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Engine & DrivetrainDiscussions about the engine and drivetrain of your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "AC dragging you down???", within the Engine & Drivetrain forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
I have a '05 Tundra DC 4x4 and I'm a bit suprised how much power I seem to lose when I have my AC on. I live in Virginia and right now it's mid-90's with high humidity so the AC is working hard but still a bit suprised how much of a power difference there is. I'm also feeling/hearing the enging more when the AC is on. Are any of you experiencing the same thing or should I take the truck into service. I think it's probably normal as I've experienced it on other vehicles but this is my first V8 truck so thought I'd check around. Thanks for your feedback.
My guess is that this is normal. I don't notice it much on with my lighter regular cab but I'm sure it's noteworthy on the heavy DC.
You can push the A/C button and turn off the compressor when you need the extra power... Then push it again when you are back to cruising.
__________________
You can choose not to drink from the WHITES ONLY water fountain.
Thunder Gray Metallic
2002 REGULAR CAB - LONG BED - 4WD - V8 - SR5
TRD / Kazuma LSD made by EATON
Bilstein HD shocks
Michelin 8 ply E series radials
JBA headers
Hellwig rear bar
Line-X over the rail
2005 tail lights
OEM Door Sill protectors
TRD Off-Road front coil springs
Color matched LEER Hi-Top cap
Wet Okole Sport Seat Covers
Tinted Windows
OEM Rubber Bed Mat
OEM All-Weather mats
OEM Towing Package with Remote Transmission Cooler
I have a '05 Tundra DC 4x4 and I'm a bit suprised how much power I seem to lose when I have my AC on. I live in Virginia and right now it's mid-90's with high humidity so the AC is working hard but still a bit suprised how much of a power difference there is. I'm also feeling/hearing the enging more when the AC is on. Are any of you experiencing the same thing or should I take the truck into service. I think it's probably normal as I've experienced it on other vehicles but this is my first V8 truck so thought I'd check around. Thanks for your feedback.
Back in the 90's it was estimated that the a/c compressor (engine load) and interior fans (electrical load) added about 5 to 7 hp parasitic loss to engine performance. I would doubt that number has gone up with the current emphasis on emissions and mileage numbers. I notice it somewhat in my Tundra but then it's unladen weight is less than the DC and my unit doesn't have the interior volume yours does. I can tell the loss most on the highway when there are hills to climb and it kicks out of overdrive more frequently.
Larry
PS: On Toyotas the a/c compressor does automatically drop out under hard throttle application.
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2004 Tundra V8 Limited Access Cab 4X4, Michelin 265/65/R17 ATX2 tires, Auto Dim Comp/Temp Mirror, Aero Turbine #2525 muffler, Access Roll Up Cover, Optima D31A battery, Multi-Vex adaptive outside mirrors, Eclipse AVN5510 Nav unit and Sirius SIR-ECL1 tuner as of 10/07 pictures in my photo gallery
If a combo of all these whizz bangs met their claims you'd have to syphon gas out of your tank every second day and sell the excess horsepower on the third????
I have a 05 Tundra AC 4X4 and I don’t notice much of a difference when the air conditioner is on. If the system was over charged it would place an abnormally high load on the engine. Since it is still in warranty I would take it in to have it checked just in case. Lots of spare power in the V8 to run the ac so I wouldn’t think you would notice much of a difference.
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2005 Tundra 4X4 access cab.
K&N drop in filter
custom exhaust
Bazooka sub woofer (makes the stock JBL sound good)
I have the same issue on my 05 DC. It is mostly noticed when I am in stop and go traffic...the engine rpm's and shift point on the tranny are noticeably higher. At first it almost made me think my tranny was slipping, but I turn the AC off and immediately it goes back to "normal". I am relatively happy with the power with the AC on under normal driving conditions on the highways, but that city traffic really makes you feel and hear the difference. I actually never noticed it until I made a trip to dowtnown Chicago this summer, and I thought I was going to need to find a Toyota dealer to do warranty work on the tranny until I figured it out.
In a nutshell, I think it's normal, but I'd consider having a dealer check it out just in case you've got a bad compressor bearing or something like that. That's what those service departments are for.
PS: On Toyotas the a/c compressor does automatically drop out under hard throttle application.
Is this true for the Tundra? I haven't noticed the compressor kicking off under WOT with my 2000 AC Tundra. I did have this feature on my '94 T-Bird and would notice the air getting warm and humid under WOT. Ford first used this on the Mustang GT back in the mid 80s and others may have also, but I haven't noticed it on the Honda's and toyota's.
We've got a new Camry 4 cyl that I hope does this (no full throttle runs yet, as it only has 1600 miles on the odo).
Hope it's true as I've always wondered why Toyota and Honda didn't have this simple feature, especially now that virtually everything on the vehicle is computerized. It's not that big a deal on the V-8s, but can make a big difference on a small HP 4 cylinder.
My 2001 V8 AC Limited is subjected to WOT many times daily. I live in Houston. AC runs most of the year. I have never experienced any problems as posted above. I have tried WOT at stop lights with AC off. Doesn't seem that much faster, but if I'm sitting next to a sorry ford, I don't take chances. I like suprising them and disproving myths that this thing is underpowered. I love this truck!
Is this true for the Tundra? I haven't noticed the compressor kicking off under WOT with my 2000 AC Tundra. I did have this feature on my '94 T-Bird and would notice the air getting warm and humid under WOT. Ford first used this on the Mustang GT back in the mid 80s and others may have also, but I haven't noticed it on the Honda's and toyota's.
We've got a new Camry 4 cyl that I hope does this (no full throttle runs yet, as it only has 1600 miles on the odo).
Hope it's true as I've always wondered why Toyota and Honda didn't have this simple feature, especially now that virtually everything on the vehicle is computerized. It's not that big a deal on the V-8s, but can make a big difference on a small HP 4 cylinder.
Anyway, does the A/C kick off under WOT?
RE
My Tundra cuts off as does our 03 Camry V6 SE. The 1976 Celica GT liftback we bought did that also. Every Toyota we've owned that had a/c cut off under hard acceleration as did the two Maxima's.
Larry
__________________
2004 Tundra V8 Limited Access Cab 4X4, Michelin 265/65/R17 ATX2 tires, Auto Dim Comp/Temp Mirror, Aero Turbine #2525 muffler, Access Roll Up Cover, Optima D31A battery, Multi-Vex adaptive outside mirrors, Eclipse AVN5510 Nav unit and Sirius SIR-ECL1 tuner as of 10/07 pictures in my photo gallery
If a combo of all these whizz bangs met their claims you'd have to syphon gas out of your tank every second day and sell the excess horsepower on the third????
Sorry guys but you've lost me with WOT. What does WOT mean?
Is there a glossary of acronyms somewhere on this site?
Wide Open Throttle
__________________
You can choose not to drink from the WHITES ONLY water fountain.
Thunder Gray Metallic
2002 REGULAR CAB - LONG BED - 4WD - V8 - SR5
TRD / Kazuma LSD made by EATON
Bilstein HD shocks
Michelin 8 ply E series radials
JBA headers
Hellwig rear bar
Line-X over the rail
2005 tail lights
OEM Door Sill protectors
TRD Off-Road front coil springs
Color matched LEER Hi-Top cap
Wet Okole Sport Seat Covers
Tinted Windows
OEM Rubber Bed Mat
OEM All-Weather mats
OEM Towing Package with Remote Transmission Cooler
I have noticed power loss when towing, otherwise it's no big deal.
FWIW I think a lot of that loss may come from having to turn that radiator fan, which is on constantly with the A/C running. I think an electric fan (FAL or SPAL) might really help that...
Are you sure that you're actually down on power, or does it only SOUND like the engine is working harder? Reason I ask is when the fan clutch engages, it is VERY loud and it sounds like the engine is going to fly out with the roaring.
The doublecab, if I recall correctly, is only about 200 or 300 pounds heavier than the AC. I can't tell a difference in power or performance when my wife is with me and I have a load in the back, and the DC is geared slightly lower, which should offset any weight difference.
__________________ 2003 SR5 TRD V8
Better Built toolbox / Limited leather / Power outlet mod / Maplight mod / Horn mod / Wheelskins leather wheel wrap / RS3200 Plus / Rebadged w/TRD / Bully Nerf bars / '05 OEM Taillights / Clear corners / Tint / Factory Woodgrain kit / Gentex EC Mirror / Gaylord's Toolbox-Lid / MB Overdrives with Revos / Muthco Signal Mirrors / Sport Grille / TRD Dual Exhaust / Camry Nav System
OK, I can state for a fact that my 2000 V8 does not cut off the AC under WOT.
Ran it today blowin ice cold air from 0 to 85 mph, on the floor, with the AC on blowing in my face, and the compressor did not kick off. Haven't tried it on the Camry yet, but I will.
AC dragging you down???
No problems 2001 AC
