Aircon - old wives tale?

[shiftspark]

Does aircon sap power or just an assumption as the cup cars show no power improvement over full fat.
I assume it's removed just from a reliability and weight loss for a competition car?
If you have removed yours what's needed apart from a cup alternator and brackets.
Cheers

 

[Waitey]

If its switched on (pump engaged) it uses the engines power to run it....

So yes it saps power when switch on...,.

 

[Gally]

Yes it definitely does and in turn uses fuel.

I've read the stories that say it doesn't but it does use more fuel.

 

[DrR]

7-8bhp

 

[shiftspark]

When it's on or off?

 

[FAST_aD13]

^ Lol, you're not going to lose 7-8bhp with it off are you - i'd imgaine those figures are guestimated losses (with it on)

Cups don't have the aircon pump/rad so will be slightly lighter as a result, not more powerful, but less weight to lug around.

 

[jack_davey]

No, the 172 cups are more powerful as power is normally used to drive auxiliary items is used to drive the wheels, even having a belt driving the cams saps some power!

 

[R1XPH]

These are road cars not race cars who gives a s**t.

I know I like being cool when the temps rise and I'm not sitting there quivering about how much powaa my engine is loosing as a result.

 

[Bazzon]

Cups always seem to make slighty more power than FF cars. There are gains to be had from removing it.

 

[richy22]

I can definately feel the difference when I turn aircon on..can feel a slight drop in power.

HArdly noticeable though,

 

[not normal dan]

sometimes mine feels nippier with air con switched off but maybe its in me head. i know on me old mans 1.25 zetec fiesta you can feel it when you motorway driving an you switch it on but thats a much smaller engine

 

[Andyman]

Isnt the aircon unit quite heavy too ??

 

[_WILL_]

I can see this turning into a cup vs. everything else thread.

But to answer the actual question:

It does make a difference, but i don't think its enough to matter on a sport as there is enough power already. In theory it will use more fuel and reduce performance, but as it has already been said not much and not enough to matter on the road.

If its for tracking, worth getting rid for weight alone i would imagine.

 

[bmh.01]

I makes a difference but its much more less noticable in higher powered cars, the 1.2 showed it quite badly, the 1.6 lesser so, the 172 hardly and the megane isn't really noticable.

Either way I don't give a feck when its hot and humid outside but i'm sat inside with my knackers reascended.

 

[.Ben.]

It does make a difference (a few less mpg/ a tiny amount of a power hit too) but I like the demisting capabilities of AC in the winter. I miss that in the Cup.

 

[Ralphizzle]

^^^ :approve:


It's a Urban Legend...
Saps power a wee... Drinks fuel a wee...

About the weight weenie thing. All weight is already upfront... who cares?

Just turn it off! And all is fine.

 

[realnumber 1]

I bet all the cup drivers having to drive round with the windows down in summer has a bigger impact on performance and MPG tbh.
AC is much more efficient than it used to be.

 

[Mark One]

see whiteleys power graph - you can make even more power if you ditch both PAS and AC

 

[shiftspark]

Cups always seem to make slighty more power than FF cars. There are gains to be had from removing it.

Thanks

 

[Aluco]

I f**king love having air con for the really hot fortnight a year we have in summer !

(I'm not being sarcastic I would hate to go back to a car without it!)

 

[Josh2391]

Air con will add weight to the car because its basicaly a mini fridge that chills the air and yes it definitly does sap power my clio doesnt have AC but our Skoda does and (best example) its sat at idle and you switch it on the revs drop a little, it also will cause you to use a little more fuel. This then brings in the massive debate about AC vs open windows but anyway thats my little contribution

 

[sideways danny]

definitely saps power even when it's off. The compressor isn't friction free, and nor is the long belt run

 

[Munson]

AC 247365 FTW.

Cool in the summer. No misting up in the winter.

Also, if you only ever use it in the summer, the seals dry up and leak, meaning more frequent refills. Allegedly.

 

[caister]

definitely saps power even when it's off. The compressor isn't friction free, and nor is the long belt run

^This^

But who cares on a road car at least you can be cool in the summer.

 

[Gray]

Only real men rock with no air con

I could feel a difference on my PH-1 after it was removed, I say "a" difference.. there was a gain but I wouldn't like to guess how much

 

[The Boosh!]

Only real men rock with no air con

I could feel a difference on my PH-1 after it was removed, I say "a" difference.. there was a gain but I wouldn't like to guess how much

your car feels like a f**king lambo in comparison to mine. Couldn't believe how quick it was when I took it for a cheeky spin

 

[Gray]

your car feels like a f**king lambo in comparison to mine. Couldn't believe how quick it was when I took it for a cheeky spin

Even quicker now with the Yozza system on... and its lost another 30kg in weight haha

 

[DMS]

Who gives a toss? Really?
The performance difference is only very slight and it could be clawed back by eating fewer take-aways or having a s**t before you leave the house.
Plus I don't have to worry about cups being quicker anyway

 

[Nickharding]

Does aircon sap power or just an assumption as the cup cars show no power improvement over full fat.
I assume it's removed just from a reliability and weight loss for a competition car?
If you have removed yours what's needed apart from a cup alternator and brackets.
Cheers

watch your revs on idle then wack it on full blast, watch them drop about 100.