DRIVERS can make their air conditioning colder and save hundreds in fuel by doing a five minute check that most people usually forget.
Air conditioning is becoming more important to staying comfortable while you drive as we head into summer and the weather warms.
As your car speeds along, air is filtered to remove pollen and pollutants and is then cooled by a refrigerant gas before coming through the vents.
But there’s one thing that you can do to help keep the air conditioning cold.
Drivers must check the cooling system and replace the refrigerant every two years or so, Halfords says.
Like oil or water, the gas cannister in the air conditioning system should be drained and refilled and key components lubricated to keep them working well.
Drivers can do this themselves by opening the bonnet and blasting air through the system to clear the vents out.
They can then run a diagnostic test using a digital tool and if the tool reads ‘low pressure’ the coolant will require a top up.
You can then attach the canister to the appropriate port and pull the trigger, transferring the coolant into the car.
That will fill the car’s coolant and keep the air blowing into your car through the air conditioning system cool.
If they don’t, their air conditioner could be working overtime without having a cooling effect – therefore wasting fuel.
There are also a couple of other things drivers can do to give their AC a boost.
Firstly, you should close your windows when you use the air conditioning so you keep the warm air outside.
It might be tempting to get a big blast of fresh air, particularly if it is stuffy inside, but outside air will only overwhelm any cool air inside.
Drivers should clean the system – particularly if there is a weird smell when you use the air con.
Mechanics suggest checking over the coolant and air conditioning system every couple of years to make sure it all works.
Halfords suggests three things in order to keep your air conditioning cool.
Firstly, drivers should keep their windows closed and cool the inside of their car with air coming through the AC.
Secondly, they should refill the coolant regularly to ensure the gas canister is full and the air can be as cold as possible.
Finally, drivers should make sure the air conditioning system is clean.
The best way to do all this is take your car to a garage.
Or you could take your car into a garage to get a mechanic to check over it.
If your air conditioning system isn’t working entirely, then there is one fix you could do to save thousands.
Sometimes the air conditioning unit will ‘lock up’ and appear to have become completely broken.
Drivers can find the compressor under the bonnet and manually turn the nose on it.
