Idiot question: Do you run your AC all the time?

[Whippersnapper02]

SoCal owner - Seems like many drivers always runs theirs now. I like rolling down my windows when the temp is nice. Drop the 2 front and pop the rear a bit and the air flows through nicely.

 

[90Duck]

I can't run with the back window cracked or down at all or it sucks in exhaust fumes. Isn't that the case with the rest of you ? about the only time I have the rear hatch window down is when I'm hauling something and it needs to stick out the back and then I have to have all the windows down for ventilation to prevent asphyxiation. Poor design if ever I saw one. Just about my only gripe with the 4Runner. Was thinking of piping the exhaust out the side but haven't done it yet.

I'm also in CO, and I roll down everything that will roll down in both of my cars anytime its not freezing, raining, or snowing, at least around town. I've never noticed it sucking in exhaust from the rear, but I also never just roll the rear down by itself. I've never heard my wife complain about exhaust smell either, and her sense of smell is so hyper attenuated that she can smell everywhere I've been and anything I've done for the last three days! It keeps me honest!

As for AC, I generally leave it off unless it is actually hot. It doesn't seem to make much any difference performance-wise with the 4Runner, but it really lowers the fun-factor on my WRX when it is on, so I've just got in the habit of turning it off unless I really need it.

 

[IanB]

I can't run with the back window cracked or down at all or it sucks in exhaust fumes. Isn't that the case with the rest of you ? about the only time I have the rear hatch window down is when I'm hauling something and it needs to stick out the back and then I have to have all the windows down for ventilation to prevent asphyxiation. Poor design if ever I saw one. Just about my only gripe with the 4Runner. Was thinking of piping the exhaust out the side but haven't done it yet.

This was a problem when I had my 3rd gen Hilux Surf diesel (those fumes make your eyes water!), but I've never had an issue with the 5th gen.

 

[cbreze]

Yeah, I only notice it when I don’t have enough other windows open. I like driving with the back window down and the sunroof open but man it sucks the exhaust right in. Otherwise the back window down a bit is nice for some indirect air but the dynamics just suck it in. And those same dynamics cause the back window to get dirty as heck in wet conditions and dusty in dry and of course tons of dust comes on in and gets on everything. Really my only peeve, as otherwise it is a rock solid rig.

 

[Bugser]

My previous 3 cars (sedans) were luxury cars with auto climate controls and I was very anal about keeping interior clean that I rarely drove around with the windows rolled down so the A/C was always on "auto"

Now I am a little more lax with the 4runner and love driving with the windows down so my stupid question for the day is, do you run the AC while the windows are down? If not ran for a while, is there a smell that I need to worry about? feel free to :lmao: @ me. :angel:

Always run the A/C even in winter to keep things dry......my preference is always to have the windows up since I don't care for the open breeze except on an occasional spring or fall evening.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Having any window open, even just a tiny bit, creates suction that pulls in dust through every other gap in the vehicle. Not usually noticeable on the highway, where there isn't much dust, but on a dirt road it gets pretty bad.

 

[Smitty19TRD]

I only roll the window down when somebody is handing me food. AC on all the time.

 

[Texas_Ranger]

I found that if you crack the front windows down 4 inches or so and the rear the same, it has a stream of wind from front to back. My favorite combo lol