Holy Crap turning off the A/C really does help performance!!
08-07-2005, 01:12 PM
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Holy Crap turning off the A/C really does help performance!!
Of course, living in Arizona I've been using my A/C non stop since I got my car about a month ago.
Well, I was running low (really really low) on gas so I shut off the A/C (I know this doesnt do much, but it made me feel better). I went to get on the freeway and the car just pulled so much faster and smoother onto the ramp. I was very surprised.
Im coming from a Jetta 1.8t and I figured the that car would lose the most power from the A/C being on. Compared to the TSX, they are actually a lot closer in the power loss department then I ever thought before. So now Im really looking forward to the winter time so I can turn off my A/C more!
Well, I was running low (really really low) on gas so I shut off the A/C (I know this doesnt do much, but it made me feel better). I went to get on the freeway and the car just pulled so much faster and smoother onto the ramp. I was very surprised.
Im coming from a Jetta 1.8t and I figured the that car would lose the most power from the A/C being on. Compared to the TSX, they are actually a lot closer in the power loss department then I ever thought before. So now Im really looking forward to the winter time so I can turn off my A/C more!
08-07-2005, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Martin
The AC has a clutch that disengages it at WOT. You probably will feel a difference with the AC turned off at partial throttle but not at WOT.
08-07-2005, 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by matelot
been wondering about this:
Why does A/C need the engine to be running ?
Why does A/C need the engine to be running ?
Unless you had an electric motor for the AC you would be out of luck, and the electric motor would require a lot from the alternator.
08-07-2005, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by MrChad
I doesn't but how do you plan to circulate water through the heatercore or run the AC compressor to pump the R12.
Unless you had an electric motor for the AC you would be out of luck, and the electric motor would require a lot from the alternator.
Unless you had an electric motor for the AC you would be out of luck, and the electric motor would require a lot from the alternator.
08-07-2005, 01:46 PM
#7
She said: it's GINORMOUS!
Originally Posted by MrChad
Unless you had an electric motor for the AC you would be out of luck, and the electric motor would require a lot from the alternator.
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08-07-2005, 02:06 PM
#8
Originally Posted by Superb0o
Gotta pump the compressed freon.
"Freon" is dupoint's brand name for R-12. If you want the dupoint name for R-134a which in all vehicles after 1995, it's called "Suva"...just in case a Jeopardy question ever pops up with that answer...
08-07-2005, 02:14 PM
#10
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It would still need quite a bit of power to opperate, which would then require a bigger alternator, which then leads to less power all the time. The conventional belt-driven compressors are pretty efficient.
08-09-2005, 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Martin
The AC has a clutch that disengages it at WOT. You probably will feel a difference with the AC turned off at partial throttle but not at WOT.
08-09-2005, 10:20 PM
#12
Drifting
Originally Posted by goddsmack
Uh...refrigerant
"Freon" is dupoint's brand name for R-12. If you want the dupoint name for R-134a which in all vehicles after 1995, it's called "Suva"...just in case a Jeopardy question ever pops up with that answer...
"Freon" is dupoint's brand name for R-12. If you want the dupoint name for R-134a which in all vehicles after 1995, it's called "Suva"...just in case a Jeopardy question ever pops up with that answer...
08-09-2005, 10:20 PM
#13
Drifting
Oh, btw... it actually makes quite a difference in our TSX's. I'm sure in a big 400HP v8 it may not make that big of a difference. But in ours you can actually feel it.
08-10-2005, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by matelot
why can't they just make a miniaturized, self-contained version like a home A/C ?
Originally Posted by Dan Martin
It would still need quite a bit of power to opperate, which would then require a bigger alternator, which then leads to less power all the time. The conventional belt-driven compressors are pretty efficient.
Besides, you'd be amazed at the BTU's reguired to cool a car with it's constant heat load from all the windows creating basically a glass bubble in the sun. It rivals that of a larger home window a/c unit. A comparable home unit pulls quit a bit of electricity to run the compressor and the (minimum) 2 fans. That's why running the compressor off the engine rotation works so well - basically better than half your refrigeration requirements are taken care of right there. The rest involves an electrically easy to spin fan to pull air over the condensor coil at the radiator (usually for when the car is not moving), and another easy to spin blower to push air over the cool evaporator coil under the dash board that then cools the inside of the car.
08-11-2005, 08:45 AM
#17
Originally Posted by Ontilt
Well, I was running low (really really low) on gas so I shut off the A/C (I know this doesnt do much, but it made me feel better).
08-11-2005, 10:15 PM
#19
Originally Posted by slats
do any of you notice that the AC compressor makes a fairly load thump when it comes on?
08-11-2005, 11:52 PM
#21
Drives With Hands
Originally Posted by Dan Martin
The AC has a clutch that disengages it at WOT. You probably will feel a difference with the AC turned off at partial throttle but not at WOT.
Does the compressor cycle even with the A/C off, to keep the evaporating coils cold? If so it might be beneficial to pull the A/C fuse for auto-x events and such.
08-12-2005, 12:04 AM
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Originally Posted by slats
Good to know. I actually don't notice much if any difference in power and my Accord is heavier than the TSX.
08-12-2005, 11:08 AM
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Think it makes a big difference in the TSX, you should see the difference it made in my Sentra. The car had like 90WHP and turning off the A/C was like adding a "turbo" button to the car.
I don't know about the TSX but the Sentra had an underdrive pulley set that you could buy that reduced the sizes of the pulleys. They were from unorthodox racing and would significantly reduce the A/C lag.
I don't know about the TSX but the Sentra had an underdrive pulley set that you could buy that reduced the sizes of the pulleys. They were from unorthodox racing and would significantly reduce the A/C lag.
08-12-2005, 11:28 AM
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When my 1.6L Civic needs that extra uuummmpphh off the line (or going up a long hill) I call for "turbo boost" and my wife turns of the A/C. 
I would expect that any 4 cylinder car is going to suffer with the A/C running -- albeit to varying degrees depending on engine displacement and the vehicle's weight.
I would expect that any 4 cylinder car is going to suffer with the A/C running -- albeit to varying degrees depending on engine displacement and the vehicle's weight.
08-12-2005, 12:51 PM
#25
Overlord
Originally Posted by goddsmack
Uh...refrigerant
"Freon" is dupoint's brand name for R-12. If you want the dupoint name for R-134a which in all vehicles after 1995, it's called "Suva"...just in case a Jeopardy question ever pops up with that answer...
"Freon" is dupoint's brand name for R-12. If you want the dupoint name for R-134a which in all vehicles after 1995, it's called "Suva"...just in case a Jeopardy question ever pops up with that answer...
"DuPont" is DuPont's brand name for DuPont. If you want the dupoint name for DuPont you'll have to ask dupoint what the heck dupoint is... just in case a Jeopardy question ever asks you to spell "DuPont."
Sorry... couldn't resist...
08-12-2005, 04:48 PM
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i dont use A/C that much, however I actually find the TSX to be pretty good when it comes to A/C on (HVAC=AUTO) and mileage. Ya mileage drops a little bit, but really not too bad at all
08-12-2005, 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by STL
When my 1.6L Civic needs that extra uuummmpphh off the line (or going up a long hill) I call for "turbo boost" and my wife turns of the A/C. I would expect that any 4 cylinder car is going to suffer with the A/C running -- albeit to varying degrees depending on engine displacement and the vehicle's weight.
I would expect that any 4 cylinder car is going to suffer with the A/C running -- albeit to varying degrees depending on engine displacement and the vehicle's weight.
anyone going to do the mod to re-label AC to Boost? Don't forget to swap the on/off around
08-13-2005, 12:54 AM
#28
Originally Posted by Beoshingus
Uh...DuPont
"DuPont" is DuPont's brand name for DuPont. If you want the dupoint name for DuPont you'll have to ask dupoint what the heck dupoint is... just in case a Jeopardy question ever asks you to spell "DuPont."
Sorry... couldn't resist...
"DuPont" is DuPont's brand name for DuPont. If you want the dupoint name for DuPont you'll have to ask dupoint what the heck dupoint is... just in case a Jeopardy question ever asks you to spell "DuPont."
Sorry... couldn't resist...
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