Air Conditioner and H/P?
 

With the A/C on--How much H/P does it take to run? :cheers:

It depends upon engine rpm (how fast you are turning the compressor), but generally around 10 hp +/-. Most vehicles (with computers) have a switch that will turn off the a/c automatically at WOT, so it doesn't affect max hp.

Thx for the info--I wonder how much the 1/4 mile times would be slower with a/c on?

Negligable I'd imagine since again, it should turn off @ WOT. Mythbusters did a show on this and found that a vehicle is more efficient running w/ the AC on and windows up as opposed to AC off and windows down, now - AC off and windows up would probably be the most ideal, but then again in a Z06 at the track you'd be sweating your ass off....can't run the 1/4 w/ the windows down though can ya?

Real men don;t use AC!!

Of course they will smell like BigFoot (sorry, couldn''t resist)! :)

Well if your good--you could have your left fingers on the power windows--last yellow push windows and let the clutch-out at the same time-might take some practice-;)

Auto crossing it will cost you .02 on avg.

Mark

its a 1/4 mile suck it up, just turn it off as soon as you stage at the tree.

The A/C should never be on while at the track. *******s who do use A/C, risk those on the track

I just read an article--2008 Z06 505 h/p--lost 18 ponies-with all acc. on the dyno -peak h/p--im thinking c5 z05 would be down 14 h/p with air on-yes all acc. on take power--ac being the most-

I can notice the difference. Mostly because the engine decelerates faster than with the A/C compressor off. I have to change the timing of my shifts to compensate.

Actually, they found Going less than 50 mph it is more efficient to leave the windows down, but going greater than 50 mph it is more efficient to use the A/C.

I don't track my car, so forgive my ignorance, but... how does running the A/C pose a risk to other drivers on the track?

Air conditioning produces condensation which will end up becoming water on the track... that's about the only way it could possibly be construed to endanger others

OK--forget this thread--it takes H/P 10-20 to run a/c=drag on the motor

Correct.

It wouldn't be problem if only one car was doing it, since the amount of water would barely amount to droplets at speed... but a whole road course full of cars running their air conditioning certainly could catch somebody a bit off guard when they catch a slick spot mid-corner

Most endurance racing cars have air conditioning... there are even rules in place regarding how hot the cabin can get, so I don't think a small bit of condensation would do anything on a road course, especially once the track is up to temp.

Drag strip... maybe.

Yeah, that was my initial thought... but I have only been on a road course with maybe eight or ten other cars, so it wouldn't be any sort of a problem anyway

:iagree:

Both my LS1 z28 and c5z idle/run differently when the AC is on vs off.. Both drive much more "normal" with the AC off..