1993 c1500 - 5.7L - 2nd style a/c system (originally r12, retrofitted)
A few months ago I replaced my compressor, dryer, orifice tube (the expensive auto-adjusting extreme duty one), and condenser. I added oil, vacuumed the system, and then started my charge. The guy at oreilley said the truck calls for 4 cans (12oz each) of R134a. I got through 2.5 cans, and then my low side pressure was 40 and my high side was 275 (95? ambient, (hot)). It was cooling real good, so I decided not to put any more refrigerant in.
Last week my truck was involved in a front end collision, I replaced the whole front end from a 88 chevy which has the 1st style condenser, so I used my old, slighly mangled condenser. The condenser was ok... still had pressure when I took it out, a few tubes were compressed, but not more than 50%.
When I started to charge, right after the first can and before the start of the second can, the pressure was 310psi on the high side and and 50 on the low side (85? ambient, not so hot). I figured the condesnser was not good, so i bought a new one. cam home and took my orifice tube about of the old one and found a bunch of crap that looked like (clean, not dark color) oil impregnated with aluminum powder and shards of aluminum, and shards of something hard and black. I initially thought that this must have broken loose from the innter wall of the condenser, but later suspected that it came from the compressor. The compressor was obviously compressing so i decided not to replace, and just replaced the condenser, blew out the orifice tube with air, it was clean.
Got it all put back together and started charging again, and same story. I have not inspected the orifice tube yet for shards of crap, but this high pressure anomaly started RIGHT as soon as I started charging. Not enough time in my opinion for the compressor to have filled the entire new condenser with crap and clog the orifice tube.
So, where should I look next? I am trying to avoid paying for a new compressor, but if it really needs that, then I guess i gotta do it.
A few months ago I replaced my compressor, dryer, orifice tube (the expensive auto-adjusting extreme duty one), and condenser. I added oil, vacuumed the system, and then started my charge. The guy at oreilley said the truck calls for 4 cans (12oz each) of R134a. I got through 2.5 cans, and then my low side pressure was 40 and my high side was 275 (95? ambient, (hot)). It was cooling real good, so I decided not to put any more refrigerant in.
Last week my truck was involved in a front end collision, I replaced the whole front end from a 88 chevy which has the 1st style condenser, so I used my old, slighly mangled condenser. The condenser was ok... still had pressure when I took it out, a few tubes were compressed, but not more than 50%.
When I started to charge, right after the first can and before the start of the second can, the pressure was 310psi on the high side and and 50 on the low side (85? ambient, not so hot). I figured the condesnser was not good, so i bought a new one. cam home and took my orifice tube about of the old one and found a bunch of crap that looked like (clean, not dark color) oil impregnated with aluminum powder and shards of aluminum, and shards of something hard and black. I initially thought that this must have broken loose from the innter wall of the condenser, but later suspected that it came from the compressor. The compressor was obviously compressing so i decided not to replace, and just replaced the condenser, blew out the orifice tube with air, it was clean.
Got it all put back together and started charging again, and same story. I have not inspected the orifice tube yet for shards of crap, but this high pressure anomaly started RIGHT as soon as I started charging. Not enough time in my opinion for the compressor to have filled the entire new condenser with crap and clog the orifice tube.
So, where should I look next? I am trying to avoid paying for a new compressor, but if it really needs that, then I guess i gotta do it.
