
Videos like this makes me think, i wish the engineers behind products had information manuals for folks who WANT to know more. They come up with great dummy proof tech, only for non-dummies to then overthink it and undo the good that was built into things in the first place.
This is really useful. I have an 18 plate Ranger and keep the aircon off generally because it can’t get much less efficient! It suffers terribly from condensation though
I only turn the AC off when i need to do some zoom zoom business because it sharpens the throttle response and the engine feels like it got atleast 5 more horsepower. The fun lasts until the windows got covered up by mists
When your low temperature symbol comes on, usually at 4degC, it locks out the electromagnetic clutch on the AC compressor, and you have no more AC. The gas inside won't evaporate below 4degC at the evaporator pressure so the compressor is locked out to protect it. I wish more cars had heated windscreens as they overcome this issue and avoid you excessively idling a cold engine, plus they melt ice quickly and snow slides off in sheets.
They were patented by FORD decades ago. Hence you’ll find them on almost all Fords and few others
Thanks for this video. It's incredible at how many people think that air conditioning is just to make cold air. Cold air is an unexpected byproduct of air conditioning actual purpose, which is to dehumidify as you said.
I've had people tell me that they have issues with their windows fogging up around this time of year and they were shocked when I told them to use their air conditioning with the heat turned up. They had no idea that was a thing you could do.
I must admit, I am one such person. I've learned something. Thanks.
This advice is good for moderate climates, but the r134 boils at -26. If its colder than that, running the ac can damage the compressor. You will not need the deforst effect as the air will be very dry in extreme cold.
At such low temp the AC compressor won't turn on at all by design. So no worries.
As ever, very clearly explained. Thank you.
I love how your knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for cars and driving always comes across.
Excellent video, I always wondered why my car always turned on the ac when in climate control 👏🏾👏🏾
Never turn mine off and I've never had to have my system recharged,so great advice 😁
I use the AC all year round. It's essential in humid British weather. Cars tend to stink when people don't do it
This chanel is brilliant! you have helped me pass my driving test last year and I still continue to watch for all the useful knowledge and helpful tips, thanks!
Thanks to you I put my climate control on auto for the first time
I bought a Landrover discovery 4 HSE 13 years ago. I set climate control on 24C and aircon on and never turn it off. Never had to regas the entire time.
The biggest tip is ensure you don't have air recirculation on when the heater is running. Old cars never let you use recirculation when heat is on. New cars allow it. Your windows will fog up a lot if you have recirculation on. If you want recirculate on with the heater for some reason, then switching to ac to dehumidify will work. (or crack a window to vent)
I love the Automatic HVAC system on cars!
It is more efficient, comfortable, and one less thing you need to worry about.
The only thing I do, when I am finishing a long Summer drive (for 2+ hours), is, 5 minutes or so from home, to hit the "AC off" button.
By doing this, the fan will blow hot dry air into the evaporator and air filter . which is particularly relevant if you will leave your car inside a dark bad ventilated garage.
I do this because, during that long drive, those components accumulated high humidity levels. If let that way, mold can quickly form, which leads to bad smells and bacteria.
Some Owner's Manuals actually advise this.
I'll try this tomorrow, really cool tip
I learn so much about daily driving cars from your videos
I have a Leon ST FR 184 euro 5 diesel with EA288 motor. MY 2014. It's done 90,000 miles and the AC is on all the time. I have had the dreaded silica bag burst and ruin the heating but the AC has run perfectly without issue. My car has dual zone and auto but it is always run in manual mode
One more important to say, in the winter condition on the road (ice, mould, slippy):
-AC raise the engine brake efficiency!!
You save fuel when using AC in -25C. Set the air to recycling + AC. Windows will not fog up and the AC temps are higher than what you have outside - more temperature for the engine and other components to rotate smoother. But everything else comes down the individual cars - some has pre-heated air - air duct runs past firewall to be pre-heated when it enters the cabin, to get less moisture on the windows. Some car manufacturers position air intake under the hood for the same reason and to avoid the smell of the window washer fluid. Some cars AC units turn off with everything lower than +4C, typically, older cars. Heatpumps usually operate until -25C, then they just become useless.
That's right, it conditions the air, in other words it removes the moisture. Hence when you stop water can be seen dripping onto the road beneath
Joking aside this was a very informative video. Very clearly explained even for technophobes like myself. Think I will leave my Lexus Climate Control on Auto & see how much it affects av mileage in winter. Many thanks 👍🙏
let's be clear guys, first of all what is Winter for you stands for? In Northern Europe winter means -10 and below :) at this temperature AC compressor will not engage due to internal logic, which prevents from engaging. Depending from car manufacturer logic can change, but basically Ac most of the time will disengage automatically bellow 2 degrees Celsius of evaporator (BMW service manual information: A/C compressor function is controlled by the Engine Control Module (ECM) based on inputs from the IHKA control panel. Pressing the "snowflake" button is a request for A/C activation. As long as the evaporator temperature is above 2°C (36°F), the IHKA signals the ECM to activate the compressor.). At least i speak about BMW and FORD, cars i own :) but i believe all cars have some sort of similar logic. So button line during Normal winter, not like Winter in UK, this function are useless :)
This is exactly the video I needed! Very well made and succinct, thank you!
I have the Aircon on all the time in my EV. Safer to have clear screens and be comfy. Only very small range loss - sometimes none. 😎
Shorter life cycle for your battery. I hope your manufacturer still makes replacements.