10-15 degree cooler air conditioning.

MSAGRO · Post by **MSAGRO** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:51 am

Don't know if this modification has been posted before, but here is a nifty way to make your Vibe's AC run cooler and more efficient.Here are the steps"BUY 1/2 FOAM INSULATION AND ZIP STRIPSAC PIPE TO INTERIOR:CUT INSULATION TO FIT PIPE AND MOUNT. SECURE WITH THE ZIP TIES:CINCH THE ZIP TIES TIGHT AND TRIM THE EXCESSTHATS IT! TAKES 5 MINUTES. AND YOU GET NOTICABLE COOLNESS FROM AC!

L5K · Post by **L5K** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:22 am

I will do this because it looks simple, handy, and I have nothing better to do for the time being.

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:54 am

This idea is posted here somewhere.I tried it, no difference. Members have tried and succeeded while others did not notice a difference.

Vibe_dude · Post by **Vibe_dude** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:05 am

Did it years ago and absolutely no difference......even had a AC prof from a community collage tell me that it will not make a bit of difference.I left it on but if it ever develops a leak there you will not beable to see it.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:39 am

My logic tells me that this is a very inexpensive thing for the mfgr to do and if it was of any real benefit they would have done it.FYI and for example, my gas water heater instructions specifically state "Do not use any insulating wrap on the outside of this water heater." They must have a reason - and I assume GM has a reason why they did not wrap that part of the a/c piping.

MSAGRO · Post by **MSAGRO** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:46 pm

I finally found that this has been done in this forum before.It's a simple modification.I just came back from driving in 95 degree weather after driving over 125 miles. I opened the hood right after I got home and noticed that engine bay was quite warm.. as it should be after a trip like that, but also the AC pipe was coated with ice.It just made sense to insulate it. And I did notice it being cooler since doing it. For full effect, use the reciruclating mode on the HVAC systemMSAGRO

stans39 · Post by **stans39** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:23 am

I think this is a good idea in theory. If you have an outside air conditioner you will see that the tube going into your house is insulated. The question is how much does it help. To determine this just use a thermometer (one to measure meat temperature will work fine) before and after installing the insulation.

MSAGRO · Post by **MSAGRO** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:29 am

On a previous thread some one did just that.They had a probe and the temp went from 55f to 40-45f.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:49 am

Quote, originally posted by stans39 Â»I think this is a good idea in theory. If you have an outside air conditioner you will see that the tube going into your house is insulated. The question is how much does it help. To determine this just use a thermometer (one to measure meat temperature will work fine) before and after installing the insulation.Yes but in a home that tube may be running 15 feet.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:35 am

MSAGRO has a good write up with lots of detailed pictures I haven't done this mod because I hardly ever run the AC, even in these August sauna days here in MD. I have wondered, in a slightly off topic way, if the AC efficiency in a vibe might be improved by installing a heater bypass valve. My other vehicle has one. On a Vibe, engine coolant is always pumped through the heater core, inside the passenger compartment, and a thin plastic door is supposed to keep that heat from affecting the AC. Other vehicles I have came with a valve on the heater hoses betweeen the engine and the heater core, when the temperature setting on the climate controls is set to cold, the valve closes, routes the hot coolant coming off the engine directly intothe engine return hose, and blocks flow through the heater core. When set to hot, the valve opens, sets the coolant flow through the heater hoses to be routed through the heater core. I think if something like that was added to a Vibe, it would help keep the whole HVAC box cooler, seems like it would have to help the AC get colder. Unfortunately, on those other cars, the heater valves are vacuum controlled, and the VIbe doesn't have vacuum controlled HVAC, but maybe there's one out there that is electrical. Would be interesting to put one in and see if it makes a difference.

L5K · Post by **L5K** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:04 am

I always thought all cars had valves to close off the heater core when it wasn't in use. It's good to know the Vibe doesn't because it can be handy to crank up the heat to help keep a car from overheating in an emergency.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:11 am

It doesn't work. That line is comming FROM the passenger compartment, not going TO it. I did a full writeup/test several years ago on this subject and proved it didn't work. Maybe someone can locate my post in the archives and post it again.

MSAGRO · Post by **MSAGRO** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:18 am

I remember that post.If it's coming FROM the passenger compartment, why is that tube caked with ice after a long drive with AC on? Wouldn't the tube be the same temp as the interior of the car?

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:19 am

Found it.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=29064

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:31 am

Quote, originally posted by MSAGRO Â»I remember that post.If it's coming FROM the passenger compartment, why is that tube caked with ice after a long drive with AC on? Wouldn't the tube be the same temp as the interior of the car?Do some research on automotive A/C. That cold freon line is freon that has expanded in the evaporator core, that is inside the passenger compartment. The freon then returns to compressor to be pressurized (thus heated) then to the condenser core (in front of the radiator) to be cooled a little, then back to passenger compartment where is expands again and becomes very cold.If that tube was the same temp as the interior of the car, the interior would never get cool. That tube is the residual of very cold freon that has expanded in the evaporator core that's in the passenger compartment.

Kincaid · Post by **Kincaid** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:39 am

I was only going to add that you can also buy smooth foam pipe insulation that looks more like rubber - so it might look better IMO.Anyway, whether or not it helps the AC run cooler, I'd think that it would help the freon stay cooler on it's way back to the compressor so perhaps that would help the compressor not have to work so hard?I say do it!

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:39 am

Not only did I wrap the metal line, I also wrapped the rubber portion with insulation (see pic). Wrapping the low pressure freon with insulation, to lower the cabin temp, just doesn't work. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=29064

10-15 degree cooler air conditioning.

10-15 degree cooler air conditioning.

Re: (Vibe_dude)

Re: (jake75)

Re: (MSAGRO)

Re: (stans39)

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Re: (djb383)

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Re: (MSAGRO)

Re: (Kincaid)