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!

 

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.

 

Yeah, I didnt have it under WOT. However, I have noticed the A/C gets warmer under WOT. Good to know, thanks!!

 

been wondering about this:
Why does A/C need the engine to be running ?

 

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.

 

exactly what i was about to say, lol. Gotta pump the compressed freon. when it expands it gets really cold.

 

that's why we need IMA or 48V system - to drive the accessories and give us more HP

 

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...

 

why can't they just make a miniaturized, self-contained version like a home A/C ?

 

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.

 

Actually Dan, it has happenned to me that on a WOT run or two, the compressor would come on right at the wrong moment, say 6500RPM for example. The dip in power is really perceptible at that point, and I can't even attribute it to knock, unless it could do it even with 93.

 

Isn't R-12 illegal to use now since it deteriorates the ozone?

 

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.

 

Exactly.

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.

 

do any of you notice that the AC compressor makes a fairly load thump when it comes on?

 

 

Not running the A/C saves tons of gas! Recalculate your mileage in the winter

 

yup

 

All A/C compressors in cars & trucks make a thump when they come on. The reason bearing is your clutch hub or pulley is spinning freely with the normal drive belt (or accessory belt as some like to call it), when you command the car to turn on the a/c, the clutch simply energises a magnetic plate on your clutch and grabs on to the rotating pulley. Well when it's spinning that fast and you have something trying to touch or rather connect to it, obviously that impact when the magnet plate engages, it's gonna thump.

 

Good to know. I actually don't notice much if any difference in power and my Accord is heavier than the TSX.

 

I was wondering about this.

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.

 

Do you have the V6? Mine wasnt bad when I had the A/C on either.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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...

 

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

 

anyone going to do the mod to re-label AC to Boost? Don't forget to swap the on/off around

 

lol...you got me on that one...hehe.