anyone know what the whp loss is when the a/c is on? ive heard from people on the board that the fan disengages at WOT and some that it doesnt. ive also heard from people a general rule of 10 whp. does anyone have any better info for me? thx.

 

Someone with a Helms manual can confirm it, but my understanding is the A/C compressor shuts off at WOT. As for the HP loss, my old boss pointed out an interesting thing: The fan belts in a car won't handle much more than 5 HP, so you be the judge.

I know there is a noticeable difference cruising with and without the A/C on, but then, consider at cruise around town the engine's putting out maybe 30 HP. 5HP would be 17% of the HP.

 

You lose more hp with your windows down (drag) vs. the A/C on. From what I understand, the compressor does cut off under WOT.

 

In most new cars today, while in WOT your car will still blow air but there will be no A/C. You can test this yourself, put your air on 60 full auto and then floor it, while going through the gears feel the vent and it should be just warm air, assuming you are in warm weather.

 

yeah, if you look at that insanly long faq page about our cars (which i forgot the link for) it states that, like eveyrone says, the compresser shuts off during WOT

 

I thought it shut off above a certain engine RPM? Wouldn't that signal be easier for the engine to determine than WOT? I guess the TPS could tell this... Maybe I should , I think I saw it in there somewhere... I just think it makes more sense to shut it off above an engine speed instead of WOT. Going up a hill for instance... downshift to bring the revs up and the A/C goes off, instead of having to floor it.

 

My buddy who races and tunes Honda's told me that when A/C is on 17% of the power is lost.

 

17% of what power? 17% of 100HP, 500HP?

 

On this car, not really noticable unless it's very hot, & humid. The trucks I used to have were dogs. The AC killed them in the summer.

 

17% of your current output HP, doesn't matter whether its 100HP or 500HP they still rate it at 17% loss.

 

17% loss is a lot in my opinion. That's almost one fifth.

 

Honda 4cyl's? or 6? That loss seems high for a 6cyl.