AC help

[OldMan89]

So a little over a year ago I hit a deer one morning on my way to work. Killed the front bumper, facia under the grill, and my AC condenser. Fixed it all except condenser. My problem is that my truck was never converted to r134…and right before this happened (mabey a week lol) I stumbled into some r12 I was going to charge it with. My question is can I just replace my condenser with a new one and it be fine? Or is a modern coil going to interfere with the old oil and r12?? I have access to a complete donor truck with possibly a good coil …. But it’s been converted to r134. just looking for answers before I decide if I wanna redo the whole system.

 

[RobbieD]

My question is can I just replace my condenser with a new one and it be fine?

If you replace it with a new condenser, for a 1989 truck, it should be received as dry and R12 can be used.

If you go with a used condenser, it should be flushed before you install it anyway. Especially if the donor was running R134a.

Typically, the drier / accumulator should also be replaced after a system has been opened.

 

[OldMan89]

If you replace it with a new condenser, for a 1989 truck, it should be received as dry and R12 can be used.

If you go with a used condenser, it should be flushed before you install it anyway. Especially if the donor was running R134a.

Typically, the drier / accumulator should also be replaced after a system has been opened.

Very cool. So will a drier/accumulator come dry as well? I’ve seen sone come with a desiccant in them obviously for moisture. But didn’t know about oil

 

[RobbieD]

Very cool. So will a drier/accumulator come dry as well? I’ve seen sone come with a desiccant in them obviously for moisture. But didn’t know about oil

No, a new replacement drier/accumulator should not have oil.

But it pays to check- I got a new "dry" compressor once that did have the oil charge added before it was boxed at the factory.

When replacing components, there are guidelines on how much oil to replace back to the system, based on which component. It's not in front of me at the moment, but I can look up the amounts of replacement oil to add in the factory repair manual, for condenser only, or for the condenser and drier.

 

[OldMan89]

No, a new replacement drier/accumulator should not have oil.

But it pays to check- I got a new "dry" compressor once that did have the oil charge added before it was boxed at the factory.

When replacing components, there are guidelines on how much oil to replace back to the system, based on which component. It's not in front of me at the moment, but I can look up the amounts of replacement oil to add in the factory repair manual, for condenser only, or for the condenser and drier.

If you wouldnt mind that would be great! I’ll just have to do my due diligence on parts selection. But that’s great info

 

[RobbieD]

If you wouldnt mind that would be great! I’ll just have to do my due diligence on parts selection. But that’s great info

Will do, when I get a minute.

 

[mikkelstuff]

I'm told R-12 is "liquid gold." You could probably sell it for big bucks and, if you don't mind, refill with a propane substitue like EnviroSafe or Duracool. I've used these as R-12 sustitutes in my '75 Ranchero and they work much better than using R-134a in an R-12 system. These are also compatible with your R-12 oil.

Yes I've heard the propane leak scare but no worse than 60 psi EFI gasoline under the hood for me.

 

[OldMan89]

No, a new replacement drier/accumulator should not have oil.

But it pays to check- I got a new "dry" compressor once that did have the oil charge added before it was boxed at the factory.

When replacing components, there are guidelines on how much oil to replace back to the system, based on which component. It's not in front of me at the moment, but I can look up the amounts of replacement oil to add in the factory repair manual, for condenser only, or for the condenser and drier.

If you wouldnt mind that would be great! I’ll just have to do my due diligence on parts selection.

 

[RobbieD]

If it's an '89 2.3, it should have an FX15 compressor. 1989 Ford shop manual pages; the section for component replacement oil addition is in the second image.

 

[OldMan89]

If it's an '89 2.3, it should have an FX15 compressor. 1989 Ford shop manual pages; the section for component replacement oil addition is in the second image.

View attachment 112592

View attachment 112593

Thanks so much! That’s a huge help! Out of curiosity… how does one go about flushing out a condenser?

 

[RobbieD]

Thanks so much! That’s a huge help! Out of curiosity… how does one go about flushing out a condenser?

A cleaning agent is run through it, and blown out by compressed clean air or nitrogen.

Attached pdf file is a tutorial article on flushing.

 

[OldMan89]

A cleaning agent is run through it, and blown out by compressed clean air or nitrogen.

Attached pdf file is a tutorial article on flushing.

Thank you. There is so much stuff to ac systems it’s mind bending lol

 

[19Walt93]

If the system has been open that long I'd flush all the lines and the evaporator core, then replace the receiver dryer. I'd also convert it to R134 and have the system evacuated and charged instead of just blowing freon in there with the system full of air. Then you can sell the R12 and recoup a few bucks. R134 cools fine, the key is to not overcharge it.

 

[Shran]

How much R12 do you have? If you have just enough to charge your AC then I would be hesitant to use it. What happens if you develop a small leak - then you'll be hunting for more R12.

I second Walt's recommendations... you need to replace the receiver drier and for sure pull a vacuum on it.

Yes I've heard the propane leak scare but no worse than 60 psi EFI gasoline under the hood for me.

If I did it on something that I leave parked outside, I'd do it and not think twice. A vehicle parked indoors is a different story... hesitant on that.

My buddy worked at a Ford dealership in NM or UT, don't recall which but one of his co-workers charged a bus AC unit with propane and left it in the shop overnight where it leaked out and something sparked & blew up the building. Granted there is probably a lot more refrigerant in a bus AC unit than a small car/truck.

 

[OldMan89]

How much R12 do you have? If you have just enough to charge your AC then I would be hesitant to use it. What happens if you develop a small leak - then you'll be hunting for more R12.

I second Walt's recommendations... you need to replace the receiver drier and for sure pull a vacuum on it.

I have 7 cans. Surely it wouldn’t eat up that many?