Increasing AC Performance by Cleaning Your Condenser -EricTheCarGuy

Increasing AC performance by cleaning your condenser was a surprise to me. My friend and forum moderator Paul Krawsek aka College man, turned me onto this. He works in HVAC and was telling me about the benefits of cleaning condenser coils. He says one of the biggest reasons that AC systems fail is due to increased head pressure in the compressor. Higher pressures equal more heat. The increased heat breaks down the lubricant. Once that happens, it's not long before the compressor fails. One way to keep down compressor temperature is to lower high side pressures in the AC system. You can do this by increasing the condensers efficiency by cleaning it. Honestly, I was amazed at the result. This really works and doesn't require that you open the AC system at all to do it. So if your AC isn't working as good as it should, you might try this process to see if it helps.
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ETCG
Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. EricTheCarGuy assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. EricTheCarGuy recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not EricTheCarGuy.

[@FBDYLVR]

Did this to four cars. All of them seemed to benefit from the cleaning and the system reached a colder temperature in normal driving. Thanks Eric!

[@Darkstea1th]

As someone who has installed and serviced A/C systems for over 12 years let me note, if your coil just has dust and leaves on it spraying water through the coils will clean it plenty. This cleaner was designed for coils that oil has leaked onto making it gummy and hard to spray or brush off without damaging the coil fins. Also it works well on hard to reach areas, then you can just use the cleaner and rinse. But most the time water will clean your coil great.

[@no22sill]

The condenser coil must be dirtier from the inside than from the outside since the fan pushes the air out from behind it. Am i right?

[@greatray6262]

Wow 38° at the vents. Technically that's a fridge with tires and rims. If it gets any colder you can start putting ice trays in there.

[@Ruben901]

Or store the butter on there

[@HOTRODRICO]

im jealous of that ac temp lol

[@rickjames5998]

@Braydon Brixton lol fucking fake ass bot

[@rickjames5998]

@August Malik lol ur a fkin bot acount too

[@ratedrm1]

Can't get below 65

[@miketeeveedub5779]

Think about how filthy the front-end of your car is during winter driving, and how often we neglect to clean the radiator openings properly. I'm definitely doing this with all my cars from now on. Great tip!

[@naciofan11]

The design makes this AC a possible alternative to ductless DYI systems. It works great. The remote control could be more visual aid oriented like a backligh design. Is impossible to see the lcd at least for me. Easy install kzbin.infoUgkx_hHgTlzH3uk31Fe2RVS3xEbXHGaN_z5Tation. Came on time . Great comfort around the house 5 🌟 again. Follow mfg instructions for care and all and this should be the only AC you need for those of is that don't live in new homes with central AC

[@guydickes2177]

Eric- thanks for the reminder that we all get old. I have been cleaning and repairing residential air conditioners for 40 years. I've seen AC units completely shutdown due clogged condenser coils (lawnmowing is the main culprit). You would think I'd do this to my Honda Pilot that has driven on many dusty and dirty construction sites- first time today. Absolutely makes a difference- even hosing it off will help. Keep it going- great videos.

[@EffendiChung]

Started doing this but with dish soap and used toothbrush. Does quite well for me. Every air conditioning expert I've met always try to say its not worth it. Well, what I really feel is that my a/c goes cooler faster, almost like brand new. effects a bit on the fuel consumption also.

[@MoisesJrFurto]

Did the same condenser cleaning on my car yesterday. My condenser hasn't benn cleaned for 4 years. Since I was recording my trips via OBD reader including the ac high side pressure, I made a pretty good benchmark of the before and after runs for the same route. After cleaning there was a significant drop in the high side pressure. Compressor and cooling fan on time when vehicle is idle was also shorter. The results of the cleaning does help make the ac system run more efficient. And since the compressor and cooling fan is not switching on as frequently as it used to, there is a bit of fuel savings there as the engine doesn't have to work as hard.

[@AlienMonkeyDXB]

For intercoolers/condensers/radiators I use tweezers to straighten the fins. Just pluck away for a few beers and you'll achieve good results!

[@LMacNeill]

Wow! I'm impressed! a 60-psi drop in pressure is HUGE! I didn't expect much of a drop in vent-temperature, myself... The A/C system is designed to get the temp down to a certain point, and no further... 38 to 39 degrees F is perfect... But as you clearly demonstrated, the system was working a LOT less to achieve that temperature after the cleaning. When it doesn't have to work as hard to achieve the same result, you get less wear-and-tear on the system, and (I'd imagine) better fuel mileage. If the compressor is not engaged as often, it's putting less of a drag on the engine, and thus you use less fuel. Very cool video -- thanks!

[@happy543210]

you're correct. the thermostat begins to cycle the compressor to maintain a constant temp.

[@tmst2199]

Doesn't vent temp depend partly on ambient temp? I read somewhere that a 40F drop from ambient is all you can expect.

[@tmst2199]

I just found out the high-side pressure on my '99 Civic dropped from 300 to 225 PSI after cleaning the condenser with this Nu-Brite stuff. Fantastic! So I just had to rush back to tell everyone to clean your condenser coils! Save your air conditioner! LOL.

[@trevorjudd516]

Hey Eric, Love your vids. Both the fin combs you were using are made for STRAIGHT home or commercial air conditioning, so I'm not surprised you were disappointed with the result. If you look at the condenser the fins are up & down wave shaped and the screwdriver is probably the easiest way to straighten them out. For your information the top third of a condensed is the most important, the second, second....and the third, last. This is to do with how the condenser condenses. My rule of thumb for damage is.....if the overall damage is 10 to 15%, it's acceptable. After that it's time to replace it. The chemical used to clean the condenser can also be used on the radiator and also the evaporator and barrel fan. I haven't seen all your vids but cleaning the evaporator and replacing the cabit filter are just as important as a clean condenser. On a professional note: when we read gauges or thermometers we bring the centre pivot point to eye level so we can accurately make the reading. It makes a difference. Keep up the good work! The Guru of Cool Australia

[@kevinreid6223]

this guy is a mad scientist when it comes to cars thanks for these upload a true American.

[@gurley1022]

Eric, I got my start as a mechanic of any sort in the Navy working on Helicopters. I continue to do so as a government contractor now. And I must say that your channel has been one of the main sources of information that I have used for transitioning from my platform to vehicle maintenance. You would be surprised the ease of moving between them on a great many ideas.

[@suzannely7441]

I love how you do recaps at the end of your videos. Makes me feel like you have experience teaching. I appreciate your videos!

[@gianfavero]

Hey Eric thanks for taking the time to talk about safety in your videos. Very important, good job!

[@sergiodjf]

Condenser coil maintenance is usually neglected in HVAC yet is a vital component. A dirty condenser coil not only reduces system efficiency but will also shorten the life of the compressor over time (higher refrigerant temperatures & pressures). By design, the evaporator coil stays clean because it has an air filter (if changed regularly) but the condenser coil is exposed to the elements. Both coils have to be clean for maximum airflow & top efficiency.

[@David-dm4bf]

Glad to see you doing this! I used it on my 10 yo truck last year. Was cleaning the house AC unit and thought hmmmm...I read and read, just wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna hurt any parts on my truck. I actually loosened the condenser so I could do my radiator as well, while I was in there, lol. I couldn't really tell a difference in the cooling but thought it sure wouldn't hurt to be clean. Nice to see that it made such a difference in the pressure of the system, WOW! I never even thought of that benefit. Thanks!

[@DoctorRobert64]

Did my first compressor change out and system charge. Used your videos for advice. You are a big help. Thanks! I subscribed. This old body and fender guy appreciates the help!

[@fomrl0406]

Thanks for the tip. I did this to my wife's minivan and got the high side pressure reduced by 40 psi! I also added nearly about 8-10 ounces of refrigerant too! Now it's really running top notch!

[@StehHiesher]

Excellent videos! You know what you are talking about and present the info in a no-nonsense way without being annoying! This is all too rare on KZbin.... Keep up the good work!

[@ericthecarguy]

This is cool. (pun intended) Increasing AC Performance by Cleaning Your Condenser -EricTheCarGuy

[@EXLDayzeSRS]

I'll pass this on to my buddy... It kind of funny, just 2 days ago he was talking about his AC not working as well as it was...

[@gglovato]

lower head pressure also lowers the compressor resistance which should also lower fuel consumption!

[@DJDevon3]

Guillermo Lovato Compressor has variable load WTF? Really? Any videos available on that? Future video idea for ETCG? Had no idea.

[@FishFind3000]

Might try this I have two cars that could use it

[@MichaelMantion]

Duracool, may not be legal in your area. You use half as much, vs 134. Its cheap and works sooooooooo much better. Use it, love it, tell a friend.

[@CaptainNero]

Excellent vid Eric. Ive used the can cleaner on my home coils but never thought about the autos, always just figured running though delta sonic would cover it. Well now i have another project.

[@sypher0101]

I use to work at a radiator repair shop and had to (on occasion) straighten the fins with a pair of flat nose pliers.

[@fm1224]

Blow gun from your air compressor works wonders....especially one of those 30" ones from Hobo Freight...lot of times you can carefully sick them in-between and blow from inside out to the front of your car, all kind of crap, dust will come out, can do same for radiator cleaning...cheers!

[@frankpanzarino420]

This procedure worked great for me! My condensir was dirty, so was the radiator behind it. I sprayed the dilution over condensor, and radiator( as much as i could). Used a fine spray from garden hose, then blew compressed air straight in, and ditto for radiator. Just by seeing the diff before and after. System has to work more efficiently. Thank you Eric!

[@chrisrefaei]

This is way cool. I'm currently finishing up school to become a Nissan Tech at UTI Houston and we're are currently ending out last class this week and then I'm off to the dealership. Currently we're working on the HVAC portion and this is really cool to know thank you for the knowledge I enjoy all your videos!!!

[@hamidtoyouri906]

Thanks for your effort mate, I'm learning from you, and I really appreciate your help, well done.

[@cyrilazoulay9712]

I've done it on my car last week-end. I ended up using a foam spray from HD. I did it 3 times (2001 Civic) and I couldn't tell the difference in air temperature inside the cabin but I believe that the condenser needed a good clean up anyway as the water came out all black and oily. If my compressor is not working as hard, it's a win win (I don't have the tools to measure it). Thanks Eric for the tip!

[@apritchard171]

Which spray did you use?

[@Boz1211111]

Im changing radiator and with everything disassembled i was like why not to clean a condenser, and i cleaned it with compressed air. Obviously a good idea, thanks Eric

[@mtrefethen1]

Used this stuff to clean my supercharger intercooler core. Worked great. Thanks for the advice.

[@pgrens]

I'd go so far as to say very cool! I do wonder about that chemical sitting on painted areas or belts, hoses, etc., for 10 minutes, though. I'd be tempted to maybe put some plastic sheeting or something to create a barrier. Or maybe rinsing any over spray from the initial application immediately. But all that aside, this is a great thing to know. Thanks, Eric (and Paul)!

[@maggot68584]

Hey Eric, those 5.11 boots you have are some of the best ever made.

[@CharlesAAlmond]

Excellent info Eric...keep up the wonderful work!

[@lm7bird680]

I've been struggling with high high pressure in my AC. I should definitely consider cleaning the condenser

[@EddieTheGrouch]

This was an excellent presentation. The condenser and radiator are often neglected. The vehicle was perfect for demonstration as far as access and visibility. It was just too clean and the coil oversized to be able to show a temp improvement especially if the evaporator temp is regulated. Vehicles with under-sized coils will benefit more. Bugs and bent fins will have a greater impact especially on coils without a protected area like yours. Fin combs are not suited to automotive coils as the fins are flush with the tubing unlike stationary coils. Best method I have to do fins on auto coils is a row of sharpened popsicle sticks pushed through from the backside. While still tedious it works well to push out bug bits and debris. Put the extra cleaner to use on the home A/C and it can be bought at any Heating and Cooling supplier. Again, a very well done video!

[@chihuahuaverde425]

I clean my engine every once and a while, but like you mentioned, I had never thought to clean the radiator or condenser. Great idea to push the fins out from the back.

[@psient]

Thank you for the easy improvement. Now I'm gonna try it on my house AC system!

[@bronzedoor7092]

I just did this to my GMC acadia cause it would over heat driving up steep hills on the freeway on with the ac on before watching this video. The difference is I bought a spray can for cleaning ac condenser coils for about 5 dollars at home depot did the work took the front bumper off sprayed it on waited 5 minutes and rinsed. I put it back together the following day and drove up a 6% grade with ac on and no more overheating and the ac was colder 👍👍

[@petrmiskerik]

Cool, thanks for video and advice, this is great task for air conditioner and fuel consumption. Thanks for video Eric.

[@mikedavies3592]

well done thank you again a refresher you know how it is so much to remember when maintainig family vehicles your a good mechanic thank you

[@johnkaplanian]

Dear Erik, great video as usual. Let me suggest doing another video on evaporator cleaning under the dash. I know there is a filter there and I have seen a similar process to the one you did on condenser, but it was on evaporator noting that for water wash you can use the same plants sprinkler jug and it will seep through the condenser drain hole. As far as a special chemical solution for it, ask your AC friend and let us know. You may afterward gain some extra colder outlet air. Take care.

[@brianthepyro]

Just wanted to comment and say thanks for a great idea. I picked up an aerosol can of foaming condenser cleaner from home depot for $5 and cleaned out my 2001 Jetta with 125k condenser. When I hosed it off I was really surprised at all the fine dirt and grime that came out! It was already blowing warm so I figured while I had the machine hooked up and doing its thing I would clean the condenser. Now its back to blowing ice cold!

[@David-yh5po]

Thanks for sharing this video with us.

[@robanderson84]

i do that for work on our air handlers, it doesn't take much dirt to make the system less efficient, and you can barely see the dirt i am talking about removing, but its there! i clean air handlers 1 time a year in the spring or summer whenever there is time. good video!

[@aultraman]

Wow, what a difference this makes! I tried it on my 07 Odyssey and 08 Corolla and the AC on both are much cooler. Thanks for a great tip.

[@stackflow343]

This happened to me with a 97 chevy. A/C performance got to the point if I sat still, my rad got too warm and cooling sucked (belt-driven fan). Found a bunch of accumulation between the condenser and rad. Cleaned that out and rad temps were great again, but cooling still sucked. So I ended up taking off the grill & all, manually straightening all the bent fins on the condenser w/a butter knife, used cleaner and a water hose to flush it clean. After that cooling was normal again. Makes a huge difference and def one of the first things you can check.

[@andrew4935]

I have my system apart for an r134 conversion (it was already empty I'm just changing all the parts and taking to ac shop for vacuum&fill) I had one on a previous car explode at the view glass so I will defiantly do this to keep the pressures down and clean out 30 years of dirt. Thanks :)

[@jacklabloom635]

Great video, Eric. I was searching on how to clean my condenser.

[@s14slide]

This seems like it would be especially helpful for people who work with vehicles in dirty/dusty environments. Ranch trucks, 4x4's (muddin, trail rigs, prerunners, etc.). I run a lot of fire roads and it gets pretty dusty. Bet this would reduce the load in the California heat on trail rigs running in line on these dusty roads. Can't wait to give it a go.

[@dougkubash8673]

Definately makes a difference! It seems with the trucks in our fleet the radiator will plug first and air couldn't flow through the condenser because the plugged radiator was behind the condenser.

[@Gears.and.Gadgets]

At times when the condenser is not that dirty I'll use it at 10 to 1. Nice video. Your results would conclude a clean condenser rejects the heat much more effectively than a dirty one. I guess you found out while using nubrite it can be quite pungent. Stay up wind and you won't gag on it. Again, great job. Yes at $20 a gallon is pricey, but worth it.

[@TheStiver]

Thank you for providing links to every possible related video

[@Stevenzao]

Awesome! Gonna try this on my 94 Civic! It has probably never had the condenser thoroughly cleaned!

[@spelunkerd]

I'm wondering if you waited for the rinse water to completely evaporate away before measuring pressure again. If cold water droplets are beside the fins, the efficiency of the coil would dramatically improve since the water has to evaporate away before the fins will heat up. Just like dousing your head with water, it's an easy way to cool off quickly, taking advantage of latent heat absorption by evaporating water.

[@Cragified]

The water left on the condenser would have evaporated in fairly short order, definitely in the time shown in the video. You won't see it but automotive condensers get coated with lots of contaminates. Just think of all the salt that gets deposited on the fins in a very thin layer from winter driving. That thin, hard to see layer is an insulator and reduces the efficiency of the condenser. Eric didn't think to time it but I suspect that cycle times are longer now with longer on cycles now as well since the high pressure switch will trigger the condenser to cycle off once the head pressure hits the trigger point.

[@ericthecarguy]

Yes, as a matter of fact I did. It was dry when I did the second test.

[@jose456891]

EricTheCarGuy Erick at 15:00 there is water under the condenser. Is that from your canister? It looks like your condenser was still wet.

[@bg147]

I always wondered what effect a water mister would have on the efficiency of my ac condenser.

[@Cragified]

bg147 Water from your home's water supply while it would increase the efficiency would also have the negative effect of increasing corrosion due to it not being 'soft'. Plus you have to figure in the cost of the water itself. That said, many modern high efficiency wall units have a slinger built into the fan which picks up the condensate in the tray from the evaporator and throws it it on the condenser coils, increasing its efficiency while using water that would just drain out anyway and is 'soft' being condensed from the air.

[@Scorbutic]

Thank you for making such consistently entertaining and informative videos :)

[@vdgitaliano]

Pre-testing your temp is always the best way to determine if you need to clean the condenser or not. 38-41 degrees is considered normal. Cleaning the condenser every couple of years is always a good ideal.

[@jringo1808]

I did this procedure with a different cleaning product. I laid a white towel on the ground when I rinsed it and was amazed at the amount of dirt that flushed out.

[@TheHawk263]

I have done this for the house system. Good to know. I bought a gallon several years ago, but don't remember the price.

[@luckyCat_Steve]

You're awesome Eric, I'm gonna do this

[@davidbarrett7418]

Always change the filter under the dash also an oven cleaners to abrasive

[@WilliamTythas]

I know you are only discussing cleaning the condenser but I looked though the comments and I am sure you have mentioned it but I thought I would also add It Here; that making sure your Cabin Air filter is clean/New can have a dramatic effect on how you perceive the performance of your A/C system is working. ~ Another Great Video, Thanks again.

[@bigrob9759]

Love Ericthecarguy, thanks once again for your very well informative videos God Bless!!

[@triceps1961]

I've become an expert at straightening radiator and condenser fins. You have to use dental tools and plan on (depending on the fins condition) many hours, even days. I did the radiator in my 88 corvette, it took me about a week, and the radiator was removed from the car. Why didn't I just buy a new radiator you ask? Simple, the O.E.M. parts from the older vehicles are "WAY" better than the "CHEAP CRAP" they are pushing on the public in these modern times...

[@thefrugallandlord2226]

that's why you pay someone with OCD to do it for you.

[@teravolt6113]

Why not replace the cabin blower with a city bus sized one too?

[@SHiFTDI3S3L]

Nice vid, might try it myself one day. Question: Will this be beneficial with the car's radiator as well? And if so, is it advisable to spray a little extra, while doing the condenser, onto the radiator?

[@tedthornton7791]

I just replace a leaking ac condenser/trans cooler on a 13 Durango and it had leaked some trans fluid on radiator causing debris to accumulate on it so i wanted to clean that off. Keeping in mind the fragility of the material it was made of i did the following. Took an empty standard size dishwashing detergent squirt bottle and mixed a 50/50 solution of dawn and water. Squirted this container full twice over the crud allowed to sit 10 minutes, then filled same container with water only twice squirted over the area twice to rinse. Looked great, nastiness removed. Environmentally safe , effective, and minimal cost. Enjoy you videos. Great help.

[@davidlongobardo3869]

Hey Eric, I found that straightening the fins went a lot easier using toothbrush...brushing from a good section into the bent/damaged section...much easier and faster than the "fin comb"...yet still a PITA! LOL!

[@elsieallen7113]

Try a denture toothbrush their Stiffer & only a $1.

[@TechTimeWithEric]

I live in very a very rural area, and I do a lot of driving through the woods. Since it is easy enough to do with my trucks, a couple of time a year I pull my grilles off, and spray it the condenser and radiators out with the fan blade nozzle on my power washer.

[@josephm.7302]

And when you checked the high side pressure after the cleaning hopefully the condenser was 100% dry to have a fair comparison

[@cosmicallyderived]

Exactly, it's not clear what the wait time was here. Being wet and evaporating all that water off is an endothermic process that would mislead things a ton

[@DavidPruitt]

The condenser gets pretty hot and you've got a huge amount of airflow through there. By the time he finished narrating and the system stabilized to get a good reading everything would have been long dry.

[@CraigMortonEHS]

Great video Eric. Well done and very helpful!

[@dildobaggins069]

I do this to my condenser and intercooler, really helped with vent Temps and heat soak.

[@averitttee4866]

Wow, this is a really awesome video, thanks ETCG,gotta try this one day

[@gabrielseaff487]

Excellent video and information. Thank you so much.

[@sailr]

Excellent video. Thanks for the tip(s)!

[@sergeymakshakov6132]

Thanks for the video, my old 1990 civic has some problems with engine cooling system on a hot day, about 40C, with my AC on, so I'll try your solution and see what happens. Do you think that a similar engine cleaner can do the same job? to me it's pretty much the same solution.

[@teamstrangeone6983]

great information Eric! quick question is there a way I can I add an ounce or 2 of oil to my ac compressor if it's already been serviced and charged? the accumulator was replaced and evacuated but I forgot to add a little oilbefore I charged it with Freon :( thanks, Dan

[@rxsr999]

Great results! what about cleaning the evaporator? i heard people talk about a spray can, when applied (a 50 cm tube connected to the can and inserted in one of the vents), it foams and gets all the dirt out, all you need to do after is to set blower on high and leave the windows open for it to ventilate (you don't want to breathe it). it would be nice to see this in action.

[@tmar23]

Those fin straightners (condensor combs) work well on longer fins where you can insert and start at an undamaged area but basically worthless on those condensers.

[@fifteenbyfive]

Wow great video Eric. What a clinic!

[@jugdhiss]

This seems like a good idea to do if you have to remove or replace the radiator.This way you could push out dead bug debris and other big particles instead of clogging them back in, if you have enough clearance to hose it from inside the engine bay.

[@YansenHaryanto4547]

is it recomended to add water sprayer on to ac condenser? just like what subaru did to help cool down their intercooler.

[@stevendeitrich6933]

Thank You Eric . Great vidio . You got a subscription. Like your calm detailed instruction of how to .

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Pricipal ingredient sodium hydroxide. You can buy the dry crystals for about $2/lb at a hardware store usually right next to the drain cleaner which is also mainly sodium hydroxide but at 5 times the price for the fancy lable. I suspect this is the case here too. If you look at the waterbased engine degreasers they also are sodium hydroxide based relatively cheap and easily available at the DIY auto shop.

[@TommyT777]

The other ingredients in it might be to help reduce corrosion of the metals. Chemists are actually pretty smart.

[@johnfranks]

***** $1 a can at the Dollar General for oven cleaner (NaOH). Should be safe safe enough for a 10 min etch on a condenser.

[@johnfranks]

***** I just tried it on my old radiator sitting in the scrap pile. Followed up with some "Mag Wheel Cleaner" (Phosphoric, Sulphuric, Hydrofluoric acids) and the fins in that area look clean and bright.

[@NOMCCBAMA]

That's interesting. I'll have to look into the engine cleaner. Walmart sells a 19 OZ aerosol can of foaming coil cleaner for around $7. Rural King has it for $5. The active ingredient in the can from Rural King is sodium metasilicate, Nu-brite's active ingredient is Sodium hydroxide. I haven't tried it yet.

[@sergioferreyra3095]

I already did, thanks use a hair comb. incredible result

[@michaelglynn2638]

Very interesting, I learned something new there. Again. Thank you.

[@GrandHuevotes]

agreed eric. recheck the pressure now that time has passed. I think the testing may have been premature

[@franksandlin8974]

A new hand held wire brush with straight bristles works fairly well as long as you follow fins. It should be done like your home unit at least once a year. Not only possibly make it work better, less pressures on whole system. Seals ,O rings,hoses are less likely to leak.

[@qpalzmsk1986]

I'm wondering if using engine degreaser would have similiar effects since it's probably safer for painted surfaces ?

[@DieselWorld]

Eric, If you condenser was still wet from hosing it off it will show a high side much lower. When you did the test was there any moisture still on it? You can test this by running your ac with your gauges on then spraying the condenser with water and the high side will drop a lot.

[@lmavi]

Eric, thanks for another informative video. I'm curious how this would work on an initially poor performing system. Maybe a possible RE: video later on?

[@ericthecarguy]

Not likely. There are so many things that can effect AC performance. This is but one.

[@HappyHands.]

I bet the same principle would apply to the Cabin condenser as well, because on cars without cabin filters, they often become clogged with dust and mold.

[@13yearsaprepperr.jtilbury.51]

Hi Eric , I drive on a lot of dirt roads , I have a 2003 302ci ford V8 fairlane i checked my pressures before start i had 192 on the high i had to clean the condenser 5 times my head (high ) came down to 128 psi Great Rob NSW Australia

[@josephm.7302]

The reason the vent temp didn’t change is probably due to the metering device being a TXV and the low pressure switch regulating it. On a day with a ton of load (hot humid day) this would make more difference

[@Dastardly84]

Sweet video. Will have to clean mine some day.

[@TheAngryDuckman]

I used water compressor to clean the condenser radiator. Is there anything wrong with that? Of course I kept my distance away as high pressure water can do amazing things like cut through metal.

[@johnferguson7235]

Awesome Sauce.

[@skylercolvin8119]

It probably be a good idea to hit the rad while your at it and make the cooling system run more efficient

[@rpavlik1]

Did it take less time to get down to max cold after cleaning? Also, are there any similar chemicals that could be used that aren't so specific to condenser cleaning? I know I've got a bunch of things already with sodium hydroxide...

[@DudaZachary]

My car blows warm when stopped but cold when driving, sometimes. I'm thinki g this is what I need to do. 100 degree days here in Florida at the moment. I work construction, I sweat more on my way home than I do at work!

[@9598342]

Just a thought about the fin comb. Works a little easier albiet a little more difficult to access, if you go from the back side of the condensor and push the fins straight. Same goes true if using a pock screwdriver.

[@jimkramer]

I'm confused by your pressures. According to a chart I found, at 84 degrees ambient, pressures for the low side should be between 45-55 psi, and high side should be between 225-250 psi. One would be inclined to add R134a to the system if they just went on the pressures. However, the 39 degrees air temp from the vents would indicate that the system is fine. What is your take on that Eric?

[@sam111880]

nice video i realize that one should clean with low pressure or nozzles with low pressure because you could be doing more damage with bending more fins then clean grease/hunk out. The screw driver trick is a good tip to

[@insanmonster]

Also works well for fin coils for home heating systems.