Why outside air on auto AC?

[george6233]

When I use AC in hot high dew point weather in NE summer, manually starting with middle air flow and interior air flush before windows closing I set air intake to inside air. Why does auto AC use outside warm and humid air in circulatiion? Won't the latter use more AC and reduce gas mileage?

George6233

[jdenenberg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(george6233 @ Aug 6 2007, 06:53 AM) [snapback]491153[/snapback]</div>

When I use AC in hot high dew point weather in NE summer, manually starting with middle air flow and interior air flush before windows closing I set air intake to inside air. Why does auto AC use outside warm and humid air in circulation? Won't the latter use more AC and reduce gas mileage?

George6233
[/b]

Short answer --- yes. I often hit the override to set the AC on recirculate under those conditions. The system also sometimes errs in the opposite direction, using recirculate when the interior is over heated.

JeffD

[Texas911]

Yes, everyone should open their windows upon entering a hot car. This will allow all that hot air to be evacuated from your car. I'm amazed that even here in Houston, many people will just start off with all their windows closed!