Air conditioning condensor

[Mike6]

Had a few hours on my hands today so decided to press on with removing the air con and save weight given its knackered condition. The condensor was a bit of a fiddle to remove being sandwiched between the oil cooler and the radiator. It weighed in with the pipework at 5 kg so that should make the steering a bit lighter.

 

What was interesting was the build up of muck on the face of the radiator, fairly small stuff given it must have first passed through the condensor fins. Nonetheless there was a substantial build up which must have been starting to affect the cooling. Not sure how I could have removed all this without taking out the condensor which in normal conditions you would not contemplate. However Its worth thinking about if cooling is starting to become an issue.

 

Without the condensor and with air flowing more freely across the radiator I imagine I will also gain a bit on engine efficiency.   

[dodge1979]

Well, unless your experiencing engine temp issues you wont see any gain. If your coolant temp is currently within correct parameters youll see no benefit.

I find the whole "lets remove the ac pump etc to gain possible power" thing silly. You will see no difference. Get your ac working and youll have a better gain than removing it..

Well, unless your experiencing engine temp issues you wont see any gain. If your coolant temp is currently within correct parameters youll see no benefit.

I find the whole "lets remove the ac pump etc to gain possible power" thing silly. You will see no difference. Get your ac working and youll have a better gain than removing it..

[lotus4s]

You can say that again...

[dodge1979]

My stutter is terrible....

[Mike6]

I wasnt suggesting removal to gain efficiency as such. The whole system was knackered when I purchased the car, like most of the  rest of the engine. The compressor drive belt pulley was seizing which in itself must have been a drag on the engine. The last owner said he had never had it working so not being a particular fan of airconditioning (heating is a different matter) in a sportcar in the south of England, I decided to strip it out. At 14kg weight the compressor and rear pipework were removed and must have produced a bit of efficiency gain as a by product of one less drivebelt etc 

 

When I took out the condensor I was just a bit surprised at the 20 odd years of muck sandwiched between this and the radiator. Whilst not suffering any particular temperature problems myself I thought it worth mentioning as ultimately it could start to give a rise in temperature and might be worth exploring in cars with problems. I dont do fast so efficiency for me would be a lighter front end and a bit less effort on a car without power steering.