Retro air conditioning fitted, will the engine run hotter?

[chris2002hk]

I had air conditioning installed in my chime, as I live in hong kong. The instillation was done locally using available parts, and is of higher cooling capacity than what came from the factory. I've recently noticed the condenser radiator is quite large and is in front of the main radiator. When the air con is on and I'm in slow traffic, the temp gauge gets to around 100deg+ indicated. As presumably the condenser gives off heat, then this will reduce the effect of the cooling fans, which will draw the air from the condenser over the main radiator?

I'm not sure how hot the engine gets before I need to be concerned. I've recently fitted a 74deg thermo and the cooling system, fans etc all operate as they should. Would it be necessary to increase the cooling fan capacity to keep the temps down when stationary? It's quite common to get day time temps unto 35~36 deg in July to Aug so I need to get a heads up before something gives! Normal open road driving is fine, however. Tks in advance.

[peaktorque]

The condeser will give up a lot of heat.

Sounds like you need more powerful fans.

[Harrytsg]

The condenser rad will restrict air flow to the cooling rad, and emit heat as it's supposed to do.

The Modwise 2 stage cooling kit brings the fans on at half speed at a lower temp and full speed at a higher temp, both the lower and upper temps are adjustable.

I have one fitted to my car to give more stable cooling (no AC) and it works, if you haven't got something similar I would recommend it.

[dog man]

The AC condenser should also have a fan though....Have you noticed an extra fan/fans?

[chris2002hk]

certainly no fan fitted behind the condenser, it's a fairly close fit in front the rad. I suspected the heat from the condenser would not help the rad cooling, simple physics.
There was a thread on here about fitting more powerful fans, but that would presumably load up the electrics and may lead to other probs?

[Harrytsg]

http://www.djbeer.hostingbt.com/id27.html

[V8FROG]

i live in malaysia and use my orange lady as my daily driving dream machine.the weather is can go up to 4+degres everyday and i get stuck in the jam pretty often.my car has bigger fans and a fan controller as well.i never let my car go up more than 90degres.here a lot of chimaera run at 100degres without any problem.u should really get a fan controller so u can adjust at what tep u want them to be on.hope it helps u.

[AirconAde]

Hi There,
The guys that fitted the retro a/c should have linked into the o/e fans so that if the temp of the a/c condenser goes above a certain level the fans cut in. Do you know if they have done this?
It is possible to have the fans running when the a/c compressor is engaged as opposed to using cond temp, this will keep ontop of the heat load being lost from the condenser and go a long way to keeping the engine temp running lower.

Ade

[K4TRV]

So the temperature gauge "says" 100.

Have you used a temperature probe/laser to determine the "actual" temperature??

Clearly, your additional rad will reduce the capacity of the water rad, but they are quite capable of cooling the engine despite this - just make sure your "temperature readings" are for real. Especially if a lower temp stat has been fitted?

HTH?

[chris2002hk]

The A/C is a basic fit, no extra cooling etc.
I think more powerful fans is maybe the way to go, but must check whats fitted firt.
I put in a 74deg thermo, and found that there was not one before, prob a long time looking
at the state of the gasket etc.
V8 Frog, did you upgrade your fans, and if so, where from?