Air Conditioning Question (1 Viewer)

[Sully]

I need to preface this by saying that I am nothing if not consistant in exercising my God-given gift for screwing things up. While dismantling my dash to get out the heater core, I had to remove the AC cooling unit. As part of that, I had to disconnect the liquid and suction tubes from the engine bay. I thought I had successfully evacuated all of the refrigerant prior to doing this. I had loosened both bolts but not yet removed them when I was called away to attend to my children misbehaving. Two hours later, I returned to find that both bolts had been blown out and had fallen under the truck, leaving the lines open to the air for an indeterminate time. Should I be concerned about the air, or is this a moot point given that I'll be removing the whole cooling unit? When all is complete, should I just replace the receiver and have the system vacuumed out prior to adding new refrigerant?

 

[elmariachi]

No sweat. When you reassemble with a new receiver and then pull a vacuum to introduce new refrigerant, all air and moisture will be removed. You may need to add oil if you lost any.

 

[Sully]

Gracias.

 

[Rich]

If you haven't already done so plug the open lines.

 

[Dusty]

I realy needed this thread as I am about to remove the AC pipe that goes from the firewall to the ac compressor (the one all wrapped up in heat protection stuff by the header) . I have to remove it and have a new longer and flexable hose made as my turbo will be going where the this oe ac line is. Is there a trick to removing this ac line or do I just close my eyes and unbolt it from the firewall-expecting a whoosh? . I know nothing of AC accept that I love it. Also, once I heve a new line made do I need to have the system serviced by a shop or can I just bolt the new hose in place and recharge the system with refrigerant from walmart? will I need all new refriferant or will the stuff in the system be ok if it sits unpressurized for a week? What will happen if I start the car (with ac off) and the pipe is not connected?

 

[Sully]

I'm thinking that once you open those lines up, it's good bye refrigerant. That's what happened with what was left in mine. Everything I've read suggests that once the system is exposed to outside air, you should replace the receiver prior to charging the system as the moisture in the air with mix with the refrigerant to create acid that will destroy your system. Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm not planning on taking the chance with my system. Any more informed members want to add their $.02?

 

[RavenTai]

standard procedure is to replace the reciever drier every time you open the system. the reciever drier is a filter that catches anythign that coudl plug the orifice and also has a desicant pack that absorbs any residual moisture that a vac down does not remove

speaking from experience here if you just open the line you are going to get sprayed in the face with cold refrigerant as it tuns into a gas and nasty oil, you will also loose a lot of the oil this way.

better to slowly depresurize useing a manifold/gauge set.

 

[RavenTai]

alos get new o-rings for all the disturbed conections, lube them with the ac systmem oil before reassembly, be careful to not to damage them when going back together.

 

[Dusty]

thanks guys. i decided not to take a face full and took the truck to a service center. they evacuated the system at no charge and told me that if i come back to their station to recharge after the turbo instal they will give me credit for the 1.8 lbs they removed. the guy doing the evacuation was an old time ford technician and gearhead who has done a few twin turbod small blocks. he gave me some great pointers and set me up with a guy who is building me some custom ac lines. Sometimes it pays to not be stupid.
dusty