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Switching on the air conditioner in our cars in summer is more important to us than driving the car. It is something we can’t live without. Just step into your car and you can immediately feel the heat inside the cabin. It is estimated that cabin temperatures are usually 3-4 degrees higher than the outside. This makes the car a sort of an oven on wheels. A car accessory such as the air conditioner comes to the rescue at such times. All car air conditioners are basically the same only that some have more dials and functions than others.
Here are some tips for getting the best out of your car air conditioner:
Ensure that a foam cover is provided on all sides of the radiator, condenser and between the exhaust manifold. This will help contain heat to a small area.
Before allowing passengers to board the car, it is best if the cabin temperature is brought down by rolling down a couple of windows and letting the hot air escape. While doing this, keep the AC circulation switch on ‘fresh’ mode to let fresh air into the cabin and allow it to be circulated through the air vents for a couple of minutes.
After you feel that the cabin temperature is equal to the outside temperature, only then switch on the AC.
AC consumes a lot of power and is known to affect the fuel efficiency of a car. AC is effectively used when the car is moving at good speeds. Driving slowly consumes more power and also heats the engine up. A problem of engine overheating could arise. This is definitely not recommended for summers.
While caught in a traffic jam or while ascending a hill, use a lower gear than usual. This will help maintain higher rpms and prevent overheating of the engine. This will enhance the performance of the AC.
Do not keep the AC switched into ‘frost’ mode all the time. This will build up a layer of icing in the evaporator. As a result of this, the AC’s blower speed is lowered and it doesn’t cool as well as it can.
It is always good to keep the AC switched into a ‘medium cold’ mode. This will allow the thermostat to indicate the formation of icing and in turn allow the compressor to automatically cut off frost levels.
An air conditioner has to be serviced before every summer so that all its parts and filters are clean and functioning well. Most importantly, ensure that the blowers are functioning properly. Take care of the AC and you will amazed to find out that your car cabin is kept cool throughout the summer