ZL1 Cabin Airflow - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

omegaman · 02-03-2014, 10:22 AM

I've notice something unusual about my ZL1's cabin airflow. Fresh air ambient temperature coming into the cabin thru the vent system is significantly warmer than other cars I've owned. I have the heater off (snowflake setting), A/C off, re-circ off, fan speed on 1 or 2.

I am thinking this is because of the aerodynamics of the car - extracting hot air from the engine bay and passing it over the cowl and windshield where it is sucked into the cabin. Have any of you noticed this? What do you all think? (See attached pic of the Z/28 airflow which illustrates this, and aero video.)

Stephen12ZL1 · 02-03-2014, 10:37 AM

Yeah...heat comes out of the vents even though the fan speed is set on "0". Make sure you have the temp in the cooler range unless you like a toasty cabin.

revo1059 · 02-03-2014, 11:09 AM

Yep, one of my minor gripes. Apparently off doesn't mean completely off.

DavidW · 02-03-2014, 02:25 PM

air is still gonna flow even with the fan off think of the venting as a window, imagine a fan in the window, even if the fan is off air can still pass

the extractor has alot of hot air coming out right infront of the hvac intake, so that is whats getting sucked in

your best bet is to put it on recirc mode and then no air will be moving if the fan is set to 0

joes407 · 02-03-2014, 02:31 PM

all Camaros have done that since the beginning of time

joes407 · 02-03-2014, 02:32 PM

my 3rd gen Camaro was the worst ever for that especially after I put headers on it

omegaman · 02-03-2014, 03:20 PM

I don't recall my 2010 5th gen SS having this issue to the same extent as the ZL1. I had headers on the SS, too. I'm wondering if the 2014 SS owners are going to experience this - they also have the extractor hood.

Brownster · 02-03-2014, 06:34 PM

Yea, this has been discussed before.
Do not use the fresh air option without a/c on or you get hot air....
Use recirc.

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 02-03-2014, 06:43 PM

ok you guys know you can really turn of the system so NO air comes thru the vents right?

set the air circ to defrost..
turn fan off then turn fan to 3
press the defrost button and the light will go off
set fan to zero

vents are now closed no outside air will come into the cabin.

I'm 99% on that process, but I will double check when I go home tonight..

this much I do know, the vent/defrost light will not go out if the fan is set on zero, it apparently requires the system powered to actuate and close the blend door.

but if you do it correctly none of the lights on the HVAC will be lit, and the vents will be closed..

I saw a video on this (on this forum) when I first signed up, but for the life of me I can't find it.

*edited and posted video in post #12

hawk02 · 02-03-2014, 07:03 PM

How I do it is turn the fan all the way off and press the recirculate button. No more warm air through the vents.

Drm2Reality · 02-03-2014, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

ok you guys know you can really turn of the system so NO air comes thru the vents right?

set the air circ to defrost..
set the fan to 1
press the defrost button and the light will go off
set fan to zero

vents are now closed no outside air will come into the cabin.

I'm 99% on that process, but I will double check when I go home tonight..

this much I do know, the vent/defrost light will not go out if the fan is set on zero, it apparently requires the system powered to actuate and close the blend door.

but if you do it correctly none of the lights on the HVAC will be lit, and the vents will be closed..

I saw a video on this (on this forum) when I first signed up, but for the life of me I can't find it.

I am going to try that this weekend! Even with the re-circulating button on this car still pushes heat in. The only major issue I have...since you can feel a slight power loss with AC on.

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 02-03-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drm2Reality

I am going to try that this weekend! Even with the re-circulating button on this car still pushes heat in. The only major issue I have...since you can feel a slight power loss with AC on.

ok, one correction, which I am going back to edit, the fan has to be turned off then back on to about 3 (1 doesn't do it).. I am going to go make a video of it now since I can't find the other one..

pretty sure the reason for the fan is to have the air pressure close the blend door..

once this is done you won't feel any air coming thru from the outside (so basically like recirc mode) the difference to me is that the system is fully off and closed, with recirc mode the system isn't technically off and I know on cold days my windows just above the defrosters will fog up when only in recirc mode, but they do not do that with this method.

here's the video:

OldScoolCamaro · 02-03-2014, 09:56 PM

...my take, the S/C causes sufficient buildup of engine compartment temperatures that gets transfered to the passenger compartment passively. The ride warms up fast, and sometimes depending on the outside ambient temps, no heat is needed at all from the heater control unit inside.

2014CamaroZL1 · 02-04-2014, 02:42 PM

I agree that the air flow management sends hot air into the cowl intake.
But more so, that the engine is set so far back into the passenger compartment,
and that the engine produces so much heat.
If the ambient temperature is above 50°, the AC needs to be on.

02-03-2014, 10:37 AM	#2
Stephen12ZL1 Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 6,824	Yeah...heat comes out of the vents even though the fan speed is set on "0". Make sure you have the temp in the cooler range unless you like a toasty cabin. __________________ '21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60' '17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold)

02-03-2014, 02:25 PM	#4
DavidW Drives: 2013 ZL1 Vert Auto IOM Join Date: May 2012 Location: Alberta Posts: 389	air is still gonna flow even with the fan off think of the venting as a window, imagine a fan in the window, even if the fan is off air can still pass the extractor has alot of hot air coming out right infront of the hvac intake, so that is whats getting sucked in your best bet is to put it on recirc mode and then no air will be moving if the fan is set to 0 Last edited by DavidW; 02-03-2014 at 02:50 PM.

02-03-2014, 03:20 PM	#7
omegaman Drives: very poorly Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 550	I don't recall my 2010 5th gen SS having this issue to the same extent as the ZL1. I had headers on the SS, too. I'm wondering if the 2014 SS owners are going to experience this - they also have the extractor hood. __________________ 2013 Camaro ZL1, Crystal Red, Auto, Exposed Carbon Fiber, Navigation.

02-03-2014, 06:43 PM	#9
Mr. iNCREDIBLE Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Baby... Posts: 2,530	ok you guys know you can really turn of the system so NO air comes thru the vents right? set the air circ to defrost.. turn fan off then turn fan to 3 press the defrost button and the light will go off set fan to zero vents are now closed no outside air will come into the cabin. I'm 99% on that process, but I will double check when I go home tonight.. this much I do know, the vent/defrost light will not go out if the fan is set on zero, it apparently requires the system powered to actuate and close the blend door. but if you do it correctly none of the lights on the HVAC will be lit, and the vents will be closed.. I saw a video on this (on this forum) when I first signed up, but for the life of me I can't find it. edited and posted video in post #12 __________________ I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you fail to understand.* Last edited by Mr. iNCREDIBLE; 02-03-2014 at 09:44 PM.

02-03-2014, 07:03 PM	#10
hawk02 Coupe Newbie Drives: '23 CT5-V BW, '21 Corvette HTC Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 3,442 View My Garage	How I do it is turn the fan all the way off and press the recirculate button. No more warm air through the vents. __________________

02-03-2014, 10:22 AM	#1
omegaman Drives: very poorly Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 550	ZL1 Cabin Airflow I've notice something unusual about my ZL1's cabin airflow. Fresh air ambient temperature coming into the cabin thru the vent system is significantly warmer than other cars I've owned. I have the heater off (snowflake setting), A/C off, re-circ off, fan speed on 1 or 2. I am thinking this is because of the aerodynamics of the car - extracting hot air from the engine bay and passing it over the cowl and windshield where it is sucked into the cabin. Have any of you noticed this? What do you all think? (See attached pic of the Z/28 airflow which illustrates this, and aero video.) Attached Images __________________ 2013 Camaro ZL1, Crystal Red, Auto, Exposed Carbon Fiber, Navigation. Last edited by omegaman; 02-03-2014 at 11:49 AM.

02-03-2014, 11:09 AM	#3
revo1059 Drives: Black 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Buffalo Grove Posts: 433	Yep, one of my minor gripes. Apparently off doesn't mean completely off.

02-03-2014, 02:31 PM	#5
joes407 Drives: 2014 ZL1m6 red hot #569 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: florida Posts: 2,422	all Camaros have done that since the beginning of time

02-03-2014, 02:32 PM	#6
joes407 Drives: 2014 ZL1m6 red hot #569 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: florida Posts: 2,422	my 3rd gen Camaro was the worst ever for that especially after I put headers on it

02-03-2014, 06:34 PM	#8
Brownster Drives: 1966 GTO Convertible/ZL1 Vert Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NE N.C. Posts: 271	Yea, this has been discussed before. Do not use the fresh air option without a/c on or you get hot air.... Use recirc.

02-03-2014, 09:56 PM	#13
OldScoolCamaro Drives: Camaro's, always have, always will. Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Home of the brave Posts: 4,851	...my take, the S/C causes sufficient buildup of engine compartment temperatures that gets transfered to the passenger compartment passively. The ride warms up fast, and sometimes depending on the outside ambient temps, no heat is needed at all from the heater control unit inside. __________________ In Scott We Trust...all others must show proof.

02-04-2014, 02:42 PM	#14
2014CamaroZL1 Drives: 2014 CRT ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 712	I agree that the air flow management sends hot air into the cowl intake. But more so, that the engine is set so far back into the passenger compartment, and that the engine produces so much heat. If the ambient temperature is above 50°, the AC needs to be on.