Ken, thank yous to you and the others who replied to my request for
information.  My van is off-white in color so I am in reasonable shape
color-wise.  Since it doesn't rain anymore here in Macon, I have taken to
opening all the windows when I get into work in the morning.  This keeps the
interior temperature from getting much above ambient (95 to 100F).  This
afternoon, thermometer read 97F.  By the time I drove the 13 miles home,
thermometer in air outlet was reading 62F.  So, I guess I am in reasonable
shape.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA

----- Original Message -----
From: <KENWILFY@aol.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2000 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: A/C performance with Freeze-12

> The A/C system in any vehicle is only setup to do a temperature
difference,
> not super cool the interior of a vehicle.  Around 30 degrees is what is
> expected, although you can get better.  Some things that contribute to
> getting better A/C performance are:
> 1. Color of vehicle- the darker it is the harder the A/C system has to
work
> to cool the van.  I have seen a bunch of buses with white roofs lately and
I
> think this is the reason.  VW used to do this before they offered A/C and
> maybe they should have kept it up later (would have looked strange but
been
> cooler).
>
> 2. Tint on windows- when sunlight comes in and hits the interior of the
van
> it heats things up.  Tint on the windows helps reflect this radiation to
an
> extent (I have heard this new tint with the metal in it is the best).
>
> 3. Move to colder climate- Scientist have proven without a doubt that
moving
> from the southern part of the United States up to a far northern state
(Maine
> or Alaska for example) can drastically increase the performance of you air
> conditioning system.  In fact, for about 10 months out of the year, you
will
> getting freezing cold air without even having to turn your A/C on (it
works
> that much better!).  (I am busy on Fridays OK)
>
> Hope this helps,
> Ken Wilford
> http://www.vanagain.com
> John 3:16
>
> New Phone (856)-327-4936
> Shop: (856)-765-1583
> Fax:     (856)-327-2242