Date:         Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:29:53 -0700
Reply-To:     Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Suggestions to improve Westy A/C airflow
In-Reply-To:  <9f4608e90907291558t5bef1921v57e9b46f67fcb16c@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

Try this.  That plastic chamber where the distribution vents are over the
rear seat can be removed.  If you take it off you will be staring at the
fans that move the air.  If you have a clear path from the rear of the AC
where the shelf is on a westy to the fans, this will be as good as you can
achieve with respect to fan/evaporator.  Make sure the evap fins are sparkly
clean, you can use a vacuum to get out the dust, spideys, moushits and other
deleterious detritus.  This will improve the cooling by increasing thermal
transfer from the air to the evaporator and the airflow by removing
obstacles.

Now the next problem is air distribution forward.   The 12v fan works very
well, I've used one for years but the best solution I have seen is to borrow
the ac ducting from a passenger van and design a fitment that allows you to
demount the 'tunnel' piece when you need the top up.  Usually for most of
us, top up and driving with A/C are mutually exclusive phenomena, however
not in all cases.

The westy A/C is a recirculating airflow cooler.  It cools the air without
mixing it with outside air so having the vents and curtains closed somewhat
will help matters by keeping the inside air as cool as possible while the
A/C struggles to cool it even further.

Before you start, measure the outlet air temperature with a reliable
thermometer.  Compare this to the overall interior air temperature.  The
difference could be considered the cooling power of the A/C as it is now.
If the inlet temp is 80F (just in front of the intake) and the outlet temp
is 50F, then the system is able to lower the airflow temperature by 30F.
With 100F intake temperature the outlet temperature should be near 70F, as
the interior air cools the intake temperature and outlet temperature should
track downward separated by the measured differential, in this case ~30F.
Now if the airflow is maximized as described the air volume can be cooled
more quickly.

The side issue of your particular A/C and it's cooling power can be
addressed by changing various parts and refrigerants.  However without doing
that, you can maximize the cooling of the interior air by minimizing heated
air inside.  Close off the vents, draw the drapes, and that will be about as
good as it will get with the current system after ensuring maximum airflow.

I owned a Wundercar a 3.0Si and it's ac was tolerable as it was a dash
system.  Last of the Bavaria line, ripping fast, easy on the eyes but a bit
thirsty.

Pensioner (106 in PDX but 92 in SMF)

On 7/29/09, Richard Golen <rgolen@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I've owned my 87 Westy for almost 10 years now, and overall I love it!
> (obviously if I've kept it for so long)....my Westy is equipped w/AC. Over
> the years I've converted the refrigerant to 134, replaced the vents on the
> drain tubes to reduce the chances of the "dehumidified" water from dripping
> on to the rear bunk....
>
> There is one last sniggling issue....actually a BIG issue when it gets hot
> (80+) up here in New England, and that is the poor air circulation of the
> A/C in the Westy. I understand the need to have the major components in the
> back of the Westy, however this does not excuse the poor airflow. Let me
> digress for a moment...
>
> Back in the early 1970s BMW came out with a 6 cylinder car called the
> "Barvaria", the precursor of the 5-series. It was a luxury (for the time) 4
> door sedan w/AC. US owners complained on how poor the AC worked.....the
> German engineers back there in Munich said the US owners were crazy because,
> after all, German cars w/AC HAD NO FAULTS!!!
>
> So BMWUS invited a couple of BMW's German engineers to come and visit
> LasVegas. Picked them up at the airport in a Barvaria. When the engineers
> were safely ensconsed in the back seat, the driver drove off with the AC on
> full. The engineers asked if the driver would please turn on the AC...driver
> said it was on. The engineers then went to roll down the rear windows and
> found that the US BMW folks disabled the rear window switches. After 45
> minutes of driving around in the desert outside of LasVegas, the engineers
> got the message....problem solved.
>
> Too bad VWUS didn't do the same with the engineers who designed the AC in
> the Westy. So instead I am throwing myself on the mercy and expertise of the
> list....
>
> What suggestions do you have or what solutions have you tried in order to
> increase the circulation of the AC?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
>
> Ric
>
>
>
>
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