SAN ANTONIO -- With temperatures remaining in the 100’s, there’s no place worse than inside a car, baking in temperatures that can climb even higher. The searing heat has kept air conditioning mechanics busy, and has others trying out a new product, designed to put the “chill” in the car’s chiller, called Ice Cold.
“What this does is it lines the walls where the oil can never stick to the walls and it is flowing like it was naturally when the unit was brand new,” said Jim Miles, with Coolercarandhome.com.
Miles said Ice Cold is an additive that makes functioning air conditioners more efficient.
It works with the Freon and oil already in the system.
Like drain cleaner attacking a clog in your pipes, the additive is designed to keep the A/C lines clear. The company claims with the product injected into the system, you’ll get colder air blowing.
“When the compressor doesn’t have to work as hard, you’re saving fuel mileage, you’re saving electricity," Miles said. And it is a lubricity agent. What it’s going to do is make your compressors last longer.”
So, the I-Team decided to test it out, in an old Ford news unit with 111,000.
It was blowing near 40-degrees before the additive. Within minutes, the A/C went below freezing.
Miles said his company is in talks with state government agencies, like the state highway patrol and border patrol, whose fleets of cars and trucks are running 24/7.
“Those guys are eight hour shifts," he said. "Those cars are sitting out in the desert. They never turn off, all day long. It is amazing what those guys are going through. When they see what it’s doing, they buy it.”
At our request, certified mechanics at Beacon Automotive checked out the A/C catalyst. After a review, the mechanics said it does help the system, even if the A/C system isn’t in good condition to begin with.
Remember our news unit? We took it in for inspection. That drop in temperature, first recorded days ago, had dissipated. Turns out, we had added “Ice Cold” to a car that was already low on refrigerant.
Augustine Maldonado of Beacon Automotive said, “We’ll see the difference when we add what’s supposed to be in there.”
Half a pound of Freon later, it was blowing cold again.
Mechanics said for newer cars, beware: additives could void any warranty. In older cars, though, Ice Cold may help rejuvenate the A/C systems.
Miles added, “How long is it going to last? As long as your truck lasts. It’s in the system. It will never come out.”
And who doesn’t want it a little bit cooler in the summer?
“If you can get it colder, that would be great!” said Maldonado.
Installation of Ice Cold starts around $100. It is safe to add to home A/C systems, too.
For more product information, visit Coolercarandhome.com.
