Why turn on the air conditioner in the car in winter
Content
The well-known purpose of an automobile air conditioner is to lower the interior temperature in the summer heat. However, there is a lot of controversy about its inclusion in the winter, and with different goals. Surprisingly, no consensus has yet been reached, apparently due to the non-obviousness of some processes in the climate system.
What happens if you turn on the air conditioner in the car in winter
If you turn on the air conditioning unit in frost, then the maximum that will happen is the indicator light on the button or near it. To many, this indicates the success of the attempt, the air conditioner has earned.
It is not taken into account that this indication only indicates the acceptance of the command by the control unit. He is not going to do it. Why so - you can understand from the most superficial consideration of the principle of operation and the device of an automobile air conditioner.
Its essence is the same as that of any other similar equipment or even a household refrigerator. A special substance - the refrigerant is pumped by the compressor into the radiator (condenser), where it is cooled by outside air, after which it enters the evaporator located in the passenger compartment through the throttle valve.
The gas passes first into the liquid phase, and then evaporates again, transferring heat. As a result, the evaporator is cooled, at the same time lowering the temperature of the cabin air pumped through it. In summer, everything is clear here and there are no questions.
In winter it's more difficult. According to the pressure used, the system is designed in such a way that it is gas that enters the compressor inlet from the evaporator. But if the temperature drops to such an extent that this gas passes into a liquid phase, then the compressor will most likely fail. Therefore, the system provides protection against switching on at low temperatures. Usually by pressure, since it also falls under such conditions.
The situation is tantamount to a lack of refrigerant, the compressor will not turn on. Its shaft most often does not rotate constantly, but is driven through an electromagnetic clutch, the control unit of which will read the readings of the sensors and refuse to give a turn-on signal. Pressing the button by the driver will be ignored.
All this happens at external temperatures around zero degrees. Different car companies indicate a spread from minus to plus five degrees.
Even if some ancient air conditioner allows forced activation from the button, nothing good will come of it. In the best case, the evaporator will freeze and air will not be able to pass through it.
Recommendations for use in winter
However, turning on the air conditioner in winter is sometimes necessary. This is due to the factors of maintaining it in good condition, and it is also a good way to dry the air and remove excess moisture from the cabin.
- In addition to the refrigerant, the system contains a certain amount of lubricant. It protects parts from wear, internal corrosion and performs a number of other functions. With a long, simple oil accumulates uselessly in the lower sections of the highways and does not work. Periodically, it must be overclocked throughout the system. At least for a few minutes once or twice a month.
- Cold air does not hold moisture well. It falls in the form of dew and frost, obstructing visibility and disrupting the operation of electronic devices. If you force it to fall out on the evaporator, and then drain into the drain, the air will become dry, and you can warm it up by driving it through the heater radiator.
- You can make the air conditioner turn on only by raising the temperature of the refrigerant, that is, by placing the car in a warm room, for example, a garage box or a car wash. As an option, just warm it up in the parking lot in relatively warm weather. For example, in autumn. So you can quickly and effectively dry the interior.
- In modern cars, a similar function is performed automatically when the engine is started with the climate system turned on. The machine itself monitors the safety of the equipment. If this is provided for in a particular car, you should not try to turn it off for economic purposes. Repair of compressor equipment will cost more.
What kind of breakdowns of the air conditioning system can be encountered in the cold
Lubrication deficiency and other congestion are fraught with problems:
- a compressor without lubrication will get wear and tear on friction surfaces;
- sealing rings at the joints of pipelines will lose their tightness;
- rubber hoses of high and low pressure will be prone to cracking;
- thin tubes can corrode through, even aluminum does not save;
- valves become covered with ulcers on ground surfaces and can no longer work normally;
- the electromagnetic clutch turns sour and fails;
- mold begins to grow on the surface of the evaporator and colonies of bacteria grow, which causes an unpleasant smell in the cabin.
It is worth reading the instructions for the car, where specific recommendations are given or the presence of an automatic mode is indicated.
How does air conditioning affect a car's fuel economy?
If we talk about preventive measures for short-term switching on, then the consumption will increase extremely slightly, and during dehumidification it will be exactly the same as during the operation of the system in summer. That is, for comfort, you will have to overpay some inconspicuous amount, but if this is normally perceived in the heat, then in winter, the more savings are not justified. Moisture, when it falls on electronics and metal parts, will cause trouble for much more significant money.
The heater helps in this matter much less. It raises the temperature by dissolving moisture in the air, but cannot remove it from the car. When the air conditioner and the stove work together, the process goes faster, and the water does not return back.
It is only necessary to ensure that both systems work simultaneously, and in the mode of intra-cabin circulation. So the water will be painlessly removed through the regular evaporator drainage, and the heating function will be performed by the heater radiator, the air conditioner can only reduce the temperature.
