I've noticed since day one with the car that my A/C is about twice as powerful in recirc. mode, but I checked the manual and it said that the mode should only be used for short periods when there is a lot of dust or odor outside the car. Now that we're having a heatwave in Socal I'm wondering if I should go by the manual's suggestion... are there any adverse affects to running my car in recirc. mode for an entire drive on a hot day?

 

I never have my AC on non-recirc.

 

In regular mode, the air supply comes from outside of the car. That increases the air pressure inside the car which increases the blower backpressure. When in recirculation mode, there is less backpressure, therefore it can blow harder.

If your condenser isn't engaged, your cabin will fog up very fast. Therefore you should never use recirculation mode without the AC or defrost mode. But on very hot days, your A/C only has to cool the cabin air from the current temp, not the outside temp. Having it on recirculation mode the entire time on a hot day is fine as long as you occasionally switch it back to get some fresh air in the cabin. It's a small cabin, and there is only so much oxygen in there.

 

I run with it in recirculation mode most of the time so I don't smell trucks and my a/c does a decent job of cooling me off.

I wouldn't think much about it.

 

My A/C does the same thing, feeling twice as powerful when in recirc.

I switch it on and off though. Usually recirc on to get the car cooled down and then recirc off after that.

 

Does it actually blow air "more powerfully" or just sound a bit louder. I think it's the same fan speed, perhaps a bit less suction since it isn't pulling air through the cabin air filter, but mostly I think it's just more noise because now you are hearing both ends of the fan - the suction is open to the cabin so you get noise from both sides of the fan.

If it's a hot, humid day, the recirc will provide better cooling because it's only cooling and dehumidifying the cabin air, not the outside air.

 

It is totally fine to use recirc with the ac all day.

when possible, give the car fresh air, when the air outside is cool and dry.

Using the AC, with recirc on, and a little heat will make the interior extremely comfortable, and dry on cold damp or rainy days.

I remember once Blumonde and I went to defenders house with our top down. As we are inside, a hugh downpour started. Our interiors were drenched. He was going to grab a towel and start sopping up the puddles in the seats, I told him dont bother.

We put the tops up, run the AC, recirc, heat on full hot, and fan on hi.

In one hour, interiors were complete dry. no dampness cold be felt anywhere in the car. This is good to know

 

Mine definitely blows more air, not just the noise. You can feel the difference if you keep your hand at the vent and turn the button on and off.

 

it feel like it blows stronger on recirc because it doesn't have to fight the restriction that is the cabin air filter. on recirculation mode, the blower motor draws air unrestricted from the cabin.

i put it on recirc all the time.

 

Good info to know.. I run recirc all the time and didnt know the diff except recirc felt cooler.