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Date:         Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:13:43 -0400
Reply-To:     "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject:      Re: air-cooled air conditioner effectiveness
In-Reply-To:  <001b01c1ea2d$c7a82d00$13c9ff3f@computer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Air-cooled AC units are nothing but trouble...horribly ineffectual, cause poor mileage, rapid hair loss, impotence, flatulence, forgetfulness, world-wide-hunger, and friction between family members. Fundamentalist clergy of various denominations preach fiery sermons against this AC unit's evils, knowing that many a soul is crackling in the fires of hell for using an air-cooled-engine-powered VW AC unit. Save yourself.

If you aren't using yours, you should count your blessings, remove it immediately, and send it to me for 'disposal'. I'll have it crushed into unrecognizable bits, have those bits incinerated, and then have the ashes scattered on inaccessible mountaintops, really I will. Really.

Okay, all joking aside, they don't work any better or any worse than any other car's AC. They make the inside of the van cold. On the downside, they use a horribly in-efficient piston compressor which puts about an 8 hp load on the motor. Couple this with the mileage decline from hauling around an extra couple hundred pounds of AC gear.

A buddy from AZ had a 1978 bus with this AC and I LOVED that AC, even though it made his bus really slow... My 1976 had only the 5-65 AC... 5 windows open, 65 mph.

The extra load on the motor from the AC means even SLOWER acceleration, and more frequent downshifting. It also means you *ought to* install a head temp and oil temp gauge, as well as an thermostatically controlled, fan-forced, auxiliary oil cooler.

Without much argument, the AC's probably reduce engine life, but that's why God made Boston Bob, Jake Raby, AVP, and all that ilk. I'll opt for less miles on my motor for the comfort of a cool ride in my Westy. If you decide to save your soul and remove your evil AC, call me.

Developing business and guiding change since 1996,

G. Matthew Bulley Bulley-Hewlett Corporate Communications Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com Alliance: www.ntara.com Phone: +1.919.658.1278

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Tim & Kim Dayton Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 2:45 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: air-cooled air conditioner effectiveness

How potent (or impotent) is the air cooled air condition? All of this talk of air cooled air conditioner part got me to thinking about this. I have air condition set, the type under the front dash, yet it isn't working. If it isn't very effective need I should remove it to reduce weight and strain on the engine.

tim 82 "ole yeller"


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