Time to replace my compressor

marshallsmith27 said:

We have been chasing a leak for the last hours and we finally realized it was the gauges/hoses. I am hoping we can get it charged with these gauges slowly leaking.

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How did you evacuate the system with leaking Gauges/hoses?

The leak was very slow. The vacuum was getting it to 29.5” of mercury and I realized after changing o rings and and retightening fittings for 4 hours that when we would vacuum the system I could take off the hoses from the fittings and it would stay at 29.5” all day. So I vacuumed it and put the freon in and it held. I got 36 oz in. It called for 40 oz but my dad kept freaking out thinking it was going to over fill so I might add more later or maybe not. The fluke meter with the temp sensor was reading 40.5° and when it would turn off it would get to 43° and then cycle again. Not sure if I want to add more. I would like it colder obviously. We are headed to the beach tomorrow. It’s a 5 hour drive so I will definitely know if it loses pressure. It doesn’t seem to be losing pressure. 83° ambient and 40.5° is good though.

My dads hoses are for r12 r22 and something else. They work fine but I think there must be the slightest hole somewhere in one of the hoses. They are about 30 years old so getting new hoses does make sense.

I got the HP switch wired up. Hopefully it’s never needed. The accumulator seems to be doing it’s job and the condenser too so now I need to clean the evap core I know there’s some leaves in there because I can hear them sometimes

Forgot to mention I got the freon in the system with one of those cheapo valves that fit on the bottles. I had to because the valve I bought for the bottles wouldn’t fit onto the yellow hose on the gauges. it was for r12/r22/rxxx so I wouldn’t have been able to read it anyway with the freon in

So this system was designed for R12, and you're filling it with R134a?

Did you calculate the difference in capacity based on the difference in refrigerant type?

Did you install the correct oil? Correct high- and low-side fittings?

Yes, the 1993 was originally designed for r12. took a long time to get the nasty blackened mineral oil out of the evap core. The propane that was in it left pretty much right away. I didn't need to change any fittings because someone put the adapters on when they put propane in but I put new ones on anyway with the supplied Schrader valves. it cooled a lot more with propane up until it failed last week but thats to be expected I guess. I knew it wasn't original because the Harrison compressor said remanufactured on it but I wasn't expecting the propane charge.

The 4 Seasons website said 40oz of r134a for retrofit. I got 36oz in right now. Not sure of any calculations. I might add more later but not sure.

I have PAG 150 and a little over a 1/4 oz of fluorescent dye in the system. I need to buy a black light flashlight tomorrow. Seems to be cooling decently well 40.5-43º but was in the 30s before... I haven't taken it on a long drive yet but I have driven it on 2 short drives after the refit and it seems steady. The new compressor seems better. before when running the AC I thought I has an occasional missfire but it seems to have been that compressor because it doesn't do that anymore.

My best update will be Sunday when we are back from a 5 and 5 hour drive from the beach and back

Okay I have had enough time to give an update. Went to the beach and the heat and humidity was crazy. We don’t live far from the beach and it’s been 95% humidity here but that felt like a lot more there. I bought some manifold gauges from harbor freight yesterday because I could hear the compressor was cycling more than it should. It was at 30. I have it at 38-40 depending on when I have checked it. it was 75° last night when I did.

I don’t have a blower to blow on the condenser at my house like I did at my dads but I was getting 38/182 readings after I put more in. I don’t think it’s cold 45-50°. its out of the vents. We are never sweating but it could be nicer. I am going to look and see what the evaporator looks like. I'm starting to think it might be a problem becuase we drove from here in alabama to canada a couple of weeks ago and for a couple of hours it was leaking into the floor so I have no idea how bad it could be. I hope that is what gets it cold because before I did all this the propane charge and the old compressor was ice cold

I put Sanden 4440(from rockauto,nade by UAP or somthing) and use AC Delco green seals-no issues-already 3 years-mind you mine is 99,so you may need a different Sanden model

what temps are you getting?

I still need to clean the evap core because the accumulator gets so cold to the touch so I know the freon going through the evap is nice and cold