A/C question

I have an '96 SL that I am trying to milk as long as possible. Does
the A/C compressor run less when you have the temp slider more to the
middle, or does the compressor run the same and the temp is raised by
letting in some warmer outside air mix in?

Sometimes I like to set the temp so it is just a little cooler than
outside, but if my compressor is running just as hard as full cold,
I'll quit doing it to save the compressor.

Buzz

 

The saturn a/c compressor is a variable displacement compressor. If
the a/c button is pressed, it will continuously run. However, it's
load on the engine will vary with the low side pressure, which in turn
is related to how cold the evaporator is. The compressor will try to
maintain a near 0 deg temp at the evaporator if it can. The evap coil
is in front of the heater core with respect to the airflow, so its
temp will be affected by the temp of the air from outside or from the
cabin air in recirc. With the lever off the full cold position in
recirc, you are adding heat to the air which the A/C will attempt to
remove and thus work harder. All the recirc air still travels thru
the evaporator as far as I know before it gets warmed again by the
heater core. So the answer to your question is yes if the cabin temps
are warm enough to load the compressor and you are using recirc mode.
(ie. the load depends on the air temp passing thru the evaporator.)

dave mc