Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

[Christopher K.]

I know the general consensus is NOT to start you car unless you are going to take it for a drive. However, since I have my a/c working now I was wondering about keeping the compressor seal lubricated and the system leak free during the winter months. How many of you run your a/c every month or so?

Thanks for the comments

[Bob D.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Chris

I run mine about every 14 days. But here in Texas, I can usualy take it out for a drive throughout the winter. The occaisional ice storm keeps it inside, but otherwise I try to drive it.

Bob

[Peter M.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Monthly, at least.

[Tom R.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

I think the owner's manual suggests you do it once a week. I don't have mine handy to check.

[Christopher K.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Thanks Bob, Peter, and Tom for the replies.

Tom, my '72 owner's manual does not say anything about running the a/c once a week. It does say to have a Chevy dealer check your system once during the winter, and not to operate below 33 degrees.

[Tom R.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Thanks Bob, Peter, and Tom for the replies.

Tom, my '72 owner's manual does not say anything about running the a/c once a week. It does say to have a Chevy dealer check your system once during the winter, and not to operate below 33 degrees.

Chris,
I finally got out to my 67's glovebox and under a section titled "Air Condioner Operating Tips" in my Owner's Manual it says in bold all caps at the bottom "Run the System for Five Minutes Every Week to Lubricate Seals and Moving Parts". Although not specifically correlating to winter operations it suggests you run it weekly. I personally think once a week is overkill. Perhaps things were different for the 72's but there it is for mine. I thought it said something like that and may be totally impossible to do for you snowed in guys. I'm looking out my window at the Pacific Ocean right now eating lunch. What snow? Best wishes.

[Christopher K.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Thanks Tom,

That's very interesting that it's actually in the manual - thanks for sharing the info. The '72 manual also has "Air Conditioner Operating Tips", but does not make any statement about how often to run the system. I do know that those seals do need to stay lubricated or they start to leak.

I was also hoping to hear from some "cold weather owners" to see what their habits were. The negatives of starting your car and not driving it versus the need to run the air conditioner.

You do have a great climate out there. I was just in Orange County the other day and it was 93 degrees!

[Duke W.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

If the system if really tight, it should not be a problem storing the car for a few months. If the freon leaks out during storage, there is a leak in the system that should be eliminated.

While the car is in service run the A/C for a few minutes at least once per month.

Duke

[Tom R.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Chris, I think you could start your car in the garage every other week or so while the weather is foul and run it for 15-20 min being well vented with a box fan that moves the air pretty good (Costco online). After it warms up to normal operating temp, turn on the A/C and vary the revs as if you we're driving getting the RPMs up to 3500 or so for a few seconds. That should be enough heat to warm your entire exhaust system so condensate gets blown/evaporated out. When doing this for about a year I never had to charge the battery either. Make sure you move plenty of air to vent the place or you'll hear from wifey!

[Wayne M.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

FLASH

Air Conditioning Operation (November 1966 Chevrolet Service News)

(quote) In the past it has been recommended that the air conditioning system be operated for short periods of time, periodically during the winter months. As a result of extensive testing, Engineering has determined that this type of operation is not necessary.

Therefore, when in for service, owners of present or past model air conditioning systems should be advised to disregard the recommendation in the Owners Manual (end quote).

[Christopher K.]

Re: Winter Ops - How Often do you start your Air Conditioned Vette?

Thanks Wayne,

That explains the omission of this procedure in the later owner's manuals. It's amazing the records of valuable info that you guys have.

Here is an excellent article about compressors that I have referenced in the past. Although it is not specific to the A-6, it offers an interesting contrast to Chevrolets recommendation to not run the compressor.

http://www.rparts.com/adnl-info/Bitzer/shaft_seal_guide.htm