In a home AC system the chilled line is insulated. Why don't they do that for cars? The engine compartment is a much hotter environment than outside air. For the Prius, I note the chilled line begins down close to the oil filter, turns up and runs up and into the cabin. Most of it is plain bare metal exposed to the harsh engine compartment temps. Would it be helpful or harmful to put standard pipe insulation on this line?
The other issue is that unless the insulation is pretty well hermetic, you end up with condensation on the line.. If the line is exposed, the hot engine dries it off quickly, but if enclosed by insulation, the water just sits there, next to the line and can cause corrosion and leaking A/C lines and eventually A/C malfunction..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KS_prius @ Aug 11 2006, 06:43 AM) [snapback]301394[/snapback]</div> The refrigeration lines in our cars do not need to be insulated, the design call for the condensation evaporation do to engine compartment temperature. Thas the efficient way to extend the live of mechanical components.
