Car air conditioning: Internal or external air?

Most car models distributed on the market today are equipped by the manufacturer with internal air intake and external air intake modes. However, not all drivers know when it is appropriate to take in internal air and external air.

Both of these air intake modes belong to the car's air conditioning system and can be adjusted through the function buttons located on the dashboard. Basically, these two air intake modes are used to take air flow from outside or inside the car before going through the air conditioning system's cooling and heating system to maintain the temperature in the car's interior compartment.

Specifically, when the user selects the outside air intake mode, the air intake system on the car will draw air from outside the car into the air filter. Then, this air flow continues to be passed through the evaporator or heater of the air conditioning system, to change the temperature to suit the level the user has selected in the car. This air intake mode will create a fresh air flow, while always ensuring the amount of oxygen in the car's interior.

However, when the vehicle is traveling through areas with a lot of dust or odor, if the user still chooses the outside air intake mode, dust, humid air or unpleasant odors will enter the vehicle.

To reduce fuel consumption and sudden temperature changes when getting in and out of the car. Normally, when the car is just started and the air conditioner is not turned on, the user should choose the outside air intake mode and open the windows slightly. After turning on the air conditioner (A/C), the windows should be closed and the inside air intake mode should be switched to achieve a quick cooling effect.

As for the internal air intake mode, the air conditioning system will directly take the circulating air flow in the car's interior compartment to pass through the cooling system and heating system to change the temperature. With the weather conditions in Vietnam, on hot days, compared to taking outside air, the internal air intake mode when activated will bring faster cooling effect. Because the temperature inside the car is always different from the outside.

However, for cars that are not equipped with an automatic air conditioning system, when choosing the internal air mode and using the car during long journeys, it will easily lead to a lack of oxygen in the car, causing suffocation and making the people sitting in the car tired.

So if the car only travels on short distances or in urban areas, it should be set to take in fresh air to limit dust and smoke from entering the car. When driving on long journeys, with cars using manual air conditioning systems, it is advisable to occasionally choose areas with fresh air and switch to take in fresh air to ensure the amount of oxygen in the car.

For vehicles using automatic air conditioning systems, when the user selects the air intake mode during use, if the oxygen level in the vehicle is not guaranteed, the sensor will automatically switch to taking in outside air. Therefore, in some cases, users should also pay attention to avoid dust and outside odors from entering the vehicle, causing discomfort to the occupants.

When driving in rainy conditions, you should prioritize the internal air intake mode to avoid moisture entering the car, causing mold that can easily damage the air conditioning system. In addition, users should pay attention to cleaning and maintaining the air conditioning system, changing the air filter regularly and cleaning the interior compartment.

It can be seen that choosing the mode of taking in air inside or taking in air outside in the car depends on whether the car is equipped with manual or automatic air conditioning, along with weather conditions, outside air environment... Users should flexibly choose between the two air intake modes to ensure creating a fresh, airy atmosphere in the car.