DIY AC Insulation

[Kaotic]

Okay guys, it's summer time (at least here in the US), so what's better than having AC in your car? Making that AC colder. Here's a simple (but a little time consuming) DIY to do just that.

What you'll need:
-pipe insulation (I do not recommend the tape kind as I wasted money and time trying that one first, only for it to not work). I recommend a self-sealing rubber kind.
-6-8 inch zip ties (I bought 40, probably used ~30).
-scissors
-tools to remove nut and bolt on the strut bar (If you have one)

Time required:
Not really sure since I wasted about an hour trying to get the tape on insulation to work, causing my back to start aching, slowing me down A LOT on the second attempt with the proper insulation. My back still aches!

Step 1


Step 2




Step 3


Step 4
More zip-ties


Step 5
Picture should be vertical (since that is how it will look like when you are looking down at your engine bay)


Step 6
Picture should be vertical


Step 7
Picture should be vertical


Steps 8 - x
Didn't take pics since my back was really aching and I just wanted to get done (so I forgot to take pics).
Now, from the other side of the engine mount (more towards the radiator), wrap the insulation around the piping and feed it back towards the firewall (might have to push on the insulation with your fingers to get it under the firewall) all the way back to that holder from above). Zip-tie going from that holder towards the front (finishing wrapping and zip-tying once the piping reaches the rubber tubing). Now, cut a small piece of insulation (enough to cover the gap created by that holder), and do you best to cover the holder and the piping within it. Also do your best to zip-tie this piece in place (self-sealing really comes in handy here).

Steps x - x
A look at the zip ties




*picture should be vertical


Remember to zip-tie closer together were there are bends. *Picture should be vertical.


Start cutting the tails of the zip-ties off.






Put the strut bar back together and enjoy colder AC.

[Kaotic]

*Pictures are not resizing correctly (at least for me they aren't), and don't mind some of the typos on the pics, lol.

[rpga44]

i was looking for the insulation tube here in philippines.. but not luck couldnt find one.

any way how muck insulation tube did you used?

and what is the difference after installing?

would it cause the tube to freez inside and block the coolant?

[Kaotic]

i was looking for the insulation tube here in philippines.. but not luck couldnt find one.

any way how muck insulation tube did you used?

and what is the difference after installing?

would it cause the tube to freez inside and block the coolant?

I actually haven't used my ac since I installed it (I don't use my ac if I'm by myself in the car since gas here is expensive again). But a member in YarisWorld has documented a 10 degree difference after installing. It should not cause anything to freeze over. As for materials, I bought a 6-foot piece (that's what the hardware store sold), and probably have 1.5-2 feet left over. However, try to get a thinner one than I used since it was quite hard to get it through the engine mount.

[rpga44]

i think this would be a good gas saver you can lower your temp

do you think it would work ?

[Kaotic]

i think this would be a good gas saver you can lower your temp

do you think it would work ?

Perhaps, but I'm not quite sure how much more you will save. I really can't test that out as I rarely use my a/c. lol. I did this mod only because it was cheap, and just in case I'll be driving people more often this summer. hehehehe. Only when other people are in my car is when I use my a/c.

[rpga44]

good for you. you can drive in open window..

not in my case in manila. Very dirty air, smoke from buss, jeepney, also alot of dirt,

if i drive with my windows open i expect dirt in my face and all over my interior. 

[Kaotic]

good for you. you can drive in open window..

not in my case in manila. Very dirty air, smoke from buss, jeepney, also alot of dirt,

if i drive with my windows open i expect dirt in my face and all over my interior. 

Oh yeah, I forgot about those. It's been a while since I've been back home.

Have you made yourself a cabin filter? Works well. My vents don't get as dirty as before (without a cabin filter).

[jpadua]

wow, another great DIY bro! so is your AC much colder? I think that's a really good idea

[Kaotic]

wow, another great DIY bro! so is your AC much colder? I think that's a really good idea

Thanks.


I finally got to test out the a/c after the install. Instead of taking minutes to start to get cold, it now gets cold within a minute. That surprised me big time. That means you can turn down the fan speed much sooner. I can feel it slightly colder once driving (i.e. after 20 minutes of driving). It's a pretty good investment/mod imo.

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