Happy sunday everyone! I heard this from my neighbor, he's an old know-it-all who doles out free advice all day, some of it good, most of it wrong. Anyways, he comes over to tell me that its not good to start the AC on the car immediately after starting the car, he said its better to turn on the AC after a few minutes, after the car has warmed up. Any truth to this?
When to turn on car AC?
- Thread starter FirstNissan
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maybe in the old days when the carburator warmed up and the a/c was turned on and kicked the solenoid up at the correct operating temprature?
I actually wait about 15 seconds just to let the engine get oil flowing and "stabilize".
No reason for it.. just one of those weird things I do
I actually wait about 15 seconds just to let the engine get oil flowing and "stabilize".
No reason for it.. just one of those weird things I do
I'd say that falls into the "most of it dumb" category.
I never wait to run the A/C and its never given me a problem.
I never wait to run the A/C and its never given me a problem.
If I start my car, the A/C is generally on, and I don't worry about it. I also drive off within 10 seconds of starting it usually.
Go ahead and use it immediately.
Let him sweat for no good reason in his cars.
Let him sweat for no good reason in his cars.
JHZR2
Staff member
My father always turns off ALL accessories, thinking that there is lower draw on the battery if all this stuff isnt energized while starting up... But he doesnt wait to run it after starting.
That may hold some similar old time wisdom basis, from when electrical systems were weaker???
I generally start up the AC right away.
That may hold some similar old time wisdom basis, from when electrical systems were weaker???
I generally start up the AC right away.
In older cars, starting the car with the AC already turned on puts more strain on the starter. But starting the AC after the car is turned on is fine.
In newer cars the compressor doesn't turn on right away when starting so it's not an issue.
In newer cars the compressor doesn't turn on right away when starting so it's not an issue.
I wouldn't say its bad advice because technically, the old man is right but at the end of the day, the car should be serving us, not the other way around. The faster the AC starts, the faster the interior will cool off, the less you'll sweat.
Now let's get technical... The AC compressor cycles on a off via a clutch. The insides of a compressor is much like an engine, with pistons that go up and down to make pressure.
If you start the AC right after starting the engine, with a high idle of say, 1,600rpm as an example, the AC compressor starts right away at those rpm. No warm up time. Instant ON.
I could see the internals wearing out a bit faster vs say switching on the AC when the idle is at 750rpm. So there is some truth to this "myth" in regards to longer AC life.
Now if the old man was refering to supposedly trying to help the engine in some shape or form then he's a fool. The extra load from the compressor isn't hurting a thing and in fact, with the radiator fans blowing, the engine actually warms up faster vs just idling there with no hot air blowing at the block from the AC condensor.
Having said that, my 98 Toyota Camry v6 with 207,000 miles has had the AC on each and everytime the engine was started for the past 12 years. Blows ice cold. I constantly have to turn it down so the vents down freeze
Original everything.
Just my
Run your AC for "forget about it"
Now let's get technical... The AC compressor cycles on a off via a clutch. The insides of a compressor is much like an engine, with pistons that go up and down to make pressure.
If you start the AC right after starting the engine, with a high idle of say, 1,600rpm as an example, the AC compressor starts right away at those rpm. No warm up time. Instant ON.
I could see the internals wearing out a bit faster vs say switching on the AC when the idle is at 750rpm. So there is some truth to this "myth" in regards to longer AC life.
Now if the old man was refering to supposedly trying to help the engine in some shape or form then he's a fool. The extra load from the compressor isn't hurting a thing and in fact, with the radiator fans blowing, the engine actually warms up faster vs just idling there with no hot air blowing at the block from the AC condensor.
Having said that, my 98 Toyota Camry v6 with 207,000 miles has had the AC on each and everytime the engine was started for the past 12 years. Blows ice cold. I constantly have to turn it down so the vents down freeze
Just my
Run your AC for "forget about it"
In modern cars I never turn mine off in warm weather. Newer cars are smart enough to control it and do no harm on their own.
One exception would be if you have a mildew problem in your AC, but then you turn it off a few minutes before you stop so some of the moisture will go away.
One exception would be if you have a mildew problem in your AC, but then you turn it off a few minutes before you stop so some of the moisture will go away.
Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Happy sunday everyone! I heard this from my neighbor, he's an old know-it-all who doles out free advice all day, some of it good, most of it wrong. Anyways, he comes over to tell me that its not good to start the AC on the car immediately after starting the car, he said its better to turn on the AC after a few minutes, after the car has warmed up. Any truth to this?
No truth at all. Even in the old days, it didn't hurt a thing to turn on the A/C as soon as the oil pressure is up. Heck, I put 400k miles on a car and in the summer the A/C switch never went to the "off" position, the compressor clutch engaged as soon as I let go of the key when I started it. These days, the compressor is controlled by the engine management system and usually doesn't kick on for 5-10 seconds anyway.
Happy sunday everyone! I heard this from my neighbor, he's an old know-it-all who doles out free advice all day, some of it good, most of it wrong. Anyways, he comes over to tell me that its not good to start the AC on the car immediately after starting the car, he said its better to turn on the AC after a few minutes, after the car has warmed up. Any truth to this?
No truth at all. Even in the old days, it didn't hurt a thing to turn on the A/C as soon as the oil pressure is up. Heck, I put 400k miles on a car and in the summer the A/C switch never went to the "off" position, the compressor clutch engaged as soon as I let go of the key when I started it. These days, the compressor is controlled by the engine management system and usually doesn't kick on for 5-10 seconds anyway.
Originally Posted By: Artem
I wouldn't say its bad advice because technically, the old man is right but at the end of the day, the car should be serving us, not the other way around. The faster the AC starts, the faster the interior will cool off, the less you'll sweat.
Now let's get technical... The AC compressor cycles on a off via a clutch. The insides of a compressor is much like an engine, with pistons that go up and down to make pressure.
If you start the AC right after starting the engine, with a high idle of say, 1,600rpm as an example, the AC compressor starts right away at those rpm. No warm up time. Instant ON.
I could see the internals wearing out a bit faster vs say switching on the AC when the idle is at 750rpm. So there is some truth to this "myth" in regards to longer AC life.
Now if the old man was refering to supposedly trying to help the engine in some shape or form then he's a fool. The extra load from the compressor isn't hurting a thing and in fact, with the radiator fans blowing, the engine actually warms up faster vs just idling there with no hot air blowing at the block from the AC condensor.
Having said that, my 98 Toyota Camry v6 with 207,000 miles has had the AC on each and everytime the engine was started for the past 12 years. Blows ice cold. I constantly have to turn it down so the vents down freeze
Original everything.
Just my
Run your AC for "forget about it"
Not as many compressors use reciprocating piston designs anymore, most are either centrifugal or scroll-type these days, from what I've read.
I wouldn't say its bad advice because technically, the old man is right but at the end of the day, the car should be serving us, not the other way around. The faster the AC starts, the faster the interior will cool off, the less you'll sweat.
Now let's get technical... The AC compressor cycles on a off via a clutch. The insides of a compressor is much like an engine, with pistons that go up and down to make pressure.
If you start the AC right after starting the engine, with a high idle of say, 1,600rpm as an example, the AC compressor starts right away at those rpm. No warm up time. Instant ON.
I could see the internals wearing out a bit faster vs say switching on the AC when the idle is at 750rpm. So there is some truth to this "myth" in regards to longer AC life.
Now if the old man was refering to supposedly trying to help the engine in some shape or form then he's a fool. The extra load from the compressor isn't hurting a thing and in fact, with the radiator fans blowing, the engine actually warms up faster vs just idling there with no hot air blowing at the block from the AC condensor.
Having said that, my 98 Toyota Camry v6 with 207,000 miles has had the AC on each and everytime the engine was started for the past 12 years. Blows ice cold. I constantly have to turn it down so the vents down freeze
Just my
Run your AC for "forget about it"
Not as many compressors use reciprocating piston designs anymore, most are either centrifugal or scroll-type these days, from what I've read.
Originally Posted By: XS650
In modern cars I never turn mine off in warm weather. Newer cars are smart enough to control it and do no harm on their own.
One exception would be if you have a mildew problem in your AC, but then you turn it off a few minutes before you stop so some of the moisture will go away.
Some GM cars have an "after run module" that turns the blower on periodically once the car is turned off.
In modern cars I never turn mine off in warm weather. Newer cars are smart enough to control it and do no harm on their own.
One exception would be if you have a mildew problem in your AC, but then you turn it off a few minutes before you stop so some of the moisture will go away.
Some GM cars have an "after run module" that turns the blower on periodically once the car is turned off.
Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
... who doles out free advice all day, some of it good, most of it wrong.
Why not just ask him why he thinks that.
... who doles out free advice all day, some of it good, most of it wrong.
Why not just ask him why he thinks that.
Most of the new bmws don't even have clutches on the compressor..they vary the output of the compressor based on demand...even when your ac is turned off the compressor is still working a little bit just to keep the oil flowing thru the system
My A/Cs are always on 365 days a year. 1996 and 2006 Toyotas and 2002 and 2010 Fords. And the same with the cars before that. I would have to say the starter draw would declutch the compressor?
I've never seen a car that the AC clutch was wired into the ignition switch start position, old or new. From my experience, if you use the AC anytime the engine is running you won't have a mildew problem.
Originally Posted By: Steve S
My A/Cs are always on 365 days a year. 1996 and 2006 Toyotas and 2002 and 2010 Fords. And the same with the cars before that. I would have to say the starter draw would declutch the compressor?
Same here..We have not shut off the a/c in any of cars since we brought them home from the dealer..We have been doing that since the early 70's.
It always seems the people who keep shutting it off and turning it back on again have alot more issues then the people who just set and forget it.
My A/Cs are always on 365 days a year. 1996 and 2006 Toyotas and 2002 and 2010 Fords. And the same with the cars before that. I would have to say the starter draw would declutch the compressor?
Same here..We have not shut off the a/c in any of cars since we brought them home from the dealer..We have been doing that since the early 70's.
It always seems the people who keep shutting it off and turning it back on again have alot more issues then the people who just set and forget it.
why the suddenchange in the fleet? Did someone in the family just start working for GM or did you hit 5 out of 6 numbers in the lottery?
11' Chevy Equinox LTZ 3.0V6/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Mine) 1.4T/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Dad's) 1.4T/ <100mi (FF)
11' Chevy Equinox LTZ 3.0V6/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Mine) 1.4T/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Dad's) 1.4T/ <100mi (FF)
Originally Posted By: steve20
why the suddenchange in the fleet? Did someone in the family just start working for GM or did you hit 5 out of 6 numbers in the lottery?
11' Chevy Equinox LTZ 3.0V6/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Mine) 1.4T/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Dad's) 1.4T/ div>
General & Off Topic >>>> Vehicles >>>> The New Fleet >>> ????? >>>> PROFIT!
why the suddenchange in the fleet? Did someone in the family just start working for GM or did you hit 5 out of 6 numbers in the lottery?
11' Chevy Equinox LTZ 3.0V6/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Mine) 1.4T/ 11' Chevy Cruze LT (Dad's) 1.4T/ div>
General & Off Topic >>>> Vehicles >>>> The New Fleet >>> ????? >>>> PROFIT!
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