Originally Posted by
mohammad
Assuming you had the digital temperature control thingy(I dont even have A/C) wouldn't changing from fresh to recirculate or choosing a warmer temperature result in the compressor cycling on less often and/or for shorter periods of time as it needs to do less work to cool the already somewhat cool air?
mohammad - No, I don't believe so. Maybe on more expensiver cars, it might do that. I think my Lexus LS 460L does something to that effect.
But on the Mirage, I believe changing to fresh only opens a door to let outside air in. Nothing more complex than that. And as for using the A/C but turning the temp up so the air is not as cold ... it just blends in warm air from the heater core to warm up the A/C cooled air.
For example, let's say it's 80°F outside and I turn the A/C on full blast cold, max fan. Because I like cold air flowing on to me. But my SUPER HOT 92 pound super model girlfriends who I request they wear bikinis everywhere we go tell me they're cold (happens to all of us dudes right?). So I turn up the temp for them, but do not turn off the A/C. Yes, the temperature coming out the air ducts will increase, but only because the hvac system is blending in warm air from flowing across the heater core. The compressor will still be working 100% like it was doing at my max cool setting.
This is how I believe our (inexpensive car, therefore) simple basic A/C system works. There's a chance I could be wrong.
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View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.5 mpg (US) ... 18.1 km/L ... 5.5 L/100 km ... 51.0 mpg (Imp)