BYD Seagull Winter A/C Routine: 10 Minutes a Week

BYD Seagull winter A/C routine: weekly running is care, not a diagnosis

Scope: BYD China-mainland 2026 Seagull; official website owner's manual file 260317; physical PDF pp. 288, 321 and 325–326, air conditioning controls and maintenance; covers only routine care and record-keeping for a car working normally; not for forcing a faulty car to run or for air conditioning servicing; not extended to other model years, markets or head-unit versions

Cold-weather use still has a routine care requirement

The Seagull manual sets specific requirements for cold months: run the air conditioning at least once a week, with A/C on, for no less than 10 minutes each time, so that the lubricating oil in the refrigerant circulates. Not needing cooling in winter is no reason to drop this from your care list. This is a routine requirement of this model and the manual described, not a duration that applies to every car, and not a fix for a fault; if the car already has warnings or a malfunction, don't keep it running just to reach the time. ^[1]

Record the A/C state, not just airflow

The manual describes the fan speed control and the cooling button separately, with the cooling button corresponding to the compressor function; the maintenance section also asks for the air conditioning's operation to be checked weekly. So hearing the fan or the cabin warming up cannot on its own prove the A/C care described has been done. We suggest following this car's user instructions and, in safe conditions, noting the date, the A/C screen state, how long it ran and whether anything abnormal happened, without inferring this car's state from another head unit's icons, and without touching parts, measuring voltage or opening the system to confirm whether the compressor is working. ^[1]

A care record is not a service conclusion

The manual explains that the air conditioning is a sealed system and recommends that important maintenance be done by professionals at an authorised service centre; if cooling is not as good as before, it recommends a workshop check. It also sets separate electrical safety and refrigerant recovery equipment requirements for professional servicing, all to be carried out by qualified staff following the relevant service information. This article gives no system work, refrigerant charging or electrical procedures. Running for the required time only records that use; it does not prove a leak or other problem has been ruled out. If problems persist, there is an odd smell or visibility is affected, we suggest stopping and contacting the workshop, and dealing with safety first. ^[1]

Sources

[Source 1] BYD China official website: 2026 Seagull Owner's Manual (in Chinese) (public PDF on the official website)
https://www.byd.com/material/domestic-official/user-manual/ocean/2026%E6%AC%BE%E6%B5%B7%E9%B8%A5%E7%94%A8%E6%88%B7%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8C260317.pdf
Publication date unknown; information checked at 2026-10-09T00:55:36Z, which is not the publication date.

Suggestions on record-keeping, enquiries and service choice are editorial opinion, not a manufacturer procedure.