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Should I use the Air Conditioner regularly?

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Castanea, May 1, 2018.

  1. Castanea

    Castanea Member

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    On my last car (1996 Honda Civic), the owner's manual said to run the A/C for a few minutes at least once a week to keep the seals lubricated. I did this for 21 years and never had any problems with the A/C system.

    I've not seen anything of this nature in the Pruis C owner's manual. Would it still be a good idea for long-term A/C care? I am minimalist about A/C use and excepting high midsummer and whatever use it might get from the defroster in the winter, I could readily go months without turning it on (I roll down the windows). With the old Civic, there were many times I ran the A/C for five minutes or so with the windows down, just to keep it happy.

    Thanks to others here, I am aware that I'll need to use the A/C in hot weather for the sake of the battery. But that still leaves spring and fall. Anyone have thoughts on this?
     
    #1 Castanea, May 1, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure what my manual says, but i only run it in summer, total of about 4 months max. 6 years and no problems so far.
     
    #2 bisco, May 1, 2018
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I recall Honda saying something about semi-regular running the AC, not sure what interval. I have in the back of my mind it was maybe monthly, to keep oil circulate, lubricate seals.

    The first sentence: yes, a lot of people say that here. How true it is, I'm not so sure. I've monitored the battery temps (with ScanGuage), with and without AC use, and saw next to no difference. Even under near optimum conditions, driving around 80 kmh, cool evening, I'll see the battery settle in around 35C, well above ambient. I would think this is by design, not something that needs intervention. Someone can postulate that something might be a good idea, and it can morph into gospel, lol.

    I actually use AC the most in the 3 seasons other than summer, usually to clear humid windshields in heavy rain. In summer, I roll the windows down as needed.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, May 1, 2018
  4. Castanea

    Castanea Member

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    Thanks for the replies! I am not going to worry about the AC. And I am not going to worry much about the battery temperatures. If it gets hot enough that I want some AC for myself, I'll use it; if not, I'll roll down the windows. My opinion is that one of life's pleasures is rolling down the highway on a summer day with the windows down. I'm headed out on a several thousand mile road trip in June and looking forward to such days very, very much. Driving across the Midwest on two-lane highways (not interstates, which I will do when I must, but not by preference). And the Appalachians; I am going down the Skyline Drive and part of the Blue Ridge Parkway as part of the trip. Windows down, of course. In my new-to-me Prius C.

    Life is good.
     
    #4 Castanea, May 1, 2018
    bisco and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

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    I guess I'm a bit like you. Use it if I feel the need, but otherwise roll down the windows. I have had the windows down before and while at a stop I kept hearing a fan running. Reached back behind the drivers seat and placed my hand on the battery air intake - realized it was the batteries fan running full blast. I did roll up the windows and turned on the A/C in that instance. (There is an air duct under the drivers seat that will blow cold air right towards that intake) But otherwise, it's fresh air for me.
     
    #5 dubit, May 1, 2018
  6. ken2116

    ken2116 Junior Member

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    #6 ken2116, Dec 3, 2021
  7. ken2116

    ken2116 Junior Member

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    Running the A/C for a minute or two on a regular basis is good insurance against having a compressor shaft seal stick and tear, which can occur if it's stationary too long.
     
    #7 ken2116, Dec 3, 2021
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