Tesla AC -> cool?

TyPope

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When I drove my Miata in the 100°+ heat, over 80MPH, with the top down and A/C on, the engine temp gauge would slowly rise towards the red. It was more than the cooling system could handle.

Amazingly, I could circumvent the problem by turning on my headlights. The pop-up "bugeye" lights acted as air scoops, and cooled the engine compartment enough to make up the difference!
Running the AC would actually make the engine work harder and thus get hotter because it has to turn the now-energized freon compressor and vent fan. Now, had you run the heat, it would have dissipated that heat into the cab but, with the top down, it would have been at least bearable. The engine wouldn't have to turn an energized compressor but rather simply open a valve and let the water pump push the hot water through the heat exchanger where the fan would blow air over it in effect cooling the engine coolant.
"Yeah, but how would you know?"
I had a 1965 Mustang with a 351 Windsor crammed under the hood. This was in 1986. It liked to overheat in Georgia but running the heater, you could watch the temperature needle go down. That sucker just could not keep its cool.
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SwampNut

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On the service question, my second need for service went spectacularly. Tech showed up right on time, very friendly, and she was done in ten minutes and left. I got a text saying "done" since I needed to get on a client call.
 

TyPope

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You don't need to man-splain it to me
I'm already male
sheez
LOL. I thought you said that running the AC would cool down the engine. I wasn't "man-splaining", I was correcting and sharing my experience with my overheating mustang.
 

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LOL. I thought you said that running the AC would cool down the engine. I wasn't "man-splaining", I was correcting and sharing my experience with my overheating mustang.
The problem with the Miata is the opening in the grill is smaller than the radiator, so the cooling effect is limited.

Tesla Cybertruck Tesla AC -> cool? 009_zpsnjwywkyl


The opening in the fascia is significantly larger in the later model years.
 


TyPope

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The problem with the Miata is the opening in the grill is smaller than the radiator, so the cooling effect is limited.

009_zpsnjwywkyl.jpg


The opening in the fascia is significantly larger in the later model years.
LOL. Nice. I almost bought one when they were just $13,900 or something like that when they first came out. Dealer didn't even mark them up though you saw them being sold in the paper for $50,000 because they were really rare. Dad and I showed up and they let us take test drives. ergonomically, a really great car. The snick-snick of changing gears was great. Alas, we didn't buy the two they had. Dad now has one with, I think it's called, the jalapeno popper package on it. It's a supercharger with an irritating bark when it bypasses. But, it IS a crap ton of fun!
 

Sirfun

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LOL. I thought you said that running the AC would cool down the engine. I wasn't "man-splaining", I was correcting and sharing my experience with my overheating mustang.
Most of us old guys have run the heater to keep the car temp down many times. This reminded me of another trick for keeping those old cars going. When I was a kid my dad would fill up an old canvas bag with water and hang in on the front of the 1958 Ford Fairlane, on our road trips from California back to visit family in North Carolina. The canvas bag would leak a bit and get wet and the wet bag would keep the water cool. Driving in summer heat the radiators would overheat (even with the heater trick) or it would be so hot you didn't want to use the heater trick. BTW did I tell you these cars didn't have AC?
Anyway thanks for bringing back a fun childhood memory. Here's a photo of one of those old water bags.

Tesla Cybertruck Tesla AC -> cool? waterba
 

TyPope

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Most of us old guys have run the heater to keep the car temp down many times. This reminded me of another trick for keeping those old cars going. When I was a kid my dad would fill up an old canvas bag with water and hang in on the front of the 1958 Ford Fairlane, on our road trips from California back to visit family in North Carolina. The canvas bag would leak a bit and get wet and the wet bag would keep the water cool. Driving in summer heat the radiators would overheat (even with the heater trick) or it would be so hot you didn't want to use the heater trick. BTW did I tell you these cars didn't have AC?
Anyway thanks for bringing back a fun childhood memory. Here's a photo of one of those old water bags.

waterbag.jpg
Nice. My Mustang had air conditioning... sort of... it was a thing that sat on the floor with vents and almost blew cold air. What it really was was a Freon dissipating device... :)
 

Sirfun

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Nice. My Mustang had air conditioning... sort of... it was a thing that sat on the floor with vents and almost blew cold air. What it really was was a Freon dissipating device... :)
Yes, I had a roommate with one of those. Our first car with AC was a 69 Buick Riviera and it actually worked.
 

Crissa

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Secret trick to get my Honda Civic up hills in California: windows down, heater on full.

I really wanted to put in some shark gills on the sides of the car so I could just shunt that heat outside directly.

-Crissa
 


JBee

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Okay, I am not trying to prove anything. The original poster asked if Tesla's climate control is equal to or better than an internal combustion engine's air conditioning system. I responded with my anecdotal evidence and experiences. You came up with a whole bunch of technical jargon to dismiss my observations. I used an example of my experience with my truck to provide background of how cold it gets where I live and travel. You decided to mansplain my truck experience while missing the point that it was a comparative. You also mansplained that a heat pump has limitations, disregarding the original questions intent. That intent was "is the climate control capable?". Without any big words, I explained that my Model 3 cools my car in very hot conditions and warms my car in very cold conditions.

You decided to try to prove yourself "right" and continue to try and validate your point. Which is what? Are you saying that the Tesla system which controls the environment of the batteries, the motors, AND the cabin is flawed??!! Because what I read from your arguments is that Tesla wisely, elegantly, and cleverly conditions the motors, the batteries, and the passenger areas selectively to each need without the use of heavy and bulky extra equipment. Which is, by definition, agreeing with the points that I made.

This leads me to believe that we agree, but based on a misunderstanding/misreading of the original postings you have to educate me on how I am somehow wrong for agreeing with you?
I'm glad the mansplaining worked so we agree now. Maybe some other reader learnt something too from the transaction. Win, win. ;) 🤪:LOL:

Next time though there's no need to keep calling out the man, just stay on subject instead of deflecting. Much cooler that way. Thx.
 

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Could some current owners of Teslas tell me if the air conditioners are Cold? Its a scorcher this year with hotter years ahead. And, is the tesla AC dependable, thanks folks.
Have a model 3, honestly the AC sucks. We've note tinted it, which would probably help tremendously but the vents are pretty annoying flat uncontrollable and dorky.
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