it is normal for the TSX to feel very slow with the AC on? i know it should be slower because of the extra work that the car handle, but it can't be that slow. everytime i have the AC on in my car it feels like my driving a Civic. yes, its that noticable slow... can you guys feel and hear the compressor kick in, cause i can with my car.

 

Well, when your A/C is on, its probably pretty hot outside too. The really hot air plus the A/C will both work against you.

 

I don't notice much if any performance difference with the AC on.

 

the reason i'm asking is because my brother has an 02 RSX Auto and i drive his car with the AC on and i don't feel that the car lost that much power. i did drive both cars back to back to see the differences. i know the RSX is lighter but it has 160 horses compare to the TSXs 200. my friend drove my car several times before and yesterday when he drove it with the AC on, he said that my car is much slower compared to other times he drove it.

 

you clearly haven't driven a civic in a while then...

it is slightly slower with the a/c on then not, but i'm sure the difference isn't that huge, barely noticable, but definitely not as slow as a civic, or even close...

 

Well, it all depends what kind of civic we are talking about.

 

this is true... but i wouldn't call the 200hp si slow... so i'm assuming he meant the good old 127 or the new 140 hp civics... could be my bad on this one...

 

I can definitely tell that the a/c takes away power on my car.

Do you have any mods bngu1?

 

yes, that's what i'm referring to an 05 civic ex to be exact.

 

no mods... stock to the bone

 

anyone in here live in a high elevation area that you can feel the car losses power when you're in higher elevation?? i bought my TSX in Minnesota and now i'm moved back to Colorado and evertime i go to the mountain i feel my car losses alot of power. usually i'm on 6th gear cruising at 55 or higher, but when i'm going to the mountain i have to be in 5th gear and 4th gear if i want to pass and the car doesn't feel as fast as it usaully is also. my friend has an 03 accord who lives in California and he said he feels the same thing when he drove out here to visit.

 

i think it just feels slow when you compare it to your car without the a/c on... i know that a/c robs power, i read somewhere a while ago, an estimation of how much power the a/c robs your car of on certain models of cars.. .i'll see if i can dig it up somewhere again... it was an interesting read...

i think the late VTEC (6000 rpm) on the TSX might not help this issue either, my civic was 5,200 i believe or maybe 5,500...it's sad that i can't remember back a few months (I must be getting old)

 

The A/C does sap some power from the car, especially in the low RPMs where the TSX isn't all that strong to begin with. But, comparing it to a run-of-the-mill Civic? Puh-lees.

 

that happens with all cars, because air is less dense at higher elevations

 

^^^ I agree.

 

An older swashplate compressor (like a Sanden) can draw up to 8hp from the engine, depending on the ratio of the pulleys. I'm not sure if the TSX uses a radial type or a swashplate design, however the swashplate is generally more efficient than a radial design.

The compressor clutch on my TSX is also quite loud when it engages, and often times I can hear the clutch slip momentarily when it kicks on the for the first time in a while. This is normal for the most part.

Based on experience, the TSX uses a compressor with average efficiency. It isn't an energy hog, but it definitely isn't anything to write home about. While the impact in horsepower isn't too bad, the compressor adds a fair bit of inertia to the engine--like bolting on a flywheel that is extra heavy while revving up, and extra light when revving down.

 

I was following bunch of TL's and an RSX during a cruise up here a few weeks ago and had the AC on. When the boys hit the gas I felt like I was in ford fiesta trying to keep up with them. I kept stomping the pedal like it was gonna help or something.

 

Hey Kenny - Can you feel a difference when the boost from your SC hits, or does the boost feel the same with or W/O AC on?

 

It was 100 out today in NJ and the car deff didnt move as good with the AC on today. But id rather have the car go slower then sweating.

 

Like someone said, when AC is on then it's Hot. Hot air rape alot of HP/Torque. I did realize this after my last oil-change. I put in some quality Motul Synetic Oil, and hopes I can feel some differences (compare to Acura oil). However the temps went up to 30C and my car got so sluggish, I got TONS of question mark in my head. Later around mid-night, the temp drops to 20C, and I swear, I'm not lying. But my car picks up so much faster and it flys.

I'm j/k, it didn't fly but it's so much responsive.

 

Usually during the day when it is hot out, my car feels ultra slow and sluggish. I have to mash the pedal to move.. With the supercharger, the car doesn't feel sluggish to me even with the A/C on. It was almost 100 degrees today and i was pumping the A/C and taking off.

 

That wasn't your air conditioner. It was the fact that a TL has 1/3 more displacement and an RSX 1/5 less weight than we do.

 

AC on + 5spd auto = civic :p

 

When you stomp the gas the AC cuts off so it’s not the AC holding you back at WOT. I’m new to the TSX but I would assume that any engine capable of 7k RPM would also cut out the AC at some point to protect the compressor. So again, if you are pushing it hard the AC is cut off.

The AC does lower MPG in all cases. The hooter it gets outside the more the AC pump is engaged and the lower your MPG. The most efficient mode for AC is in recirculation mode.

jeff

 

Unfortunately, my TSX's climate control system seems indifferent to what the engine is doing. I've felt the A/C kick on one time while accelerating hard at higher RPM.

It is unlikely the A/C takes any more than 8 hp at redline. That's only a small percentage of the engine's total power at that speed.

 

The only thing I notice is that I have to put more gas when going from a standstill (manual transmission). If I drive it as if the a/c's off, then I'll lug the engine.

Otherwise, I can still drive aggressively

 

Nice thread title

 

Weight is one of the matter..... 40 horses doesn't make too much diff in low end.... even for torque is only 20lbs-ft of the diff b/w the TSX and the RSX.. I am not surprise if a lighter car can go faster even if the horse and torque is slightly lower.

Sorry... I did not pay enough attention... are you comparing a stick RSX and a stick TSX? or a stick on to an Auto one??

 

i'm comparing a base automatic RSX and my 6sp TSX. well my car is at the dealer right now and they said that everything look ok. i also get that cluctch clicking so they will replace the clutch pedal so i can pick it up till tomorrow.

 

O i see..... I hope whatever the dealer is doing now will help.

 

Are you sure that RSX doesn't have hondata or somthing? Because base-auto RSX is dirt slow..115whp 17.1 quarter mile slow'ness...

 

RSX auto is def. slowe rthan TSX ....
i don't feel much difference between AC on and off

 

RSX is stock to the bone also. that's why i ask this question to see if anyone else has the same problem.

 

I wouldn't say a civic, but when the AC is on , there is definitely a notice in power loss o_o.