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Leaking AC compressor, what else should be changed after 18 years?
The AC worked but it leaks lots of oil. Could be self inflicted as I may have slightly overcharged it last year. I plan to replace the parts, draw a vacuum to ensure no leaks and boil any moisture out and send it off to be charged. I do have the manifold gauges to do it but I'm not sure if using cans is the best idea as I cannot reliably measure how much I put in.
The AC worked but it leaks lots of oil. Could be self inflicted as I may have slightly overcharged it last year. I plan to replace the parts, draw a vacuum to ensure no leaks and boil any moisture out and send it off to be charged. I do have the manifold gauges to do it but I'm not sure if using cans is the best idea as I cannot reliably measure how much I put in.
We don't have an expansion valve. We use an orifice tube. Change the orifice tube & receiver dryer and ADD the required oil. Don't know if the new compressor will have oil biu you will need to add oil for the receiver dryer. Also get the required O rings.
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Dec 20, 2018 at 09:27 AM.
The AC worked but it leaks lots of oil. Could be self inflicted as I may have slightly overcharged it last year. I plan to replace the parts, draw a vacuum to ensure no leaks and boil any moisture out and send it off to be charged. I do have the manifold gauges to do it but I'm not sure if using cans is the best idea as I cannot reliably measure how much I put in.
What should be replaced?
receiver drier
Expansion valve?
Anything else?
You may wish to consider the UAC KT 3727 for sale at RockAuto. Worked for me
You may wish to consider the UAC KT 3727 for sale at RockAuto. Worked for me
I am a bit leery about a remanned compressor after reading horror stories from others and given how difficult it is to get to the compressor. I see this kit uses PAG150, I thought our system used PAG45?
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
We don't have an expansion valve. We use an orifice tube. Change the orifice tube & receiver dryer and ADD the required oil. Don't know if the new compressor will have oil biu you will need to add oil for the receiver dryer. Also get the required O rings.
Thanks. That is pretty much what I had figured, wasn't sure if I had missed anything. I also got an oring kit and i'll replace whatever I open. I'm getting an OE compressor but it doesn't say if it has oil. Do these have a separate reservoir for oil or does it just use the oil added to the lines? If so, I could flush the compressor of all and add new so I Know exactly what is in there. Does the called for spec include the oil in the compressor (If it's a stand alone reservoir?)
The compressor does contain a small supply of oil in the bottom of the unit. The service manual specifies what to ADD for each replaced component and what type of oil. Some compressors come with oil and some don't. YOU MUST READ the install and service instructions for that brand compressor.
Most of the system oil (ANY EXCESS) is stored (collects) inside the receiver dryer.
I bought a compressor kit from autozone ship to home and saved $ with a code, brand new compressor and the fact it has lifetime warranty is what sold me.
Also replaced condenser, my ac system had grey crud in it(bought off Amazon) and flushed out lines and evaporator with autozone loan a tool flush gun.
My condenser was also nearly plugged on outside between fins with tiny pebbles and debris from freeways and roads over the years, and I had previously tried cleaning it.
No water hose is going to get those out, something to consider and look at with a flashlight.
Last edited by 1999corvettels1; Dec 20, 2018 at 12:08 PM.
The compressor does contain a small supply of oil in the bottom of the unit. The service manual specifies what to ADD for each replaced component and what type of oil. Some compressors come with oil and some don't. YOU MUST READ the install and service instructions for that brand compressor.
Most of the system oil (ANY EXCESS) is stored (collects) inside the receiver dryer.
Bill
Great thanks. Once I get the compressor I'll read what comes with it. In reality if it has some in there I probably won't know for certain what is in it unless I empty it and measure. I'm not one for trusting what others say, even if they do specify the quantity in the unit. When you say "oil in the bottom of the unit" this is NOT a separate reservoir just for the compressor is it? I see that drain plug, but maybe that's just because as you said it sits in the bottom, or maybe it's a self contained oil reservoir for lubricating the compressor only.
Originally Posted by 1999corvettels1
I bought a compressor kit from autozone ship to home and saved $ with a code, brand new compressor and the fact it has lifetime warranty is what got sold me.
Also replaced condenser, my ac system had grey crud in it(bought off Amazon) and flushed out lines and evaporator with autozone loan a tool flush gun.
My condenser was also nearly plugged on outside between fins with tiny pebbles and debris from freeways and roads over the years, and I had previously tried cleaning it.
No water hose is going to get those out, something to consider and look at with a flashlight.
Yeah my condenser looks good thanks for the info there.
This is my exact kit, looked up the part # from my receipt. Came with both types of orifice tubes, o rings and seals, oil, drier and compressor.
Ooh you can get 20% off, I only got 15% off buying in summer.
I drained the oil out of the new compressor and it had a very small amount, when adding oil and spinning hub it puked out what I put in, like one ounce.
Decided to to drain that back into the measuring cup provided, then I added oil into the receiver drier, outside of car, then put shipping cover back on drier and put in car.
So you put all oil into the receiver drier? According to the ACDELCO docs w/ the compressor I got today it says it comes w/ 2.5 oz. I want to drain it to measure it. I'll probably pull both drain plug and tip it over to see what comes out of the input/output of compressor.
Leaking AC compressor, what else should be changed after 18 years?
