When driving with windows closed should I be using the re-circulate air option more often and in minor traffic?
Posted by MammothSal@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 8 comments
(sorry accidentally deleted my post, reposting now)
Dear, ASKCARGUYS users,
I only use the recirculate air button occasionally and for short periods. Like if I'm going through smoke, visible pollution or if I come across noticeable odors. Or if I am trying to cool my car down quicker on a hot day, I'll run it with the AC when I first get in my car.... I maybe click the recirculate air button once or twice a month at most to be honest.. Otherwise its just outside fresh air intake mode blowing lightly.... or everything off and the windows open... On just short trips to the store or whatever I dont usually use "re-circulate"
I was reading an article saying that you should use the re-circulate air option in circumstances I usually personally don't though.... Like at stoplights, in minor traffic, and in stop and go traffic, etc.....
I guess this is because you are taking in "less pollution" in the re-circulate air mode than you would be in fresh air mode? Had me wondering if I am doing something unhealthy by keeping my settings on fresh air intake 99 percent of the time. Like tbh I rarely use re-circulate and I drive alot.... Only in those times I mentioned above...
I deliver food so I am driving quite often in my local suburbs..... Usually I have the windows down, or my car set to outside fresh air intake mode and blowing on me lightly. If I have the AC or Heat on (which is quite often) I will also have it on "fresh air mode" with my heat or AC on... And I am usually just driving in suburban traffic, and even though It is stop and go quite often.. I still just leave it on "fresh air mode" 99 percent of the time...
am I doing something wrong? Am I polluting the air in my car more by not using recirculate?
And What about on the highway in traffic? Should I be using it? My car manual says not to use it for more than 10-15 minutes at a time do to possible "drowsiness"....
So Basically... Should I be using re-circulate more often? Or is it okay to just do what I'm doing? Sorry for the dumb repetitive questions, I am a newbie driver and I tend to over think things about "health and wellness" .. had me wondering if im doing something unhealthy or wrong..
Cyberdink@reddit
I personally never hit recirculate. I suppose I would only ever use recirculate if I was following a diesel truck that was rolling coal.
u3b3rg33k@reddit
you're not taking in less pollution unless your car is hermetically sealed. even then, you're breathing your own exhaust which is bad, too.
recirc off, change ya cabin filter.
singelingtracks@reddit
My recirc is on all summer for the better ac performance.
And usually off in the winter .
skirmmish@reddit
I dont think ive put this much thought in any car related decision, including purchases.
If you want to recirculation air turn it on, if not dont.
Bedbouncer@reddit
I was recently thinking about explaining to my son about inflating car tires: how to locate and read the ideal tire pressure for a car, the pros and cons of running below that pressure, the pros and cons of running above that pressure, the effects of seasonal temperatures....
and I realized that maybe there are other ways to gather knowledge than being like a caffeinated bee rampaging through a field of trivia pollen.
Albert14Pounds@reddit
The main purpose of recirculating from the manufacturers point of view is that it uses less energy (and this is more effective) to just be adjusting the temperature of the air circulating in your car that's already been conditioned and is usually closer to your desired temperature than the outside air. Obviously this depends on outside conditions. But that's the main reason that recirculate automatically turns on in a lot of cars when you turn the AC on. It takes a lot of energy to cool and pull humidity out of the air so it's better from an efficiency perspective to recirculate.
It's also recommended while stopped because that's when less air is flowing through the engine in general and AC can struggle to keep up even though there's a powered fan involved. Airflow is still reduced in general.
VoidingSounds@reddit
The time I spend reading your post is more than I've spent thinking about recirc in three decades of driving.
If outside is stinky. turn on recirculate.
If you need 'more' from the AC (cooling or dehumidification) turn on recirc,
I was reading my car's manual last night and they went on about it for a while but I'm convinced that it's all last 1% efficiency games and I do not care.
cormack_gv@reddit
Recirculate only if AC is on.