Make the A/C better / colder

[Offshore1]

Where I live it is HUMID and getting cool AC is tough on alot of cars. BUT, I like cold a/c and I have found a way to make the V's AC even better/colder.

After you have run the AC for a while, pop the hood. You'll see the AC cooling lines w/ condensation on it on the passenger side. There is a rubber hose to the left of the radiator that comes up and connects to aluminum tubing. That aluminum tubing snakes around to the firewall and disappears behind a cardboard-like heat shield.Get pipe insulation at the hardware store and put it on the cold AC lines (one w/ condensation). You'll need smaller size for aluminum piping and 1/2" for rubber hose. Hopefully you can find the pipe insulation that has the adhesive added so it will stay closed, but if not, use wire ties to keep it on the pipe. You want to insulate from the bottom of the rubber hose all the way to behind the heat shield. You can slide the insulation on the pipe - behind the heat shield a little way. That way the cold AC line is insulated about 90% of its travel in the motor box.

After doing this, the feon in the pipes stays much colder and does not get warmed up by all the engine heat. Your AC should be much colder.

Total cost for this mod - maybe 5 bux.


Modified by Offshore1 at 3:59 PM 8/15/2008

[DejaWiz]

Interesting. Might have to give this a whirl.

Pics aren't working for me. Can anyone else see them and possible rehost and repost?

[Offshore1]

try herehttp://x.nissanhelp.com/forums....html

[lain]

upload the pictures on a photobucket account or something of the sort cause you have to register to see those pictures...and i really dont want to register...and my register bypass isnt working.

[Offshore1]

Pics are workin for me - even when I am logged out.

[Althalus]

Rehosted:



And the pics in your post are working for you, offshore, because you are registered at the other site and the cookie for it is still on your PC.

[lain]

cool i might give it a try

[Scuba Steve]

Cool Idea!!!

[superskunk]

if i do this and it doesnt work you owe me 5 bucks.... lol.... good post!

[gtrisfun]

great idea.

one concern is that there is aluminum tubing. it joins to rubber hose, which is fine. the aluminum tubing often ends up with condensation from the outside air. now if you put the insulation over and it is not airtight, the condensation will stay on the tubing, tubing ends up sitting in water.

although the aluminum is more corrosion resistant than galvanized or other possible tubing choices, i'd be inclined to allow the condensation to drip or run off.

maybe if it were possible to coat the tubing, so that it is sealed to the elements first (maybe just some good paint) or even somehow get some shrink tubing over it, it would be better protected. and then get that insulation over it and not hafta worry about the tubing getting pitted.to somehow replace the "heat shield" with something more effective would also help. good work, something that is effective and inexpensive and definitely a great DIY for efficiency!

[reyes1212]

I did it to my car today. Haven't tested it, but will do tomorrow.I'll post some pics, too.

[Offshore1]

Tear your car apart inside. Nissan insulates the alum. tubing inside. Why not do it outside - it works - your car will be fine and you'll have better AC

[DejaWiz]

Awesome, thanks for rehosting the pics. Will likely do this to help cut through the blistering heat and drowning humidity here.

[feloniousmonk]

Good idea but I don't think that home piping insulation material is right for the engine bay. That material is made to insulate water piping in your house against a much lower temperature range. Hunt around the automotive stores, there are more suitable insulation materials made specifically for the engine bay.