What is the car's recirculation symbol?
3 Answers
The car's recirculation symbol is a button with a curved arrow inside a car silhouette, typically located on the center console. The external circulation symbol shows an arrow pointing from outside the car to inside. The function of internal circulation is to promptly and effectively prevent external dust and harmful gases from entering the vehicle while maintaining temperature. External circulation supplements fresh air, whereas internal circulation blocks polluted air. In external circulation mode, a fan draws outside air into the car, meaning there's an open air passage between the exterior and interior. The airflow from the fan comes from outside, and even when the fan is off, moving the vehicle still draws air inside to replenish fresh air.
The car's recirculation symbol is easy to recognize—it's an icon of a circle with an arrow circulating inside the car. My car also has this button. This feature is particularly useful, especially when using air conditioning in summer or heating in winter, as it prevents outside air from entering and keeps the interior air circulating. I usually turn it on immediately when stuck in traffic or passing through industrial areas with unpleasant odors, so exhaust fumes and strange smells don't get in. However, I should remind everyone not to keep it on all the time—it's best to switch to fresh air mode for a few minutes every half hour, otherwise, the high carbon dioxide concentration inside the car can make you drowsy. Some newer cars can even automatically switch between recirculation and fresh air modes based on air quality, which is quite convenient. If you can't find the button, it's usually located near the air conditioning control panel or in the air management menu on the central display screen.
I remember first noticing that small circle with an arrow icon in the manual after buying the car. A friend told me it was the recirculation button. Later, when I used it myself, I found that pressing it made the air conditioning sound quieter because it didn't need to draw air from outside. Now, I habitually turn it on every time I enter a highway tunnel to prevent exhaust fumes from neighboring trucks from getting in. Once, while driving my family to the countryside, we suddenly passed a fertilizer factory, and turning on recirculation immediately eliminated the foul smell in the car. However, on a long trip, I forgot to switch it back, and the windows fogged up, teaching me that lack of airflow can affect visibility. This feature is available in both manual and automatic air conditioning models, and the operation is equally simple—just press the button, and the light indicates it's on.
