What are the possible advantages of not recirculating? The only thing I can think of is if someone farts in the car.

 

CLASSIC!!!! Good one!!!!

 

advantages of not recirculating is getting fresh air from the outside without having to open the windows? also, doesn't it get rid of the condensation?

 

the condensation may be a benefit. although I've noticed when I have the AUTO setting on and I set it below 65F, the Recirc comes on automatically, leading me to assume that the AC system operates more effectively with the Recirc on.

 

i have the same prob. i just turn it off.
i think you should unrecir. from time to time. i heard that if you don't, moisture will build up and make the car smell really bad. i don't know if its true though.

 

Using the recirculation button leads to cooler air, however it promotes the growth of mold in you air con system. Try not to use it if possible.

 

Without farting present, the air in my old Accord used to smell funny when I selected recirculation. I think the design was to start a/c with fresh air for a bit, and then once cold, to change to recirculated air. That's how I run the a/c in my house, for example, rather than run the a/c all the time and run up electric bills. In my house, I leave the a/c-heater fan on once the temperature is comfortable. The old air is sucked back in through the filter, passes through the already cold (nearly freezing) coils, and routed back to each room through the ducts.

Like my house, the TSX has an air filter, correct? So, shouldn't all air--fresh or recirculated--going to be filtered anyway? I don't have my TSX yet, so perhaps someone else can run the fart test.

The advantage of recirculated air in the car is that the a/c doesn't have to work so hard--I guess. Recirculated air is more efficient. Until someone runs the fart test, it's logical that filtered recirculated air is even better.

 

BTW I've been wondering about the AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM. Yes, the TSX has one. Supposedly it's designed to filter air that comes in from the outside.

What I'm wondering is if it filters air from WITHIN the car, too. Like, if animal hairs get in there (relevant for me because of allergies), and if you have the windows closed and A/C on, does the inside air get filtered???

(If you can answer this one, damn you're good!)

P.S. (edit) This is amazing. Brad and I thought of the air filter thing at the same time.
I actually started this post before his showed up -- then imagine my surprise.

 

I think this is how it works, when you set the temperature to much lower than outside, the computer automatically shuts off vent so that the colder air inside the car can be reuse, and therefore cools down the car faster.

 

hmm, didn't know that the recirculate may cause mold. I always use recirculate, but I never turn of the fan, so I figured that would keep the mold from growing.

 

Using Recirculated air can cause mold, but if you turn the A/C off 30+ seconds before you turn off the car, you can usually prevent it from building.

 

Thanks -- this was even worth getting off the "Nav" thread for!

BTW: Do you know where you heard/read this?

 

Sorry, I don't know exactly where I read this, but this has happened to every car I've owned. What happens is that I get this very foul-smelling air coming out of my vents, and I have no idea where it came from or how to get rid of it.

I got sick of it one day and looked it up on deja news (now groups.google.com). Look it up if you like -- There are lots of discussions about it. Anyway, I tried the "turn off the A/C 30 seconds before" suggestion and it worked great. I haven't had the problem since.

Some people never run into this, because their A/C use habits differ from mine (some don't use recirc, some people just roll down windows, etc). Plus, it seems lots of people turn off their A/C before shutting down anyway because they believe that starting the car with the A/C on causes excess strain on the starter (which I don't believe is true for modern cars, but better safe than sorry I guess).

 

Every car I've had with automatic climate control works just the opposite. It starts with recirculated air to cool the car down as quickly as possible, then switches to bringing in fresh air. If you drive for 1/2 hour or so with the air recirculating and then turn it off, you will immediately be able to tell the difference. Unless you're in the middle of an air pollution pocket, you will smell the fresh air, and it is indeed re-fresh-ing.

BTW, larch, don't you think recirculate has way too many syllables? Seems like it oughta work just fine as recirc? Or even circ?

 

I'd go for "reece." (Gerund form -- "Reecing.")

 

hmmmm. What would the hortatory subjunctive be?

 

Dunno. But it wouldn't be "scrod."

 

Here's what my 95 Civic manual says: Use the recirc when you first start the A/C to cool down the car quickly. Once it reaches a comfortable temperature, switch it to "fresh air". When using the defroster (or defogger...can't remember the difference, but its the one for the front windshield), always use the "fresh air" setting. Also, using the heater should be on "fresh air"

 

That's it. I had it reversed. Thanks for clarifying that.