Grandmaster Flatcap Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Chaps, opinions please... I know that running air con uses a little fuel / power, but a friend has said that it should be left running all the time as it prevents the seals ni the system degrading and therefore prevents leaks or lose of coolant. Is he correct? ait con always on or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Yes and no. I had climate control in the Audi and left it on all the time as I had it set at 20 degrees. Normal air con, as in the Golf, I switch on at least once a week for at least 10 minutes just to lubricate the seals. The gas contains a lubricant and needs pumping round on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Yes - the gas contains a lubricant that keeps the seals alive. Leave it on all year round - just vary the temperature according to the time of year. As a minimum, run it for 15 minutes each week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 21, 2012 Member Share Posted August 21, 2012 It used to use a lot of power, but maybe I'm out of date... anyone know the power consumption of current systems? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I'm disappointed Jonathan, I thought you knew how to Google *tongue* FWIW - most of the later climate control systems (and certainly VAG cars from roughly 2003 onwards) don't actually turn 'off' when you select 'Econ' or whatever but they run at 5% (IIRC) to continue circulating the refrigerant for lubrication purposes to stop the seals drying out as they did on older less sophisticated systems... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 21, 2012 Member Share Posted August 21, 2012 :-) So far I've only found data before 2010 and from the USA... Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 our Google Guru is slipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I have fond memories of a lease car I had 15 years or so ago in Southern Cyprus. The import-duty on cars was (is?) massive back then - something like 175% on new cars - so a Toyota Corolla was actually pretty impressive as a company car for a graduate. To save money, the lease company fitted aftermarket a/c units - and these were obviously not terribly sophisticated or efficient. Certainly not on a 1.3 litre engine anyway! The on/off button on mine was fitted dead-ahead of the gear lever - which was perfect as you just needed to extend a digit at the same time as dropping from 4th to 3rd for an overtake. (Pretty sure it was only a four-speed too...) The power-sap was impressive. You actually got a noticeable jolt of extra acceleration when you turned it off! I referred to it as the Turbo Button as a result... 😬 Oh, happy days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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