A/c on...white smoke? from vents!

[BillyMagnum]

Don't use my A/c a whole lot. On my way to work this morning and it was humid so decided to use it. I used it the other day and it was fine. Anyways..Turned it on this morn and a white smoke started coming out of my vents. A pretty large amount. Didn't really smell like smoke and the air was still cold(I think, I'll double check) but I didn't know what was happening...anyone know? plz and thanks
David

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

The equivalent of fog. No, really. Should have gone away once car started to cool and humidity dropped.

MORAV

[BillyMagnum]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

The equivalent of fog. No, really. Should have gone away once car started to cool and humidity dropped.

MORAV

ok pheww...so prly nothing to worry about then I assume. lol I feel dumb now but wasn't sure and I didn't leave the a/c on to find out.

[Smileybug]

I get it sometimes on really hot days. Goes away after a few minutes.

[BillyMagnum]

good to know! thanks!

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by BillyMagnum

ok pheww...so prly nothing to worry about then I assume. lol I feel dumb now but wasn't sure and I didn't leave the a/c on to find out.

"The only dumb question is the question you don't ask!" Questions are how you learn.

M.

[Lew]

Most likely it's low in refrigerant. The fog like smoke you are seeing has always been a sign of low freon. You need to check yours.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Lew

Most likely it's low in refrigerant. The fog like smoke you are seeing has always been a sign of low freon. You need to check yours.

Lew, I’m sorry, that makes no sense, what-so-ever! And actually quite the opposite, low freon would raise the temperature of the performance of the air conditioning, and negate the scientific happening that causes the "fog". [And while ppl are here reading about air conditioning, I will reiterate a point that I am constantly arguing with those not in the know about refrigeration. If your freon is low, it is not simply low, you have a leak in the system. Any mechanic who tells you you "just" need freon is lying and trying to make a quick buck. He knows you'll spend $40 or $50, maybe a little more, to "fix" you're air, but will either shop arond or not do $400 or $500. Freon does not dissipate, diminish, wear out, breakdown, or any term of the like, in a sealed system. Consider refrigerators that run 20+ years and still cool properly, assuming you keep the coils clean and the compressor does break down. Who here, has ever had to have their refrigerator freon charged? Same exact system conceptually.]

Here are a series of comments I have pulled from various places around the web regarding "fog" caused by air conditioning in a vehicle.

“The phenomenon of fog in vehicle air conditioning is a normal thing because it is influenced by environmental factors, including high humidity levels”

“my Tacoma used to do that when I lived in Austin, it was new, and only happened once in awhile. make sure you run the a/c pulling outside air in at least half the time- that's what the guys at the dealership told me to do when i got it.”

“here here for the high humidity. my dad and i were rolling in his 98 tacoma the other day and this happened. perfectly normal, my other yotas do it as well. lots of humidity in the midsouth.”

“Mine has done the same thing on very humid mornings (it gets pretty humid in San Antonio).... I was really worried at first though it was still blowing cold air out... Turned it down and it stopped... tried again later during the day, and it was just fine.”

“Yeah...it gets the worst when I go to Houston...Home of humidiy hell.”

And this one touches on the science principle that actually causes it:
“If it's really humid outside, it's possible that your ac is cooling the air past the dew point, and you're "flash condensing" the water in the air, creating a fog. I have had this happen a few times in my car too, only when its humid enough to do so..”

“yep thats why mine does it especially right before during and a little while after summer showers where the humidity is about 70- 90%”

And I could go on,and on, and on… Obviously no point! What you are experiencing is absolutely normal. Trust me, BillyMagnum, you have nothing to worry about.

Here is a video of this same thing occurring to the extreme on an airplane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDet6CeI0yo

MORAV

[BillyMagnum]

very informational thanks!