Condenser Removal
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 33
Likes: 6
From: Rochester, NY
Condenser Removal
Just a quick question, the AC is gone in mine, and there's a bunch of tubes and stuff kind of hanging there, and also the condenser. The condenser takes up a lot of space in front of the radiator, and I'm wondering if it'd be worth removing, and if so would that kind of improve cooling of the engine overall? I don't think I have a cooling issue, but removing the giant thing that sits in front of the radiator would still probably be helpful?
Just curious. Thanks!
Just curious. Thanks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The condenser is not an impediment to airflow through the radiator - it is virtually "transparent" to the airflow. If it is not hot from the functional A/C, it has no effect on your radiator cooling ability. It is also very light, so there is no weight impact. Removing it would be a cosmetic issue only.
Lars
Lars
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
dj,
I had the same thought process as you, yrs ago. After spending hundreds of dollars on A/C and it barely cooled the cabin, I removed the compressor.
I left the evaporator, dryer and condenser etc.
Bagged & tagged any parts for the next owner.
Maybe 20 yrs from now someone will appreciate the condenser still there anyway.
Lars has a good point. When we think of the radiator, it's likely around 200*.
But the A/C condenser should be slightly less than ambient temps. No hot water circulating.
I had the same thought process as you, yrs ago. After spending hundreds of dollars on A/C and it barely cooled the cabin, I removed the compressor.
I left the evaporator, dryer and condenser etc.
Bagged & tagged any parts for the next owner.
Maybe 20 yrs from now someone will appreciate the condenser still there anyway.
Lars has a good point. When we think of the radiator, it's likely around 200*.
But the A/C condenser should be slightly less than ambient temps. No hot water circulating.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jul 24, 2025 at 08:23 PM.
