Is a car AC linked to the engine coolant level?

Question

My engine coolant level light blinks up now and again, and I top up whenever I can.

But I've noticed that say when we are having a spell of hot weather that this is when the light comes up?
I'm from Northern Ireland, we've just had a good weekend lol. And then back in July with the heat wave or whatever the light was on.

I sort of thought it is link to the ac too? When I first got my car, it's an e46 btw. I never turned the ac of, and it was always just on an auto setting. Then the light came on, and I started messing with ac, changing the settings and the light when off for a bit.

So I wouldn't really ever have have the ac on now, but this last week I have used it prior to the week.

I don't know if that makes any sense,
Thanks

Answer 1

The operation of the aircon has absolutely no correlation with the engine coolant level.



You either have a failed head gasket or a leak in the cooling system somewhere, get it seen to before you destroy the engine completely due to sudden coolant loss leading to overheating.



If that leak suddenly gets worse, 5 minutes is all it'll take for it to cook the engine and the first you'll know about it is when the engine conks out with the tell tale clouds of steam from under the bonnet.

Answer 2

There is NO freon level checker, and the A/C does not affect the SEALED cooling system of the engine. IT is a SEPARATE system all together. CHECK YOUR COOLANT LEVEL, power wash the engine bay and watch for signs of Your A/C system requires a servicing about now. This service wil REMOVE all the freon, CLEAN and filter it, and add more FREON and fresh new PAG oil to the compressor all at the same time! Work with any FOREIGN CAR dealership for this service as they all use pretty much the same equipment and same PAG oil and freon! I mean any EUROPEAN based car dealership. POWER WASH the space between the radiator and the A/C compressor where leaves, sediment, fuzz, paper, and insect bodies may have collected for years. You wil need to remove a PLATE to reach this area! ARE YOU USING GENUINE BMW approved "Long LIfe-01 or Long LIfe-04" OIL in there! if you are NOT< you will have some sludge to mop up! When the engine bay is clean, the engine metals can BREATH the way they are supposed to do! OPEN YOUR HOOD an d check that COOLANT LEVEL and condition of the coolant! look for signs of sludge which means a FLUSH AND FILL is required!>>YOUR A/C system has a HIGH pressure switch, and a LOW pressure switch! This allows the compressor to work within a SMALL range of presures to prevent it's demise or chaffing of the freon. FREON can BOIL as well. Your COOLING FANS should engage when the A/C system is called for, and if the ECON button is pressued, the compressor wlil be switched off automatically. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 3

the other two answers are correct, but nothing to do with your problem. Your A/C and Coolant are barely tied together. On your hotter days, it is harder for the engine to cool it self. You also run your A/C more on those days. The engine has to work harder in order to run the a/c because that is driven off of a pulley on the front of the motor. when the engine has to work harder, it will get warmer. If your engine coolant light keeps coming on I would suggest trying to use the A/C a little less. Make sure your coolant is always full, and has a good mixture, whatever is recommended for your climate. Also having your A/C checked by a mechanic would not hurt either.

Answer 4

the ac cleans the incoming air in to the car if your settings require the air to be hotter the car will divert the air through a radiator which has the engine coolant running through it therefor getting the heat from the engine that's why your car will take a while for the heat to come through the vents



sounds like you might need to get your ac re-gassed as over time the gasses can loose 5-10% a year there for be less effective at doing their job.

Answer 5

Stop screwing around and fix the coolant leak. You'd better use the new wifi diagnostic tool to diagnose if you are sure that you can solve it by yourself, or you can also consult a professional mechanic. Easy and Qucik. Applicable to all types of car. You must always monitor your car's current state. The below website may be helpful for you to find the tool. hope it is helpful to you.

Answer 6

Having the AC on in a car that is working correctly will not make the coolant level drop.

Coolant level drops when there is a leak or when the head gasket is blowing

Answer 7

Waffle waffle waffle, FORGET the aircon all together it's nothing to do with it. . Get your coolant leak diagnosed and repaired ASAP.You really don't want to be cooking that engine, or your next post will be "my E46 boiled and there was smoke everywhere - how much to fix?" and the answer will be "££££".

Answer 8

No. The engine coolant passes through the heater hoses to the heater core (usually located in a blower box inside the vehicle beneath the dash).



Insufficient coolant will cause the heater to stop working - it shouldn't have any effect on A/C unless your engine is failing (which is what it sounds like).

Answer 9

the coolant is not connected but the a/c makes heat in the engine more heat than is made when the a/c is off causing it to get hotter while moving on a highway it should be fine but city traffic stop and go also heats up the engine and the a/c makes it worse so it is not connected but a/c can make it run hotter you can use this to your advantage in the winter time also using the a/ c cause it to be hotter the cold keeps the engine cooler good luck

Answer 10

Your second answer is NOT correct. You have a faulty *coolant level sensor which usually plugs on the side of one of the plastic end tanks on the radiator

Answer 11

Stop screwing around and fix the coolant leak.