What does the car air conditioner internal circulation mean?
2 Answers
Internal circulation means that the air only circulates inside the car, driven by the blower to cycle the air within the vehicle. External circulation, on the other hand, connects the interior of the car with the outside. While driving, airflow uses wind pressure to automatically draw outside air into the car, and when stationary, outside air can still enter the blower through the air ducts and be blown into the car. Below is an introduction to internal circulation: 1. During daily driving, we are mostly in the state of internal circulation, but there are a few situations that require special attention. 2. When stuck in traffic, it is essential to turn on internal circulation because the more congested the traffic, the higher the density of exhaust fumes in the air. Internal circulation can effectively prevent outside exhaust from entering the car, avoiding harm to us. 3. When encountering windy or dusty weather on the road, it is also important to turn on internal circulation. This not only prevents outside dust from entering the car but also reduces the impact of sand and dust on the air filter.
The car's air conditioning recirculation mode means when you press that recirculation button, the AC system only draws air from inside the car to circulate for cooling or heating, rather than pulling fresh air from outside. I find this trick extremely useful, especially when the car is scorching hot after summer sun exposure - turning on recirculation cools it down rapidly within minutes without waiting for outside air to gradually chill; same goes for winter when heating warms up faster. But veteran drivers warn not to keep it on continuously, especially during long highway drives, because circulating stale interior air may make it stuffy, affect air quality, and even impair driving concentration. I typically only use it during urban traffic jams or when encountering smoke/odors, then switch to fresh air mode every 30-40 minutes for ventilation - this maintains both comfort and safety. Remember to regularly check your cabin air filter to prevent dust buildup from reducing efficiency.
