Driving with heater on?
#1
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Driving with heater on?
Would driving with the heater on help the engine any? I know it works when your car is overheating, so in theory, it should also vent the heat during normal use as well right?
#2
Well typically your suppose to turn the heat on and allow coolant to flow through the heater core to cool it down some if its overheating, its a longer process for the coolant to flow through the engine and allows it to run at a lower temp but honestly why whould you need to do that? If its not overheating then dont worry, it should run cool enough, worse comes to worse you can put a lower temp thermostat in it but it might take forever to warm up the engine and I wouldn't go that route unless your racing all the time and even then its not necessary.
I always had a method since I have a Z32(vents terribly) and its 19 years old now, after driving it pop the hood a little and let the heat out, saves the wiring/hoses a little bit from wearing down.
I always had a method since I have a Z32(vents terribly) and its 19 years old now, after driving it pop the hood a little and let the heat out, saves the wiring/hoses a little bit from wearing down.
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Using my Cobb Access Port, I monitored turning the heat on when driving and it ran much cooler.. Right now I have all OEM radiator and everything, just running 65/35 distilled water to coolant, with some redline water wetter. Also removed all the insulation inside my engine bay since I don't drive the car in the winter. The heater on helped a lot. Below is the following stuff I recorded.
65 Degrees Out during the test
Heater OFF
Cruising/City Driving - 200-205
Highway/HighRevs - 210-215
Heater ON
Cruising/City Driving - 180-185
Highway/HighRevs - 196-205
Hope this helps.
65 Degrees Out during the test
Heater OFF
Cruising/City Driving - 200-205
Highway/HighRevs - 210-215
Heater ON
Cruising/City Driving - 180-185
Highway/HighRevs - 196-205
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Zelse; 04-29-2009 at 11:08 AM.
#5
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Ya I have also thought about this, but can't notice any change whatsoever with the heat on or off. With the heat dial set to the heat side of things, and the fan speed dial set to zero, the cabin seems to heat up anyway, without wasting any power for a fan.
Also just a side note for those of you who haven't read the owner's manual; the AC compressor automatically turns on when you do any of the following things:
leave climate control in the feet only position
leave climate control in any position with front defroster on
turn on the ac compressor switch. (obviously).
Do not do any of these things during hard driving unless you want to have horses syphoned from under your nose.
Also just a side note for those of you who haven't read the owner's manual; the AC compressor automatically turns on when you do any of the following things:
leave climate control in the feet only position
leave climate control in any position with front defroster on
turn on the ac compressor switch. (obviously).
Do not do any of these things during hard driving unless you want to have horses syphoned from under your nose.
![Icon No2](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/icon_no2.gif)
#6
Ya I have also thought about this, but can't notice any change whatsoever with the heat on or off. With the heat dial set to the heat side of things, and the fan speed dial set to zero, the cabin seems to heat up anyway, without wasting any power for a fan.
Also just a side note for those of you who haven't read the owner's manual; the AC compressor automatically turns on when you do any of the following things:
leave climate control in the feet only position
leave climate control in any position with front defroster on
turn on the ac compressor switch. (obviously).
Do not do any of these things during hard driving unless you want to have horses syphoned from under your nose.![Icon No2](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/icon_no2.gif)
Also just a side note for those of you who haven't read the owner's manual; the AC compressor automatically turns on when you do any of the following things:
leave climate control in the feet only position
leave climate control in any position with front defroster on
turn on the ac compressor switch. (obviously).
Do not do any of these things during hard driving unless you want to have horses syphoned from under your nose.
![Icon No2](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/icon_no2.gif)
#7
The cabin is hot enough as is.............. don't you remember all the complaints about the AC?
If your not over heating, then no need to turn on the heater. If your over heating you shouldn't be driving it period.
If your not over heating, then no need to turn on the heater. If your over heating you shouldn't be driving it period.
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Yeah no problem. Granted the difference is that I took out engine bay insulation and I have red line water wetter..but it can't help that much.. :x Or does it? lol.
But yeah, Razz said it best. :D
But yeah, Razz said it best. :D
#13
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Also just a side note for those of you who haven't read the owner's manual; the AC compressor automatically turns on when you do any of the following things:
leave climate control in the feet only position
leave climate control in any position with front defroster on
turn on the ac compressor switch. (obviously).
Do not do any of these things during hard driving unless you want to have horses syphoned from under your nose.
![Icon No2](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/icon_no2.gif)
When you say the AC compressor is on, is that essentially the same as having the AC on and running with the fan speed at 1-4? What if the climate control is set to feet/defroster but the fan dial is at 0?
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This means that you have another really small radiator being used to help remove heat from the coolant when the heater is on
#15
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These are good questions. It does not matter if you set the dial to zero or not, if you engage the front defroster and/or the feet only setting, your motor automatically begins running the AC compressor. I do not know enough about AC compressors to know how much the fan speed level effects your AC compressor power leaching. The owner's manual doesn't seem to specify the effects of the fan speed setting. It simply states that the compressor will start running if you engage any of the mentioned settings; so I am thinking it is probably regardless of the fan speed setting.
#16
I just shat myself
I too would like somebody with some smartz to tell me if the fan speed makes a difference. I know my Silverado cycles the compressor on/off when set to 1, but I never feel a change in the 8.
Hell right now I don't even have a heater. I need to do that solder fix with the temp **** but it never gets cold enough in Houston to justify all of that work. Maybe this fall I'll get to it, doubtful though.
Hell right now I don't even have a heater. I need to do that solder fix with the temp **** but it never gets cold enough in Houston to justify all of that work. Maybe this fall I'll get to it, doubtful though.
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These are good questions. It does not matter if you set the dial to zero or not, if you engage the front defroster and/or the feet only setting, your motor automatically begins running the AC compressor. I do not know enough about AC compressors to know how much the fan speed level effects your AC compressor power leaching. The owner's manual doesn't seem to specify the effects of the fan speed setting. It simply states that the compressor will start running if you engage any of the mentioned settings; so I am thinking it is probably regardless of the fan speed setting.
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Thats was going to be my thing. To many factors at play. How much does running the fan drain on performance. What are you trying to accomplish? Because in order to make power you have to create heat. Heat is not exactly a bad thing. If the motor is too cold the heat of compression and combustion is lost therefor loosing power. Thats why when you dyno a vehicle you have to make three runs to make sure consistancy, when to cold the motor will run poorly. Let the radiator do the work. The thermostat will regulate the temperature of the coolant. Even with the heatercore cooling down the exterior coolant before it enters (before or after the radiator) the coolant will stay in the motor untill the thermostat opens and flows.
If it aint broke stop trying to fix it.
If it aint broke stop trying to fix it.
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