Hi! I've got a 2018 Honda Fit Sport w/CVT. The car has an "eco" mode that adjusts throttle response, and cycles the A/C compressor on/off more often to improve fuel economy. I'm wondering if the increased cycling of the A/C compressor will cause the compressor clutch to wear out faster. I can only tell a slight difference between the A/C performance and MPG on normal verses eco. If it will cause additional wear and tear on the compressor, any slight mpg gain isn't worth it in my opinion. If it won't wear it out faster, then I'm inclined to continue using Eco mode.
Thoughts?
I don't think it will wear the clutch out, being that it's a Honda. They designed it to work that way, if it indeed does work as you described. A/C clutches kick on and off all the time when you're running them normally, anyways. In the winter, it will kick on and off on Defrost to dry out the air in the car, without icing up the evaporator. The same thing happens in the summer if you run it on max, and it's really humid. The evaporator can ice up and the computer will cycle the clutch to prevent it.
Where did you read that it's more often?
I think eco mode is actually better for the clutch because it engages it less. The lower duty cycle means longer coil life.
The exact verbiage in the manual is…
While in ECON mode, the climate control system has greater temperature fluctuations.
That verbiage, combined with my observations of feeling the air get warmer and more humid, made me think it’s cycling more often, as opposed to running longer between cycles. Perhaps I am misinterpreting. I wonder if I can use my OBDLink to see when it’s actually cycling.
try it. I noticed my obdlink gives AC pressure and a few other stats