On the Cnilate control or w.e what does the eco button do? Ino the auto just keeps the temperature or true to keep at the chosen temp but can't really see what th eco does, Ino my mates edition30 has AC in place sooo?

Think it's ECON button and that will turn your AC on and off when the light on the ECON button is lite the AC is on or it'll come up on the display

Hope that makes sense

When the econ is lit up, the air-con is off. Econ mean "economy"

Bit of a misleading label that 'ECON' as the Octavia aircon uses a clutchless compressor so is always being driven and creating drag on the engine.

When ECON is selected the refrigerant is diverted in the ventilation system so that the coolest air from the vents will always be ambient air temperature regardless of what you set.

The ECON setting is handy if you want a temperature between ambient and 16C as with ECON off the lowest setting is 16C then LO, the maximum cooling, sometimes just too cool or too warm like in bright sunshine.

With ECON on the system can only heat ambient temperature air flow, with it off it uses the refrigerant to cool ambient air to a lower temperature.

However ECON off, meaning the air conditioning is active, will by nature dry the air somewhat so you are less likely to mist up windscreens etc.

Which leads me to... if I recall correctly the aircon system is automatically switched off (ECON on) when the ambient temperature is less than 4C, so how does that help dehumidify a frosty car???

Edited 18 July, 201411 yr by MicMac

If the econ button doesn't turn off the compressor then why does my engine use significantly more fuel with econ light off?

The ECO button disables 2 cylinders in the engine whlist making it more economical.

If the econ button doesn't turn off the compressor then why does my engine use significantly more fuel with econ light off?

So, the compressors are not the type with a simple clutch which means it's either on or off, but they do have an alternative mechanism like a variable valve to regulate the flow and workload according to demand.

So in essence, with econ on, yes the compressor is still turning with the engine, but at minimal effort with only a tiny trickle being pumped through it. Switch econ off, the valve opens more, the compressor pumps more which takes more effort hence more fuel consumption but ultimately nice cool air!

Haha wow I'm lost, so with it on it turns AC off, and makes the car more economical , with it ECO off, I have AC, and use more petrol?

I drive around with it off like 97% of the time lol

I found it made sod all difference off or on to mpg so I just left it off.

 

I can't remember the exact mechanics but the ECO mode only affects the AC. With it on you don't get any cooled air and the load on the AC compressor is reduced.

 

The compressor always runs a bit on the cars because the refrigerant is also a lubricant and needs to be circulated to keep the seals healthy.

I found it made sod all difference off or on to mpg so I just left it off.

 

 

When mine worked properly I, like you never thought having it in econ mode saved any fuel really.

The ECO button disables 2 cylinders in the engine whlist making it more economical.

Drugs are bad, OK?

I always thought that the econ button cooled the interior down to the outside temperature only .

 

  (According to the handbook in my old car !).