I saw on one of the Honda CR-V forums that when you use ECO it can restrict the amount of time the AC runs to get better gas millage. So because of that info I was not using ECO mode until the vehicle cooled off on hot days. But yesterday I saw a post on a Honda CR-V forum that if you select MAX on the AC then it over-rides the ECO and the AC running will not be reduced (the person quoting this on that forum even linked a page from the owner manual with that section circled in red). So now I can leave ECO on to get the better gas millage and just select MAX. I knew MAX selects recycle of air from the cabin into the AC system instead of trying to bring in hotter air from outside, but I did not know it over-rode the ECO.
I noticed a post here on BITOG that an owner of a Lexus said his vehicle will select a lower gear to keep the RPM's up to run the AC compressor at higher RPM's for more cooling. I never thought about that, but with my 2016 Honda CR-V with the CVT trany I can select S (sport) mode to make it stay in a lower ratio and the RPM's will stay noticeably higher (when moving). So from now on when I use it on a really hot day I will select ECO but also select S (which kinda defeats any fuel savings from ECO) to keep the RPM's up to make the AC compressor turn faster and pump faster until the cabin of the vehicle cools off enough. Of course there are pressure limits of the AC system that can cause the compressor to cycle off, but it is likely running higher RPM's will improve the performance of the AC. What really helps is getting the vehicle moving (like 35 MPH or more) to get more air across the condenser. Unfortunately with electric fans, increasing the RPM's will not increase the fan speed for when it is not moving fast.
Just something to pass along to other CR-V owners, and the trick of keeping in a lower gear to increase AC compressor RPM's might be good for many vehicles. Especially when you are trying to cool it off with initial use when you get in it and it has been sitting in the sun, and the interior temperature is very high.
I noticed a post here on BITOG that an owner of a Lexus said his vehicle will select a lower gear to keep the RPM's up to run the AC compressor at higher RPM's for more cooling. I never thought about that, but with my 2016 Honda CR-V with the CVT trany I can select S (sport) mode to make it stay in a lower ratio and the RPM's will stay noticeably higher (when moving). So from now on when I use it on a really hot day I will select ECO but also select S (which kinda defeats any fuel savings from ECO) to keep the RPM's up to make the AC compressor turn faster and pump faster until the cabin of the vehicle cools off enough. Of course there are pressure limits of the AC system that can cause the compressor to cycle off, but it is likely running higher RPM's will improve the performance of the AC. What really helps is getting the vehicle moving (like 35 MPH or more) to get more air across the condenser. Unfortunately with electric fans, increasing the RPM's will not increase the fan speed for when it is not moving fast.
Just something to pass along to other CR-V owners, and the trick of keeping in a lower gear to increase AC compressor RPM's might be good for many vehicles. Especially when you are trying to cool it off with initial use when you get in it and it has been sitting in the sun, and the interior temperature is very high.
Last edited: