<VV> A/C Usage Re: Corvair Miles

[Charles Fregeau]

There was some problem with the transition to 134, though.  I know a couple
cars that were 134 the first year I think they had 134 that eventually
leaked it all out even with the 'turn the AC on occasionally'.  Toyota
Corollas, at least from that era, did not turn on the AC automatically when
you turned on the defrosters.   I had a truck from another manufacturer that
did.  That was a piece of junk for a lot of reasons.  Bought it new, sold it
before I paid off the loan.

Charles Fregeau
Gee I miss my Tadpole (62 700 Club Coupe)

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Vairtec Corporation
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 11:24 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> A/C Usage Re: Corvair Miles

Frank, while your advice is sound for owners of older air-conditioned cars
such as a Corvair, in general what you suggest is not necessary for a more
modern car such as your Pontiac dustbuster van.  Reason:  The modern cars
cycle the A/C on with every use of the defroster, regardless of time of year
or outside temperature.  This provides the dual benefit of better defroster
performance AND exercise of the A/C system as you recommend.

There is certainly no harm in doing what you suggest on a newer car, and for
persons living where defroster use may be rare it remains a good idea.  But
for the great majority of car owners who, like my wife, would not know a
preventive maintenance step if it bit them on the ankle. the fact that the
defroster automatically engages the A/C goes a long way toward maintaining
A/C performance over the years.


On 9/17/2012 12:11 PM, FrankCB at aol.com wrote:
> JR and V Vers,
>      The way to keep your AC (in any car) operating is  to use it 
> periodically.  My 180 doesn't have AC, but the AC in my 95  TransSport 
> is still working after 17 years and almost 160,000 miles.  I try  to 
> run it at least 10 minutes even in relatively mild days in almost 
> EVERY  month of the year.  If it doesn't cool very much I add a can of 
> 134a to it,  lately I've had to add as much as 2 cans.  But if you 
> don't run it AT  ALL for many months the charge will gradually leak 
> out so much  that air will begin to leak IN (due to day/night temp.
changes) and dilute  the charge, whether it's R-12 or 134a.
> Once that happens the system needs  TOTAL evacuation to get the air 
> out and that requires a DEEP VACUUM machine  operation which costs 
> $$$$$ at an AC service station.  It's a lot  cheaper to run it 
> regularly and add a few dollars of 12 or 134a when the cooling  effect 
> starts to diminish.  That keeps the air out and, as we  know, AIR is a
rather poor refrigerant.<GGGG>
>      Frank "likes cooling" Burkhard
>   
>   


 _______________________________________________
This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are
the property of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
mailto:vv-help at corvair.org This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of
America, http://www.corvair.org/ Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
 _______________________________________________