How to Improve the Cooling of Your Car AC in Hot Weather

Survive the Heatwave With the Top Tips for Maximizing Your Car Ac in Pakistan

This summer, Pakistan is in the grip of one of the most severe heat waves seen in years. The temperature has crossed 45°C in many places and in Mohenjo Daro, it went over 50°C. With this extreme heat, it’s essential to have an optimally functioning AC in your car.

Most drivers are perhaps justified in thinking, “Why isn’t my car’s AC cooling properly in this hot weather?” If you are one among them, then leave your fears behind. We have some expert tips for bringing better performance from your car’s air conditioning into your life during this heatwave.

Ventilate Before Driving

Don’t expect your vehicle’s air conditioning to cool instantly if it has been under the sun for quite some time. Just open the doors or roll down the windows and let it stay that way for a few minutes to allow the hot air to escape first. It cools the cabin temperature. And then, turn on the AC and sense the change.

Park in the Shade

This even helps the AC cool better and be more relaxed more quickly, as it does not contact directly with the sunlight outside. Furthermore, parking away from direct sunlight protects other parts of your car, like the tires, paint, and plastic parts, from heat damage.

If there is no shade, you can use aluminum foil sheet on windshields to reflect light from the sun. It really helps keeping the temperature down.

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Maintain Extreme Cold Temperature

Turn the AC control or knob to the max point. This way, the AC cools the air the most, your fuel usage might increase a little but that’s a tradeoff for the improved cooling. If the car has digital controls for climate, the systems will automatically adjust the temperature to optimal levels for efficient cooling.

Air Conditioner Doesn’t Work Well When the Car Isn’t Moving

Have you ever noticed how the car’s air conditioning doesn’t work well if the vehicle isn’t moving? That’s because the compressor in your car’s AC gets power generated by the engine. And when the car is idle, engine doesn’t produce enough energy required for the proper working of an air conditioner. It is the reason why the compressor isn’t running at the suitable level to cool appropriately when the car is static. So, it’s better to turn it off as it puts extra load on the engine as well.

Now, if you’re desperate for a quick cool down, you might be tempted to increasing throttle to boost the AC. But hold on that thought! Doing it while the car is parked is a big no-no. It can overheat your car and can also lead to other serious problems. So, if you require decent cooling urgently, you may try to move the car so the engine starts producing the required energy.

Check your Cabin Filter

If you turn off the recirculation option to get fresh air, your biggest worry is letting in dirty, polluted air from outside. Cars are fitted with a cabin filter to resolve this issue. During every car service, check and clean the cabin filter with a compressed air gun. Replace your car’s cabin filter every 20,000 kilometers or as recommended by your car manufacturer.

Turn Off the “Eco Idle”

In many imported 660cc JDM cars, such as this one, a standard feature is an Eco Idle function that turns off the engine during idle to save fuel. But at the same time, it switches off the AC. Switch off this function if the idea of your AC running at all times is something you like.

Check AC Refrigerant Level

An air conditioner uses refrigerants, chemicals that absorb heat and deliver cool air. This refrigerant loses its pressure with time, which may cause less effective cooling. Have your refrigerant level in your car AC checked by an expert, and use the exact refrigerant as per your car’s manufacturer, which can be known from the car owner’s manual.

Get Your AC a Tune-Up

Every machine needs servicing for efficient performance. Make it a practice to get your AC serviced once or twice yearly, so it remains in proper condition.

Do you have other tips or tricks to improve the efficiency of a car? Let us know in the comments below.