Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (May 2007, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 3 May 2007 09:19:12 -0700
Reply-To:     roger sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         roger sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      An upgrade for a more efficent A/C system?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hello,

Vanagon A/C systems need all the help they can get.With either R12 or 134a ,they are marginal. I think the main problems are high heat load inside the vehicle, and small condenser. A second condenser seems to help this situation greatly.That is expensive and difficult to do. Some have done it with very good results..

It is like driving in the rain in summer.The A/C seems to work much better then. Mine always does.The reason is that the liquid rain conducts heat from the vaporized refrigerant (inside the condenser) much more efficiently. More liquid refrigerant is avaliable for the evaperator, to pick up heat from the interior of the Vanagon. Cooling occurs with the evaperation of refrigerant.Thats why they call it the evaperator.

Here is a second way that the condenser situation may be improved upon.The Vanagon has a two speed radiator fan. Seldom is the high speed ever used. Only comes on in very hot weather.Sometimes it never ever comes on..

If this fan was to be switched seperately from how it is, now ,perhaps the fan could be used to run on high when the A/C is first switch on, or at will. The larger flow of air across the condenser fins is a dramatic way to reduce system pressures, and increase liquid refrigerant

. Infact the late Vanagon (86-91) has such a high pressure switch to close at 210psi.When this happens,the fan runs on high speed.Why not add a switch on the dash to close this switch at will? Two wires would need to be added at the high pressure switch(easy to do), and be connected to the dash switch.This would bypass the switch when one wanted additional cooling.The existing high pressure switch would still work as installed by VW..

The high speed is very noisy, but when it is 100 degrees outside, maybe this noise is not so bad.I hear of 134a systems not working as well as with r-12. Maybe this fix would help this margin.

In the early WBX. there is no high pressure switch. However,the radiator fan is a two speed fan.Maybe it could be wired directly,to come on high speed by a dash switch? More air across the condenser = better cooling inside. This is easily seen on the highway..Sometimes people say their A/C works better on the highway. Not so in the city driving.This would add some extra cooling at will, on very hot days.

Dont know if this would cause any other problems.Just a thought..

--------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.