Insulation on Evap Inlet Line?

[CraigK]

I'm currently doing some work on my '87 B2 2.9L with the right side fenderwell removed, which nicely exposes the long inlet line to the evaporator. It looks like this is the location of the orifice tube. When I run the AC, this line gets cold instantly, and soon starts to drip condensation. It seems to me that given this lines close proximity to the exhaust manifold, and exposure to moist outside air, that it would be better to put some (heat resistant) insulation on the piece. This would prevent heat (cooling) loss, and reduce icing of the line?

Has anyone done this? Any reason not to?



CraigK
P.S. My AC evap inlet line was slightly bent and damaged recently when my coil tower broke in half and the shock mounting bolt went through the fenderweel, but it does NOT appear to have been pierced!

 

[CraigK]

Image(???) goes with prior post.

CraigK

 

[Jorley]

The Freon goes from the compressor as a high pressure gas to the condenser(in front of radiator), From the condenser as a high pressure liquid to the evap, from the evap as a low pressure gas to the compressor. The condenser condenses the freon to liquid by taking heat away from it, the evap adds heat to the freon changing it to a back to a gas. An A/C system basicaly just moves heat from the cab to the outside.

 

[MAKG]

Nope, CraigK is right. That's the inlet.

Ice is a very good insulator, so if you're forming ice on that and the exhaust manifold isn't melting it, you really aren't going to do any better with insulation.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Jorley]

Nope, CraigK is right. That's the inlet.

Ice is a very good insulator, so if you're forming ice on that and the exhaust manifold isn't melting it, you really aren't going to do any better with insulation.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Yeah, you're right. I got the two mixed up. I edited my post, but left the part about the Freon path.
If the OP is getting icing, I would suggest checking the Freon. Condensation is norrmal, icing is a symptom of low Freon.

 

[CraigK]

Thanks guys.

Unfortunately, I "fixed it" already with some pipe insulation and metal tape. (And it's now out of reach behind the fenderwell again.)

I hope I didn't screw anything up.

CraigK

 

[RobbieD]

I don't think you screwed anything up. The AC kits I used to put in years ago included a gummy black insulating material for just that purpose.