# Cleaning my car air conditioner's radiator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050 "2013-08-24T12:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/1 "2013-08-24T12:31:48Z")
At least for my home window air conditioners, cleaning the radiator makes a difference in how well it works. Do car air conditioners need the same? Where the heck do I find it? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/2 "2013-08-24T12:46:21Z")
Would probably improve efficiency as they get clogged with leaves and general crap, as with the standard radiator and intercooler. Where to find it will depend on the model of your car but they are generally in front of or beside the standard radiator - in front of so they aren’t fighting the heat generated by the cooling system. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/3 "2013-08-24T12:47:12Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > At least for my home window air conditioners, cleaning the radiator makes a difference in how well it works. Do car air conditioners need the same? Where the heck do I find it? If your car was made in the last few years it may have a cabin filter, usually located behind the glove box\*, if it doesn’t have one, it’s going to be inaccessable by most non-mechanics since it probably involves taking a good chunk of your dash apart. \*For all the cabin air filters I’ve seen, you open the glove box, then there’s some sort of tabs at the top or sides that you bend in so they release and you can let the glove box go down the rest of the way. The trick is to take eveything out or it’s all going to fall on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/4 "2013-08-24T12:53:18Z")
Indeed, ‘pollen filters’ as they are known here will reduce airflow significantly and can be difficult. Mine’s not too bad, a couple of minutes to extract and replace but involves some uncomfortable gymnastics that I don’t enjoy any more. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/5 "2013-08-24T13:13:35Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If your car was made in the last few years it may have a cabin filter, usually located behind the glove box\*, if it doesn’t have one, it’s going to be inaccessable by most non-mechanics since it probably involves taking a good chunk of your dash apart. I think what the OP means by the “radiator” is the condenser, which is the part that’s on the front of the car that looks quite a lot like the car’s radiator, and is usually positioned directly in front of or just beside the radiator. If the thing does get completely clogged up with bugs, it can definitely create a noticeable drop in AC performance. With the way most cars have it positioned, just running your car through an automated car wash (or giving the condenser a good spray with the wand at a U-Wash-It) ought to be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/6 "2013-08-24T13:39:51Z")
Yes condensers get plugged with sand, bugs, and pet hair\*. These can cause a noticeable drop in AC performance and lead to the vehicle overheating. a high pressure hose used from the engine compartment to the front, followed by going from the grille in to finish up. The quarter car wash is best, but your garden hose will also work. \*People with sheddy dogs that live in the garage where the car is parked can get an entire blanket of pet hair on the surface of the condenser. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/7 "2013-08-24T14:01:17Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > I think what the OP means by the “radiator” is the condenser, which is the part that’s on the front of the car that looks quite a lot like the car’s radiator, and is usually positioned directly in front of or just beside the radiator. Yeah, I saw that after I simulposted. Like Rick said, just hit it with a hose. But be careful that the pressure isn’t so high that you bend the fins. Aim straight back, not left to right (so you don’t push the fins over). ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/8 "2013-08-24T22:30:09Z")
How about the evaporator? Doesn’t it get gunked up with dust and pollen as well? This is the part inside the car that chills the air - it’s the same as the evaporator coil that’s inside your home furnace, as opposed to the compressor and condenser that’s outside. Assuming your car’s evaporator is accessible. I know on the old Taurus I used to have, getting at the evap core pretty well involved discharging the system and a fair bit of dash disassembly. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/9 "2013-08-25T10:27:16Z")
The ‘pollen filter’ is there to try and keep the evaporator clean and should be changed reasonably frequently. If the aircon is a bit smelly it is usually due to bacterial or fungal infestations of the evaporator and when the filter is out spraying the evaporator with [Dettol Antibacterial Disinfectant](http://www.mintprice.com/products/item/2393-Dettol-Antibacterial-Surface-Cleanser-Disinfecting-Trigger-Spray-500ml-Ref-Y04416-Pack-2.html?rmd=ggle001&gclid=CMulkaCwmLkCFRMRtAodxwcAvw) then allowing it time to dry out supposedly will clear these infestations and remove the smell. There are also fungicide and bactericide ‘bombs’ that you let off in the car while running the aircon on recirculate that does the same but is said to be less effective and you need to leave the engine running for about twenty minutes IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-my-car-air-conditioners-radiator/667050/10 "2013-08-26T14:23:55Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > How about the evaporator? Doesn’t it get gunked up with dust and pollen as well? This is the part inside the car that chills the air - it’s the same as the evaporator coil that’s inside your home furnace, as opposed to the compressor and condenser that’s outside. > > Assuming your car’s evaporator is accessible. I know on the old Taurus I used to have, getting at the evap core pretty well involved discharging the system and a fair bit of dash disassembly. Most heater cores and evaporators that I’ve removed over the years were remarkably clean except when mice would deposit stuff in them. With most cars having cabin filters, I’d think that they would stay even cleaner.