How Much Horsepower Do You Think The A/C Takes From Your Engine

civicboy · 04-12-2006, 12:46 AM

I just recently added A/C to my DX Civic. I can bet you for sure that the A/C takes at least 10hp from your engine. I definately notice the difference now on pickup on the engine with the A/C there period. I can say its at least 1 sec slower to 60mph now with the A/C installed on the engine. Now there is another accessory for the engine to run, the A/C. On average how much horsepower do you think the A/C takes from the engine?

pixiedotcom · 04-12-2006, 12:55 AM

I'm guessing about 5-10 hp as well. It's pretty noticeable on the SI too. That's not good for those of us that live out in the desert!

**webby** · 04-12-2006, 01:01 AM

probably a good guess

**CameronJr9** · 04-12-2006, 08:08 AM

Sounds about right. I've noticed that on hot days when I'm cranking the AC, if I need to get on the expressway or traffic is heavy, I'll turn off the AC, merge into traffic, then switch it back on. Also, if you're worried about performance, throw on a couple 8thcivic.com stickers and those will add about 4 or 5 hp each.

2RotorMotor · 04-12-2006, 09:21 AM

It only causes a drag once its on, so just dont race with the a/c on. But 5-10 is probably average. I'm betting you loose atleast that much to the wheels.

Dale_K · 04-12-2006, 10:31 AM

Don't most cars cut off the A/C clutch at wide open throttle? I haven't tested this on my SI so I don't know if it's true for Honda.

FujiBlueSi · 04-12-2006, 10:53 AM

Something about your first post caught my interest:

"I definately notice the difference now on pickup on the engine with the A/C there period. "

Do you mean that even with the AC off you are down HP? If so it might be that your AC clutch is not disengaging.

ntwrkguy · 04-12-2006, 11:19 AM

There was a hottish day here in NYC yesterday, and I noticed on Ocean Parkway that I wasn't accelerating as fast as I wanted to with the pedal in the right position while the A/C was on. I wouldn't call it extremely noticeable, but for christ sake, it was a bit more noticable than the '84 Camry I used to drive!

***Jrfish007*** · 04-12-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FujiBlueSi

Something about your first post caught my interest:

"I definately notice the difference now on pickup on the engine with the A/C there period. "

Do you mean that even with the AC off you are down HP? If so it might be that your AC clutch is not disengaging.

I thinking that is what he means, just putting the A/C on to the car, when it is not running has slowed it down. However, very few people on here have driven their cars with the A/C compressor not on at all and then with it on but disengaged. But I think it seems that his clutch is not disengaging like you siad.

tadboy · 04-13-2006, 08:15 PM

I've noticed that when trying to accellerate quickly with the A/C on, I not only lose horse power, but the engine hesitates badly at first, and then lurches. Very odd and annoying.

sleeperls93 · 04-14-2006, 03:26 PM

Word of advice for you guys; if the AC is on, take it easy, just cruise, no need to be engaging vtec evrytime, lol.

tcel127 · 04-28-2006, 04:55 PM

considering these civics dont have a power steering pulley, there is already less drag on the system, your only using hp when its on anyways. a good cure for that is to open those big ass windows and crack that sunroof. get some fresh air and enjoy hearing vtec crack.

07 Figi Blue Si · 08-08-2007, 10:31 PM

I would say 7-9 Hp. Because that's exactly what the Injen SRI added, and it feels like the AC taketh away. Pure push-back to stock power but with AC!!!

moxom · 08-08-2007, 10:41 PM

So turning off the A/C is like adding boost?

I guess I can consider that an undocumented feature.

07whitefg · 08-08-2007, 11:50 PM

ummmm yea, when you floor it, the ac turns off so there should be no diffrence.... its all in your head. think of the reason you have the AC on in the first place...... cause its hot outside! thats where you have your power loss. that being said, when you are just tooling around town,not going above 3000rpms you can feel the diffrence with the ac on and off. it just feels snappier with the ac off.

legendman · 08-09-2007, 12:11 AM

my car shakes at idle with the a/c on.....annoying.

volvo9 · 08-09-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcel127

considering these civics dont have a power steering pulley

Wait, WTF??

I'm at work now so I can't exactly look at my car but there's no PS pulley? Where the f*ck is the pump hooked to? Directly to the engine?

This car has the most advanced engine I've ever owned and I haven't really looked around and tried to notice things yet so forgive me if I asked about something that's not true.

***07mugencivic*** · 08-09-2007, 09:52 AM

yeah i think..its about 5-10 hp...too

07whitefg · 08-09-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volvo9

Wait, WTF??

I'm at work now so I can't exactly look at my car but there's no PS pulley? Where the f*ck is the pump hooked to? Directly to the engine?

This car has the most advanced engine I've ever owned and I haven't really looked around and tried to notice things yet so forgive me if I asked about something that's not true.

its electric assist, not hydrolic

volvo9 · 08-09-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07whitefg

its electric assist, not hydrolic

Damn, that's new to me. Thanks!

Time to see how it works now.

04-12-2006, 12:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
civicboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Austin, TX Age: 26 Posts: 141 iTrader: 0 / 0%	How Much Horsepower Do You Think The A/C Takes From Your Engine I just recently added A/C to my DX Civic. I can bet you for sure that the A/C takes at least 10hp from your engine. I definately notice the difference now on pickup on the engine with the A/C there period. I can say its at least 1 sec slower to 60mph now with the A/C installed on the engine. Now there is another accessory for the engine to run, the A/C. On average how much horsepower do you think the A/C takes from the engine?

04-12-2006, 08:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
CameronJr9 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Age: 28 Posts: 26,377 Back and Forth Forever iTrader: 6 / 100%	Sounds about right. I've noticed that on hot days when I'm cranking the AC, if I need to get on the expressway or traffic is heavy, I'll turn off the AC, merge into traffic, then switch it back on. Also, if you're worried about performance, throw on a couple 8thcivic.com stickers and those will add about 4 or 5 hp each. __________________

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04-12-2006, 12:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
pixiedotcom Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Age: 35 Posts: 151 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I'm guessing about 5-10 hp as well. It's pretty noticeable on the SI too. That's not good for those of us that live out in the desert!

04-12-2006, 01:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
webby Acorns! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Storage Room B Posts: 14,623 iTrader: 12 / 100%	probably a good guess

04-12-2006, 09:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
2RotorMotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,904 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It only causes a drag once its on, so just dont race with the a/c on. But 5-10 is probably average. I'm betting you loose atleast that much to the wheels.

04-12-2006, 10:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dale_K Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 136 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Don't most cars cut off the A/C clutch at wide open throttle? I haven't tested this on my SI so I don't know if it's true for Honda.

04-12-2006, 10:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
FujiBlueSi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens, NY Age: 30 Posts: 2,862 Tim iTrader: 2 / 100%	Something about your first post caught my interest: "I definately notice the difference now on pickup on the engine with the A/C there period. " Do you mean that even with the AC off you are down HP? If so it might be that your AC clutch is not disengaging.

04-12-2006, 11:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
ntwrkguy Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York, NY Age: 21 Posts: 55 iTrader: 0 / 0%	There was a hottish day here in NYC yesterday, and I noticed on Ocean Parkway that I wasn't accelerating as fast as I wanted to with the pedal in the right position while the A/C was on. I wouldn't call it extremely noticeable, but for christ sake, it was a bit more noticable than the '84 Camry I used to drive!

04-13-2006, 08:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
tadboy Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 33 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I've noticed that when trying to accellerate quickly with the A/C on, I not only lose horse power, but the engine hesitates badly at first, and then lurches. Very odd and annoying.

04-14-2006, 03:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
sleeperls93 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: long island, NY Posts: 70 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Word of advice for you guys; if the AC is on, take it easy, just cruise, no need to be engaging vtec evrytime, lol.

04-28-2006, 04:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
tcel127 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 22 Posts: 1,250 Tyler iTrader: 0 / 0%	considering these civics dont have a power steering pulley, there is already less drag on the system, your only using hp when its on anyways. a good cure for that is to open those big ass windows and crack that sunroof. get some fresh air and enjoy hearing vtec crack.

08-08-2007, 10:31 PM	#13 (permalink)
07 Figi Blue Si Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: N. Ca Posts: 198 Lance iTrader: 0 / 0%	I would say 7-9 Hp. Because that's exactly what the Injen SRI added, and it feels like the AC taketh away. Pure push-back to stock power but with AC!!!

08-08-2007, 10:41 PM	#14 (permalink)
moxom Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 962 iTrader: 0 / 0%	So turning off the A/C is like adding boost? I guess I can consider that an undocumented feature.

08-08-2007, 11:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
07whitefg Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 94 iTrader: 0 / 0%	ummmm yea, when you floor it, the ac turns off so there should be no diffrence.... its all in your head. think of the reason you have the AC on in the first place...... cause its hot outside! thats where you have your power loss. that being said, when you are just tooling around town,not going above 3000rpms you can feel the diffrence with the ac on and off. it just feels snappier with the ac off.

08-09-2007, 12:11 AM	#16 (permalink)
legendman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 661 iTrader: 4 / 100%	my car shakes at idle with the a/c on.....annoying.

08-09-2007, 09:52 AM	#18 (permalink)
*07mugencivic* Whos The Whore NOW Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southern CA Age: 24 Posts: 101,159 Toe Knee iTrader: 4 / 100%	yeah i think..its about 5-10 hp...too