running aircon in winter to stop gas leaking out?

[F4Phantom]

I have been told to run the aircon 1 time or more a week to stop the gas leaking out from dry seals as apparently the gas carries the lube. Cool. So it's coming up to winter here in Aust. So is it cool if I run it with the heater on? Obvioulsy you get your windscreen demisted very well with dry air, but

1 in our cars is there any potential to damage anything

2 is hot aircon on just as good to lube it up as cold air con on

thanks

[winfred]

won't hurt a thing, the heater core is after the evaporator in the airflow in the case so the ac is uneffected

[Russell]

I turn mine on for 5 minutes when I think about it during the winter. Cross my fingers, but I, or the PO, never had any refridgant put in since the compressor was replaced about 90,000 miles ago.

My wife's Explorer with auto climate control will turn the air on when it thinks the interior is to hot from the heater even in the winter. Many modern cars will use the air in all seasons.

Just an observation.

I have been told to run the aircon 1 time or more a week to stop the gas leaking out from dry seals as apparently the gas carries the lube. Cool. So it's coming up to winter here in Aust. So is it cool if I run it with the heater on? Obvioulsy you get your windscreen demisted very well with dry air, but

1 in our cars is there any potential to damage anything

2 is hot aircon on just as good to lube it up as cold air con on

thanks

[KenB]

I've always heard this is a good practice to keep seals from drying. In most American cars the full defrost setting turns on the A/C compressor for the quickest defrosting of the windshield. In our cars you have to do it manually. It also helps to turn on the recirculating setting for quick defrost.

When I lived in SoCal, I rarely used the A/C and the seals did dry out eventually, I didn't know of this practice back then.

Good point to bring up for those that are not aware of it.

[632 Regal]

I usually run mine to clear the windshield on the inside when real humid in the cold, works magic.

[joshua43214]

Just run it with defrost, the AC will unfog the glass far faster and more comfortably that the heater alone will, Oh and turn off the recirc.

[Alexlind123]

The owners manual states that the conscientious car owner should run their A/C at least once a month (i think thats the interval). But you should know that pressing the recirculate button also turns the A/C on to prevent the cabin from becoming stuffy.

[shogun]

When I bought the car in 1994 it was only 4 years old, 1 year not moved as the p/o died.
Seals were dry and I had to buy a new compressor. Since then I have no probs anymore and I use it almost daily due to the recirculation function I have to use in big city Tokyo, where it automatically starts.

Anybody tried to repair a compressor?
Any special shops recommended for parts supply?
I still have the old one and want to repair (at least try) it one day.

[joshua43214]

I have "rebuilt" quite a few different compressors, many parts can be order from an aftermarket source if you have the compressor model number, I don't think BMW sources any of the parts besides the clutch and the nose seal.

The nose seal requires special tools to install and remove, but other than that, it is fairly straightforward work. Generaly though, aside from replacing a nose seal, its not worth dealing with. And some repairs can't be done out side of a rebuilding facility.

[F4Phantom]

This is good info. I will now use the AC all winter. In the E30 I went a winter with no AC and it hammered the system. At least with these cars you dont notice engine drag. As for the quality of these systems I was once driving on the freeway in 41.5 degrees, the AC was frosty and car cool as, the engine was not struggling at all in the heat. NICE.