WTF...... this is the second brand new A6 compressor I have had thats blown a front seal out with less then 500 miles on it...These are NEW compressors(ie. not rebuilds) and they work fine for a while, then about 2-3 months into it, they start slinging a little oil on the hood. Another couple weeks later, its literally dripping oil off the hood...

What the hell are we doing wrong?

Here is the run down:
1971 350/270, completely stock AC components, filled with 3.25lbs of R12 and 10oz of mineral oil(compressors came pre-filled)

Original POA valve, evap core, condensor and even one of the hoses. New drier, expansion valve, A6 compressors. System has been flushed between each compressor seal failure. System will hold vacuum for hours without budging and I get 40-45* vent temps on 95*, 80% humidity days.....system works great, just can't keep seals in it.

My original A6 seal failed May 07 after about 3 months of use. R&R'd the system with the new stuff in May. THat lasted until Aug 07 when new compressor seal let go. Replaced the compressor under warranty and used it through Sept 07. Then winter set in and didn't use the AC. April 08, start using the AC again and notice the seaping and slight sling on the hood. May 08, compressor blows its wad. Still held most of the R12 but oil is coming out like crazy. I just pulled the compressor and sent it in to have them do a double lipped seal upgrade and test on it.

This time I am going to convert to R134, I can't afford to dump 3 cans of R12 in it every 3-4 months....plus I can't find the sh*t anyway. I know the R134 won't be as cold but at least it will work and be cheap to recharge if it leaks.

Your thoughts?

 

As I said in the Target parking lot last saturday when you figure it out let me know as I need to rebuild my system.

 

i believe instructions call for rotating the compressor shaft by hand for several turns prior to firing it up. Try posing the question here:

http://www.autoacforum.com/categories.cfm?catid=2

 

I feel sorry for that, Ajrothm. I got a better luck with mine, which I bought new from a local chevy dealer 1 year ago, and its working fine ever since. I converted to R134a and used a Sunoco SL100 syn. oil and used the updated POA valve, with everything else being replaced by the stock specs. I suspect the problem to be from the original POA valve, as it tends to be clogged after some time and maybe the oil return line was also affected, just some thoughts. did you check the high/low side pressures when the problem occured?

 

Yeah Jud, I have been all over the auto ac forum. The owner of that site is who I bought all the parts from. He is the one I am sending the compressor to for the double lipped seal install.


Hamad, is your ac still working well? are you still using the stock condenser? vent temps?

 

Hope you get a good one this time. For what it's worth, I think the front seal of all A6's leak to some degree.

 

Not saying that it should matter but are you running high RPMs with the AC on?Does your compressor come on in the defrost mode?

 

Nah I never floor it with the AC on....its too much of a dog anyway with it on. I mean it may see 3500 rpms on the highway but thats about it. I don't recall if the compressor is on or not when in defrost. I have my heater core blocked off with ball valves so I never even try to use the defrost. I think the first NEW compressor had maybe 800 miles on it, only about 30-40% of those miles was the AC actually turned on. The 2nd new compressor had about 500 miles tops and maybe 200 of it was with the AC on.....

Its freakin ridiculous really. I can live with a little sling but this is ridiculous....

This is after about an hour drive, the hood was clean when I left.

 

Yeah its still working very well (knock on wood), and I am using the stock condenser. I cant really remember the vents temp. as I only measured it once long time ago, but it was between 44-48 maybe. Tobe honest, If the time will go back, I would buy a Sanden 508 with its BB brackets instead of stock compressor, less hassles and it would save me few HPs.

 

Yeah I thought about going to a Sanden also. After talking to Tim at www.ackits.com , he says the Sanden compressors are known to have front seal problems also. He recommended a Seltec compressor.... I really want to keep the OEM appearance but more importantly, I need something thats going to work without leaking oil and freon every couple months.

LM, I am hoping the double lipped seal will solve the problem but.....I am not optimistic...

 

Check Jack Humphrey's comments on front seals here.

http://www.ncrs.org/forums/showthrea...61297&uid=9926

 

Hey Paul, I'm not registered at that site and they won't let me see the search feature......How about a brief synopsis of Jack's opinion? copy/paste maybe?

Thanks!

 

Didn't I read a thread from you once that you were trying some alternate material rather than R12. Freeze 12 or something??

 

This is the crux of Jack's message.

ALL of the early A6 compressors used sintered bronze front shaft seal/bearing components and that's the Achilles' Heel that results in the shaft leaking oil/refigerant with time/use. This subject has come up before (see Archives)....

The later A6 compressors, just before introduction of the R4, went to a ceramic bearing/seal that's bullet proof. These bearing/seal kits are widely available either in Delco Remy brand or third party (Four Seasons) and can be ordered from just about any auto parts store (don't expect them to be in stock/off-the-shelf unless you live in the South).

 

Just one more thing Ajrothm, the compressor which I bought from the local GM dealer was manufactured by Alma Producst Company, it was packed in a GM box and carried a GM warranty with it.

 

Yeah Alma products is the ONLY company making NEW A6 compressors. Many are re-labling the Almas as their own. Both of my new compressors were Almas.

Top Gunn, yes originally, I did throw some Freeze12 in the system JUST to see if anything worked. Suprisingly everything worked and worked well for about 2-3 months, then the original compressor blew a front seal. After that, is when we went through the system, flushed everything and installed new parts. Then we charged it with the correct amount of R12 and oil. After the 1st new compressor failed, we replaced the compressor, we flushed the system, vacuumed and recharged with R12 again. Then eventually, the 2nd new compressor failed.

That makes 3 compressor seals blowing out in the coarse of a year with probably only 800 miles of actual compressor usuage......

 

Have you considered converting to a Sanden compressor. I think that's what I'll go with when my R12 system needs any major repair. Jegs and Summit Racing both sell them.

 

Yeah I thought about the Sandens but after doing some research on them, I've been reading they have front seal issues also. Thats a lot of hassle to change to a different model of compressor, only to have it leak again. I am getting recommendations to run a SELTEC compressor but haven't found a lot of info on them.

I really want to keep my factory appearance, thats why I have fought so much with the A6 compressor but....when I replace the engine next year, if I haven't gotten the AC compressor problem worked out by then, I may change to a different type compressor.

 

That oil under the hood can cause havoc come paint time. The pic shows a $25 solution.

 

Paul I am DEFINETLY going to make an oil deflector for the compressor when I reinstall it. MY paint is already getting blistered from the oil seeping through the fiberglass. Ofcourse I clean it off and repaint under the hood as soon as the oil gets on there but it still manages to find its way through the fiberglass.

I think the guard would be good for catching the usual A6 sludge that gets slung out but both of my compressors were leaking so bad, there was actually wet oil dripping off of the hood....WAY more then the usual/acceptable amount.