Metal in AC system question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 961
Likes: 118
From: Panama City, Florida
Metal in AC system question
It's not about my 75 this time.
Hope it's ok to ask this here. A mechanic told my neighbor that his AC system has metal in it so the entire system would have to be replaced. He just wanted to replace the compressor but they said the metal would get in it and ruin a new one. Sound correct????
Hope it's ok to ask this here. A mechanic told my neighbor that his AC system has metal in it so the entire system would have to be replaced. He just wanted to replace the compressor but they said the metal would get in it and ruin a new one. Sound correct????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 961
From: Communist Colorado
It's not about my 75 this time.
Hope it's ok to ask this here. A mechanic told my neighbor that his AC system has metal in it so the entire system would have to be replaced. He just wanted to replace the compressor but they said the metal would get in it and ruin a new one. Sound correct????
Hope it's ok to ask this here. A mechanic told my neighbor that his AC system has metal in it so the entire system would have to be replaced. He just wanted to replace the compressor but they said the metal would get in it and ruin a new one. Sound correct????
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 961
Likes: 118
From: Panama City, Florida
That is correct. If there is for sure metal in the system from catastrophic compressor failure, he should replace compressor, receiver dryer, condenser, expansion valve if present and possibly evaporator core. I work in a shop and we see it all the time. Its an expensive endeavor, but necessary. We do however tell customers who dont have the dough, we can do only the compressor, but we cannot offer a warranty.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,671
Likes: 1,830
From: Huntsville AL
I'm not so sure the whole system needs replacing, the hoses, condenser and evaporator can be flushed out but short of that everything else in the system needs to be replaced. Paying someone to do this work at $110 hr labor rate might not be worth the flush effort.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
I agree that a proper flush with oil solvent should remove metal.
dryer expansion screen are replaced when system is opened.
each component can be flushed separately when opened.
I understand pros position.
I can't afford to change that many things.
dryer expansion screen are replaced when system is opened.
each component can be flushed separately when opened.
I understand pros position.
I can't afford to change that many things.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 498
Depends on what freon it uses as every new car with R1234YF vehicle out there does not recommend flush because you can't completely remove the flush compound and it will hurt the compressor , if his car is fairly new with 1234YF freon the shop is most likely correct
