In car air circulation settings

[Princess Valiant]

Can anyone explain what the difference is between what looks to indicate air recirculation and outside air.

What are the best conditions to use each one?

 

[diymirage]

the one on the left lets fresh air in

lets say you and your friends just got back from the pool and your hair is all wet, you want to keep it on that setting, because otherwise your windows will fog up like crazy

the one on the right recirculates the air inside the vehicle
if it is really hot out, and you want to quickly turn the temp inside the vehicle down, you run the HVAC at max AC with that vent closed
same goes for really cold days, you run the heater with that vent closed untill the car is comfy


the late 2000s charger had some serious issues with the blend door actuator
when we bought ours in 2009, the actuator had failed and the blend door was stuck closed
it was impossible to drive that car with 2 or more people in it without it fogging up (unless you rolled the windows down)

i "fixed" it by moving the door to the open position and we drove it for 12 years without a problem

 

[toolmanmike]

Under most conditions, outside air is used. It is a automatic setting when you turn on the heater or ac. Max A/C switches to recirculate and recools the inside air to cool things down faster. Here in the midwest, I sometimes switch to recirculate when traveling past hog confinement units because of the nasty odor. It shuts off the outside air and you breathe just the cabin air. (for a mile or two)

 

[H22A4]

What does the owners manual state?

 

[Princess Valiant]

What does the owners manual state?

I don't have one unfortunately

 

[JDMopar]

You can use the outside air setting for AC, but after you get the car cool just switch it over to recirculate the air inside the car that is already cooled off. You can also use the outside air setting without AC to blow air thru the vents when it isn't hot enough to need AC.
Congrats on being a recovering AC hater!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

Let's say you live in a big city where it stinks like dead roadkill everywhere. You'll want to put the air control on recirculate so it will block air from outside the car and recirculate the air inside the car. Does that make it simple? lol