When to use the heater in a car?
You are right that the heater in internal combustion engine powered vehicles usually uses the waste heat of the engine for heating – that’s why in the summer you can use the heater to get a bit of extra cooling if you need it. During the winter the cooling from the heater may slow down the engine warming up, but only by a tiny bit.
Can a heater slow down an engine in the winter?
During the winter the cooling from the heater may slow down the engine warming up, but only by a tiny bit. Until the engine comes up to operating temperature the heater core is the only radiator, and it’s not nearly big enough or seeing enough air flow to significantly cool the engine.
What should I do if my car a / C is blowing hot air?
Check the front of your vehicle for debris, the engine cooling fans for proper operation, and your cabin air filter for debris and dirt. The refrigerant in your system also needs to be able to flow properly through the system. Check your compressor for proper operation, clogs in your system and the proper amount of refrigerant.
What happens if you leave your car running without a heater?
In other words if you leave your car running in the driveway to get it warm, it should begin to heat up just as fast with or without the heat going…you don’t need to make a second trip out to the car just to enable the heater.
You are right that the heater in internal combustion engine powered vehicles usually uses the waste heat of the engine for heating – that’s why in the summer you can use the heater to get a bit of extra cooling if you need it. During the winter the cooling from the heater may slow down the engine warming up, but only by a tiny bit.
Why does my car heat up in the winter?
Reason #1: Not Enough Coolant. Your car uses coolant – usually made up of 50% antifreeze and 50% water – to cool your engine down, especially during the hot months of summer. During the winter when you crank up your heat, the coolant is brought over from the engine to the heater core that then blows warm air into your car.
Can a car heater be unreliable in the winter?
Unreliable car heaters can make the cold winter months practically unbearable. Several things can potentially go wrong with automotive heaters because, much like a home heating system, there are many components working together to heat your car. If one or more of these issues is present, your vehicle may blow out cool air rather than heat:
What to do if your car heater is blowing cold air?
If the coolant levels are fine and there doesn’t seem to be a problem with your heater core, you may need to replace some of the control buttons or your heater control valve. The heater control valve is underneath your hood and acts as the switch that turns the heat on and off.