Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide (MACS)

P.O. Box 88
Lansdale, PA 19446
http://www.macsw.org/

Sponsor Content

Happy Fall! Time to Think About Your Coolant

It's the beginning of fall, and time to consider your coolant.

This is a good time to think about your engine cooling system. Regular inspections and pressure tests of your cooling system are of utmost importance, as is good maintenance by following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended coolant change intervals.

As time passes, the protective anti-corrosive additives in the antifreeze break down and lose their effectiveness. But antifreeze has two other very important jobs as well:

• It is used to decrease the temperature at which the coolant freezes.

The Motorist’s Super 7 Air Conditioning Checklist

Hours spent in a hot, stifling vehicle can spoil a weekend getaway or vacation. Conducting a periodic under-hood inspection may help you spot air conditioning problems before they spoil your trip.

Here’s what to look for: Note: Always be extremely careful any time you’re under the hood while the engine is running. Stay away from all rotating components with your hands, clothing, and hair, and always wear eye protection around a running engine.

1. Are A/C component mounting bolts in place and tightly secured?

5 Tips For Staying Cool on the Road

Temperatures over 90 degrees and high humidity can challenge your vehicle’s air conditioning system. Here are some easy tips to keep you and your passengers cool on the road.

 

The coolant rainbow

One important point about antifreeze: there are now many different formulations available for use in different vehicles, and even in specific applications. It’s not just “the green stuff” any more, there’s red, orange, yellow, blue, etc. But don’t think this means that you can just go by color, even though color can be indicative of a certain type of antifreeze, those of the same or similar color can be formulated substantially differently. For the most part, different types of antifreeze should not be mixed, and also, in many cases, one type cannot be substituted for another.

Eight service reasons your car may not be cooling fast enough

If your car’s A/C system is not cooling you off in a reasonable time frame to make you happy, take it to your service professional for an A/C check-up. Here’s what he or she will look at: • Is the compressor weak? It may build up pressure slowly, or require high rpm to produce normal pressures, so it takes a while to produce adequate cooling. A pressure test should indicate this problem. • Outside air flap not closing. When the system is in Max A/C, the flap should be closed. Unless the flap is closed, hot outside air dilutes the effect of A/C, producing slow cool down.

Cabin Air Filters, a breath of fresh air

Check your owner’s manual to see if your car has a cabin air filter. If the answer is yes you may want to make a note to check with your service professional to see if it should be replaced. This is especially true if you suffer from asthma, allergies or live in a dry and dusty environment. There are two basic types of cabin air filters 1. The more popular particulate type, which is designed to remove particles above a certain size. 2. The dual-function which has an activated charcoal layer on one side to trap odors.

Causes and Cures of A/C Odor

Air conditioner odor complaints are a common consumer problem. Why? A/C system odors typically result from uncontrolled growth of bacteria and other microorganisms in the evaporator part. Nasty little beasts like aspergillus, cladesporium and penicillium grow on cooling coils and other areas. How do these beasts get there? They are naturally present in outdoor air and are drawn into the system through the evaporator during system operation. Moisture also contributes to A/C odor formation. Most of it that condenses on cold surfaces inside the system drains harmlessly over time.

Your Car’s A/C System and the Environment

Few motorists know that the air conditioner in their vehicle has been a focus of worldwide environmental concerns and international efforts to address those concerns for several decades, or that they can play a major role in protecting the environment through their choices. The same refrigerant, CFC-12 or R-12, was used in mobile air conditioning for more than 50 years, through the mid-‘90s. Inexpensive and thought to be environmentally benign, R-12 refrigerant was routinely released to the atmosphere through leaking systems or simply vented prior to system service and repair.

It's Hot! Know Your A/C System to Stay Cool

When your car’s air conditioning fails, it can be more than a nuisance, it can become a health and safety matter. Most of us first notice an air conditioning problem when the car gets hot and muggy. But those with allergies can be quickly exposed to irritants when the windows are rolled down.

A cool passenger cabin has also been cited as a factor in keeping the driver alert.

Beyond just cooling the car, the vehicle’s air conditioning system is necessary for defogging the inside of the windows. Without it, the occupants can be at risk in bad weather.

The Green Facts About Your Car’s Air Conditioning System

Your car’s air conditioning system uses a chemical refrigerant under pressure to make the interior cool. MACS Worldwide wants you to know about the environmental damage chemical refrigerants can create  when the system is not serviced properly. Proper handling of these chemicals can help the environment and save you money.

It used to be common practice to simply release refrigerant to the atmosphere during service. The chemicals were inexpensive and thought to be benign in the atmosphere. But research showed that the chemicals damaged the ozone layer above the Earth.

Subscribe to Sponsor Content