Airconditioner

[Jesmol]

Messing around with my MkV GTi AC settings last night , I found that setting the temp to Lo , and manually adjusting the fan speed and Recirc settings gave a great result. Lots more hot weather coming up here in Adelaide to test this on.

[gregozedobe]

A common misconception. Someone tested this out once. The result was a white car's interior temperatures were higher than the equivalent black car. Reason? The white bonnet reflected more light and heat radiation into the car.

Sorry, unless you can point me towards convincing evidence of a reasonably scientific test (and not just Mythbusters et al) I'm afraid I cannot believe you. What about the extra reflectivity of the white roof c.f. the black roof ?

I got into the black Golf and it even though the hatch had been wide open for hours it was still hotter than my yellow Octy (with windows only open 2 cm) when I got back into it (and they had both been parked in the sun for hours). And the Golf was hotter (temp wise ) when driving along too.

[CatonaPC©]

Sorry, unless you can point me towards convincing evidence of a reasonably scientific test (and not just Mythbusters et al) I'm afraid I cannot believe you. . . . . I got into the black Golf and it even though the hatch had been wide open for hours it was still hotter than my yellow Octy . . .

No, not Mythbusters. I do recall the test being done, but that was a while back; I can't recall who did the test.

You must remember also, they used the same kind of car, same interior, same material etc. Different cars even with the same colour may produce different results.

However, in the test the temperature differences were marginal to say the least. But I did a quick search and found this. Seems more comprehensive than the test I saw.

[PhilMart]

Hey stop knocking Myth Busters! Myth BUSTED!

[CatonaPC©]

Hey stop knocking Myth Busters! Myth BUSTED!

I like Mythbusters.

[KWICKS]

Agree, Mythbusters did a really simple experiment using 2 identical cars, one white, one very dark, and the same thermometer side by side. What would cause you to doubt such a simple method?

Also, your Octy was cooler as well becasue it has more air volume in its cabin and hence has a greater buffer before temperature changes.

All this said, our black GTI with Black Leather was bloody hot before we had it tinted, and I haven't been in it since TBH.

[craig_the_german]

Air conditioner

Hi all,

I guess you guys are the lucky ones.....you could be like a lot of us who have had multiple air conditioning compressor failures resulting in no air conditioning at all..

[gregozedobe]

But I did a quick search and found this. Seems more comprehensive than the test I saw.

Thanks for that Rick, unfortunately he was only measuring external temperatures, not what we are all interested in - the temperature inside the car.

Agree, Mythbusters did a really simple experiment using 2 identical cars, one white, one very dark, and the same thermometer side by side. What would cause you to doubt such a simple method?

Possibly because about 1/3 of the mythbusters "experiments" I see have such glaringly obvious problems with their method that even I can see them while I am watching. Have you noticed how even they change their conclusions sometimes in their "Revisited" sequences. I agree that Mythbusters are good entertainment, but it is precisely because emphasis on entertainment that I don't depend on them for reliable science.

Also, your Octy was cooler as well becasue it has more air volume in its cabin and hence has a greater buffer before temperature changes.

I'm wondering if you read my post properly ? I said :

" ...black Golf and it even though the hatch had been wide open for hours it was still hotter". So the Golf was open and the Octy was closed, so the Octy should have been much hotter than the Golf intially.

"and they had both been parked in the sun for hours". This is more than long enough for them to reach pretty close to their maximum temperature. Note that the Octy might have more cabin volume, but it also has more windows. Besides, air takes very little energy to heat up.

In the end it doesn't really matter, I'm happy with my choice of colours and you are happy with yours.