Improving the AC system's efficiency

[EcoCivic]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

Since it is the industry I work in, consider natural gas leaks. It is not very often they ignite, many go entirely unnoticed for years. Particularly on small leaks, the gas would dissipate so quickly to a percentage where it is no longer a threat.

Great point, thanks! However, there is a tiny difference here- Natural gas is less dense than air, so it floats up and dissipates. On the other hand, propane and butane are denser than air, so they tend to settle in low areas and concentrate. Realistically that probably wouldn’t be much of a factor here, but I figured I’d mention it anyways.

[EcoCivic]

I am going to get a Mishimoto fan shroud kit for my car to help improve airflow through the radiators. Not just to help the AC operate more efficiently at low speeds, but also to help the engine cool better in traffic and at low speeds. Even with my Mishimoto radiator, the coolant sometimes heats up to around 210 degrees with both fans running when I am sitting in traffic with the AC on on a very hot day, which I don’t like.

Then there is the question of the extra power the Mishimoto fans would draw would be worth it for MPG. I would say yes, but I’m not certain. I can’t imagine that the Mishimoto fans would draw that much more power than the OEM fans do, but since they would improve airflow and therefore improve the efficiency of the AC system, but I am not certain.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by EcoCivic

Great point, thanks! However, there is a tiny difference here- Natural gas is less dense than air, so it floats up and dissipates. On the other hand, propane and butane are denser than air, so they tend to settle in low areas and concentrate. Realistically that probably wouldn’t be much of a factor here, but I figured I’d mention it anyways.

Also gasoline vapors. It's good to be aware of the difference but if you've got a propane leak or NG leak in your garage it gets addressed in the same manner. Open a door or window and let it vent.

[redpoint5]

Flammable refrigerant kills 2 stones with 1 bird. Efficient cooling when needed, and instant heat when it bursts into flames!

Kidding aside, I'd consider it. The chance of fire seems pretty low, and the amount of refrigerant low enough that even if it did leak out and catch on fire, shouldn't do much damage.

I've shot camping propane bottles in a fire before, and it doesn't do much. Same with butane.

[Daschicken]

Coolant is flammable, oil is flammable, power steering and transmission fluid are flammable (my car had a PS hose recall for this reason), oil is flammable, and gas is VERY flammable. A little bit of propane shouldn’t be too scary.

That being said, you should keep one of these in your car anyways.


If you use a dry powder extinguisher, make sure to tip it back and forth every once in a while to prevent the powder from clumping on the bottom. You should be able to hear and feel it moving.

[EcoCivic]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Flammable refrigerant kills 2 stones with 1 bird. Efficient cooling when needed, and instant heat when it bursts into flames!

Kidding aside, I'd consider it. The chance of fire seems pretty low, and the amount of refrigerant low enough that even if it did leak out and catch on fire, shouldn't do much damage.

Lol thanks. However, if this video is real, I disagree that there isn’t enough refrigerant in the system to do much damage in the unlikely scenario where all of the gas leaks out into a confined space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANtAbkKrOuI

I think that the most dangerous (although extremely unlikely) scenario would be if the evaporator bursts while the car is parked and fills the car with flammable gas. Then the owner of the car gets in and starts it without knowing anything happened, and the spark from the ignition switch ignites the gas, causing an explosion while the driver is in the car. Again, I think that would be very unlikely though.

[redpoint5]

Meh, that mannequin seemed hardly phased, and I'm sure I've done worse to myself. Eyebrows grow back.

[EcoCivic]

I frogot to mention that I also had the side and back window tinted with 3M Crystalline 40% window tint, which helped a lot. I am hopefully going to get the windshield tinted with the same but the 70% version. Not only will it help to keep the car cooler, but it will also help keep me from getting blinded by the sun

[jeff5may]

The refrigeration industry has been having a very hard time in the last few decades. The patents have run out on the current batch of gases and the profit margin has dropped. Considering the gwp issue, along with flammable gas concerns, there are not many viable options. R-410a was a stretch back when it got vetted.

In Europe and Asia, the powers that be have decided that stuff like propane and butane is ok for small appliances. The commercial market is especially all in on building refrigerator and freezer units that are filled with hydrocarbon refrigerant. The supermarket industry is leaning on the government to increase the limit on the refrigerant charge, so they can run the freezer aisle and back of house coolers with natural refrigerant.

[teoman]

Natural?