It's cold here in the east and I haven't had my stook long enough for it to be warm enough to run the AC. Obviously, running the AC is going to have some performance hit, but is it mild, very noticeable, or "no hot rodding with the AC on"?

I have noticed that if you turn the fan on with the heater controls in window defrost position, it activates the AC!!! Not a bad idea if this was more of a "family" car, but I would like to choose when the AC comes on. It gets kind of irritating to keep having to turn it off. OK, end of mini-rant.

Because of the above, I have driven with the AC on for short periods without much noticeable effect, but I was not vtec-ing or aggressive acceleration.

While on the subject, since the supercharger increases the heat load to the engine, wouldn't running the AC on a supercharged S2K be like a heat "double-whammy" to the engine, especially when driving aggressively?

 

I can tell you that in the summer when I had the car with the air conditioning on, I noticed very little difference in power when vtec'ing. And I tried it both ways- I'd shut off the air if I knew I was going to vtec.

I was surprised that I didn't notice more power drain on the engine because I've seen considerable difference in other cars.

-B

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bguernsey
[B]I can tell you that in the summer when I had the car with the air conditioning on, I noticed very little difference in power when vtec'ing.

 

I can't see any decernable effect - never turn it off now 'cos it's so hot here in England!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nvmys2k
[B][QUOTE]Originally posted by bguernsey
[b]I can tell you that in the summer when I had the car with the air conditioning on, I noticed very little difference in power when vtec'ing.

 

Most modern cars will turn off the compressor when full power is called for. But if it doesn't, an active compressor can sap 15-20 hp on the dyno. Saw a test on a Prelude VTEC a few years ago that showed this. Loss of power across the board. I was surprised it was that large.

UL

 

that explains it...

-B

 

My dealer told me that (after all this is a sports car) when
the AC is on it'll be turned off when VTEC is engaged to
guarantee ultimate power.

 

excellent! That's good design. If only they hadn't done the thing with the defrost setting.

 

The defogger is much more effective with the AC on (dries the air) which is why they try to do it "automatically" for you.