A/C in winter

[Meeka]

Heard it is advisable to run A/C in winter once a week for lubrication, necessary or not anymore on newer vehicles?

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[Art Vandelay]

Heard it is advisable to run A/C in winter once a week for lubrication, necessary or not anymore on newer vehicles?

Oof, welcome to 1970. Do you need a time machine? No, you don't need to do that, I'm not even going to get into the specifics of why that's silly.

 

[ThisWas]

I run my windshield defroster from time to time which engages the a/c to dehumidify the air and exercises all the moving parts.

 

[Kenv24]

No...but make sure to use the blinkers AT LEAST once a week. Sometimes they tighten up in colder weather.

 

[Waterick]

As many on here have noted, the Maverick runs the AC compressor often, many times whether you want it or not to control humidity in the cockpit. It gets worked frequently. Just about any vehicle built in the last 20+ years will operate the AC compressor (if equipped) when you select defrost/defog for the windshield.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Ditto.

It will run itself periodically without your knowledge.

 

[Meeka]

No...but make sure to use the blinkers AT LEAST once a week. Sometimes they tighten up in colder weather.

No problem! I’m over 60 so I have my left blinker on all the time. Just have to remember to use the right once in a while.

 

[inline_five]

Oof, welcome to 1970. Do you need a time machine? No, you don't need to do that, I'm not even going to get into the specifics of why that's silly.

@Meeka Ford recommends running a/c for two minutes every month. I try to do it every two weeks personally and I have a car scanner that shows a/c amps so I make sure it's running at least 1 amp for ~2 minutes.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

@Meeka Ford recommends running a/c for two minutes every month. I try to do it every two weeks personally and I have a car scanner that shows a/c amps so I make sure it's running at least 1 amp for ~2 minutes.

That's IF the truck is in storage.

No need to do this if you actually drive the truck. It will cycle the A/C periodically on it's own whether you notice it or not.

 

[Meeka]

That's IF the truck is in storage.

No need to do this if you actually drive the truck. It will cycle the A/C periodically on it's own whether you notice it or not.

I keep looking through my manual and can’t find any page where it says that. Oh well, not the end of the world

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I keep looking through my manual and can’t find any page where it says that. Oh well, not the end of the world

Ford does not share all of it's secrets.

 

[MaverickDragon]

I keep looking through my manual and can’t find any page where it says that. Oh well, not the end of the world

It's on page 110 and 114 depending on the trim and HVAC control used, but that looks to be a snippet from the 2025 manual. I didn't look at the 2024 version, but you can download a pdf copy here that will allow you to search - It makes finding things like this MUCH easier.

As far as needing to run the AC compressor, that needs to be done on any vehicle with an AC compressor or the seals can dry out and crack without lubricant being distributed...
BUT..
The reason you don't need to run the AC in the winter is like others have said.
The defrost and normal operation of the vehicle obviate the need to add chill to the cabin for the compressor to run.

 

[inline_five]

That's IF the truck is in storage.

No need to do this if you actually drive the truck. It will cycle the A/C periodically on it's own whether you notice it or not.

Definitely not true. Like I wrote, I monitor it. I live in the SE USA and it will go months without turning on. It only comes on in humid conditions.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Definitely not true. Like I wrote, I monitor it. I live in the SE USA and it will go months without turning on. It only comes on in humid conditions.

Yours is broke then.

Look: one of the more common complaints on MTC is:

"My A/C keeps turning on, how do I stop it from doing that?"

It should not run in sub freezing.
But it can run just a few seconds in all weather just to circulate lubrication.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

It can be so short, you wont notice it.
But it gets the job done.

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