Sort Out The Bad Smells From Your Air Con For Free!

Dorset Bob · 24th July 2016, 20:48

I have just read this from Honest John:

Q.Why does my car's air con smell so bad?
Is there a good way of getting rid of the "wet dog/smelly socks" odour which comes from the air conditioning when it is first switched on? It seems to clear after a while but it is really unpleasant.
Have tried "bombs" from Halfords etc. but they seem to be short term effective.

Answered by Honest John
Very simple. Run it at maximum temperature for 15 minutes.
The smell is coming from bacteria that has grown on condensation in the ducting. To get rid of the smell you need to dry out the condensation and the heat should also kill the bacteria.
Always a good idea to run a/c on max temperature for a minute or two at the end of a journey in order to evaporate off condensation in the ducting.

This makes perfect sense to me. You should see the amount of water being discharged down the pipes on my car during this hot sticky weather.

Sprinter · 25th July 2016, 06:09

I give mine a blast with 'Oust' and that freshens it up nicely. The nice fragrance doesn't last long but it stops the bacteria too.

T-Cut · 25th July 2016, 08:16

Does the evaporator matrix (where the bacteria breed) actually get heated air through it? I didn't think it did. I see Honest John's solution talks about bacteria on the ducting, whereas it's the matrix at the root of the problem. I've always dried the matrix itself simply by switching off the aircon while driving. That way, it's dried off before parking up. Have I got that wrong too?

TC

roverbarmy · 25th July 2016, 08:29

I use this cleaner/sanitiser
for the car and other uses as it "does what it says on the tin"!
Leaves the car smelling "minty fresh"!

Mike

Plezier · 25th July 2016, 13:42

Although the Classic SE CDT did not smell and the A/C seems to work very well the nephew renault did smell and he oreder a couple of A/C bombs the second bomb cost £2 so this morning both cars were bombed.

SD1too · 25th July 2016, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Cut

Does the evaporator matrix (where the bacteria breed) actually get heated air through it? I didn't think it did.

You are correct TC, it doesn't. Honest John's suggestion is fundamentally flawed, but then he's a journalist, not an engineer.

Simon

Elliott · 25th July 2016, 21:45

Most people forget to set the system to recirculate and even close the windows when using the bombs and you must leave the system running for a good 15-20 mins after the bomb has expelled, most important don't sit in the car when you set the bomb off.
Have used bombs many times and always with good results,

Modern systems and ATC's tend not to suffer this problem as they run all year and are used in the winter as well to defog the inside of windscreen, but manual systems can sit static for months at a time not being used and has been said its the matrix/evaporator where most of the problems occur. Try switching on your manual AC a couple of times during the colder months and this should help with the problem and keep the AC systems seals lubricated so you loose less gas during the colder months

Plezier · 26th July 2016, 06:01

Half the problem is ignorance within the motor trade itself. I have been told more than once that running the A/C or ATC on the Connie would guzzle fuel

whilst it may use a little more in the grand scheme of things it is not a lot. Traffic hold ups and jams plus traffic calming measures use far more fuel.

The hand book of the Cherokee Jeep said to run the A/C all year round as it dries the air coming into the cabin thus demists in winter far better. That was my first car with A/C.

Kennyeth · 26th July 2016, 06:07

Can`t smell mine for tobacco

Ken.

Leyland Worldmaster · 26th July 2016, 07:43

It does my head in when cars with ATC or similar systems are left in ECON mode because as had already been mentioned, the use of A\C all year round hardly makes a difference to fuel economy; much less than say; a trip to a specialist to diagnose a system fault...

Set the temperature to the suggested value in the handbook and enjoy a reliable system with no smells!

Like everything else; use it or lose it!

The Rover 75 and MG ZT range were not designed to be economical. They were designed to be luxurious and in the case of the ZT sporty! If fuel economy is your ultimate goal, buy a car designed from the outset to be economical.

That's what I did anyway!

24th July 2016, 20:48	#1
Dorset Bob Senior Citizen Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur SE,Chrysler 300C,124 Spider, Daytona 955i,Honda XL250 & Royal Enfield 650GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Kingdom of Wessex Posts: 6,976 Thanks: 2,391 Thanked 2,685 Times in 1,686 Posts	Sort Out The Bad Smells From Your Air Con For Free! I have just read this from Honest John: Q.Why does my car's air con smell so bad? Is there a good way of getting rid of the "wet dog/smelly socks" odour which comes from the air conditioning when it is first switched on? It seems to clear after a while but it is really unpleasant. Have tried "bombs" from Halfords etc. but they seem to be short term effective. Answered by Honest John Very simple. Run it at maximum temperature for 15 minutes. The smell is coming from bacteria that has grown on condensation in the ducting. To get rid of the smell you need to dry out the condensation and the heat should also kill the bacteria. Always a good idea to run a/c on max temperature for a minute or two at the end of a journey in order to evaporate off condensation in the ducting. This makes perfect sense to me. You should see the amount of water being discharged down the pipes on my car during this hot sticky weather. __________________ Let the good times roll............

25th July 2016, 06:09	#2
Sprinter Posted a thing or two Jag S-Type 4.2 V8 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Derby Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 271 Thanked 427 Times in 293 Posts	I give mine a blast with 'Oust' and that freshens it up nicely. The nice fragrance doesn't last long but it stops the bacteria too. __________________ “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”

25th July 2016, 08:29	#4
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	I use this cleaner/sanitiser for the car and other uses as it "does what it says on the tin"! Leaves the car smelling "minty fresh"! Mike __________________ Oil in my veins!

25th July 2016, 13:42	#5
Plezier I really should get out more....... Mercedes C Class CDI estate (2003) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gradina Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 62 Thanked 137 Times in 119 Posts	Although the Classic SE CDT did not smell and the A/C seems to work very well the nephew renault did smell and he oreder a couple of A/C bombs the second bomb cost £2 so this morning both cars were bombed. __________________ Classic SE CDT sadly lost in a severe collision.

25th July 2016, 21:45	#7
Elliott Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sheerness Posts: 261 Thanks: 174 Thanked 61 Times in 50 Posts	Most people forget to set the system to recirculate and even close the windows when using the bombs and you must leave the system running for a good 15-20 mins after the bomb has expelled, most important don't sit in the car when you set the bomb off. Have used bombs many times and always with good results, Modern systems and ATC's tend not to suffer this problem as they run all year and are used in the winter as well to defog the inside of windscreen, but manual systems can sit static for months at a time not being used and has been said its the matrix/evaporator where most of the problems occur. Try switching on your manual AC a couple of times during the colder months and this should help with the problem and keep the AC systems seals lubricated so you loose less gas during the colder months __________________ I would be so fast if I could only get going

25th July 2016, 08:16	#3
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Does the evaporator matrix (where the bacteria breed) actually get heated air through it? I didn't think it did. I see Honest John's solution talks about bacteria on the ducting, whereas it's the matrix at the root of the problem. I've always dried the matrix itself simply by switching off the aircon while driving. That way, it's dried off before parking up. Have I got that wrong too? TC

26th July 2016, 06:01	#8
Plezier I really should get out more....... Mercedes C Class CDI estate (2003) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gradina Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 62 Thanked 137 Times in 119 Posts	Half the problem is ignorance within the motor trade itself. I have been told more than once that running the A/C or ATC on the Connie would guzzle fuel whilst it may use a little more in the grand scheme of things it is not a lot. Traffic hold ups and jams plus traffic calming measures use far more fuel. The hand book of the Cherokee Jeep said to run the A/C all year round as it dries the air coming into the cabin thus demists in winter far better. That was my first car with A/C. __________________ Classic SE CDT sadly lost in a severe collision.

26th July 2016, 06:07	#9
Kennyeth This is my second home No more Rover Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 1,625 Thanked 1,308 Times in 998 Posts	Can`t smell mine for tobacco Ken.

26th July 2016, 07:43	#10
Leyland Worldmaster This is my second home Audi A2 1.4TDI Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Avec the Penguins! Posts: 11,469 Thanks: 3,355 Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,057 Posts	It does my head in when cars with ATC or similar systems are left in ECON mode because as had already been mentioned, the use of A\C all year round hardly makes a difference to fuel economy; much less than say; a trip to a specialist to diagnose a system fault... Set the temperature to the suggested value in the handbook and enjoy a reliable system with no smells! Like everything else; use it or lose it! The Rover 75 and MG ZT range were not designed to be economical. They were designed to be luxurious and in the case of the ZT sporty! If fuel economy is your ultimate goal, buy a car designed from the outset to be economical. That's what I did anyway! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 🏓 Last edited by Leyland Worldmaster; 26th July 2016 at 07:47.. Reason: Highly economical badgers.