Automatic Climate-Control Logic

[Jessica Smith]

I'm used to "manual everything" vehicles, from the transmission to the climate control.

Typically what I would do, and was told was best for maximum fuel efficiency is roll down all windows, leave AC at coldest setting, crank fan to maximum, and after rolling for a second close the windows, then once it feels a bit cool hit recirculate, when desired temp is reached lower fan down gradually to minimum, and IF that exceeds desired temp to hit the AC button to turn off the AC while fan is lowest, and then turn the AC on when needed again.

The idea is that the AC is most efficient at max cold, as otherwise its just mixing in hot air but running the compressor and fan just as hard.

But now that I have an automatic climate control, I really don't know what's going on behind the scenes when I let it do its thing, and if its following best protocol for fuel efficiency and getting to desired temp fastest.

So I haven't been using it much, but was curious if its just as good and using decent logic??? My unscientific feeling is that its not cooling down as fast. Thoughts?

 

[cityredneck]

with auto climate control, hit the 'auto' button and then set it to the temp that is comfortable. the system will adjust fan speed itself. I like to keep mine at 72 degrees.

 

[huntergreen]

Not sure what the best way to cool down the vehicle is, I just let the auto ac do it's thing. I do hit recirculate once I'm comfortable.

 

[Jessica Smith]

with auto climate control, hit the 'auto' button and then set it to the temp that is comfortable. the system will adjust fan speed itself. I like to keep mine at 72 degrees.

Do you know if its keeping max cool and just adjusting fan speed until the desired temperature is reached?

If so, that's great as that's what I want it to do, but just going by ear it didn't sound like it was ever kicking in to 100% fan on auto even though we had heat advisory with 111oF heat index.

Too bad I don't have two Rams, could set one to max cool fan highest speed hitting recirculate all manually, and then one on full auto, and see which hits 75oF first.

 

[cityredneck]

When i start my truck the fan ramps up to full speed and then as the temp inside drops the fan speed slows down. I dont think ive every turned the max cool on, i just let the truck do its thing.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[chrisbh17]

I think the only thing I dont like about our ATC is that it will never turn off. My other cars with ATC will go to 0 once the interior temp is steady at the set point. Unless my RAM never makes it that cool (it should, I only set it down to 72 or 73), Ive never heard it turn off.

 

[Coramie]

I think the only thing I dont like about our ATC is that it will never turn off. My other cars with ATC will go to 0 once the interior temp is steady at the set point. Unless my RAM never makes it that cool (it should, I only set it down to 72 or 73), Ive never heard it turn off.

Interesting. I’ve never known an ATC to cut off entirely once the temp is reached. My experience has always been that the unit will stay on the lowest fan setting to keep the air moving in the cabin. Once the temp begins climbing again, the compressor kicks back on.

 

[Coramie]

I'm used to "manual everything" vehicles, from the transmission to the climate control.

Typically what I would do, and was told was best for maximum fuel efficiency is roll down all windows, leave AC at coldest setting, crank fan to maximum, and after rolling for a second close the windows, then once it feels a bit cool hit recirculate, when desired temp is reached lower fan down gradually to minimum, and IF that exceeds desired temp to hit the AC button to turn off the AC while fan is lowest, and then turn the AC on when needed again.

The idea is that the AC is most efficient at max cold, as otherwise its just mixing in hot air but running the compressor and fan just as hard.

But now that I have an automatic climate control, I really don't know what's going on behind the scenes when I let it do its thing, and if its following best protocol for fuel efficiency and getting to desired temp fastest.

So I haven't been using it much, but was curious if its just as good and using decent logic??? My unscientific feeling is that its not cooling down as fast. Thoughts?

That sounds like an awful lot of work to try to save .04 mpg! I would assume the computer is set up to regulate the temp in a fuel efficient way, seeing as though 98% of everything done on these damn vehicles these days are solely about mpg’s.

 

[Jessica Smith]

That sounds like an awful lot of work

Far less engagement than a manual transmission which sounds complicated and tedious only in theory, but like a manual it becomes something you're doing without really thinking about it... if its designed right (easy to feel knobs in a convenient location).