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C6 A/C help!!!

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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 08:33 PM
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Default C6 A/C help!!!

about a year ago my c6's condenser broke to open air blowing out all the refridgerant. The car sat for about a year with it open to air (but stored in dry conditions in my shop). Now I have the car running fine and have replaced the condenser. I have a vacuum pump and guages and have filled my old 86 corvette's compressor 20-30 times over the years due to a slow leak so I know how to use the guages and all.

My main question for my C6 is, should I bother replacing the orifice tube? I mean, its not like anything got in the lines or anything, at the time of failure everything was exiting the lines

Also, what viscosity of a/c oil should I put in, how much and if at all?

We had our first 80 deg day today here in Kentucky so I want to get this fixed soon!....even if it is a convertible.
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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 09:06 PM
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the orifice tube isn't going to be an issue..i would think more about the receiver dryer.
but replace the condenser and leave it on the vac. pump for a while. it will be fine...
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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by UDRIVESLOW
the orifice tube isn't going to be an issue..i would think more about the receiver dryer.
but replace the condenser and leave it on the vac. pump for a while. it will be fine...
Yep, replaced the condenser and i've left it on the pump for a few hours already. Might just do the same tomorrow for a few hours just to clean it up a bit.

I'm still not sure what PAG should or if I need to add.
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Old Apr 10, 2013 | 01:25 AM
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if you didn't loose any oil you don't have to, but if you want to add oil you use only pag oil...
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Old Apr 10, 2013 | 01:53 AM
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You need to PRECISELY follow the service manual for your model year man. I'd purge the system and specifically fill it with the appropriate amount of refrigerant and oil. The refrigerant amount should be posted on a yellow label somewhere in the engine compartment. But don't recall that label having the amount of oil needed. Get the service manual instructions and do it by the book. I'd only use the gauges for future reference. Once done by the book, you can just write down both the high and low pressures, and next time would be easier. Most gauges are universal, and there's a huge difference in cooling performance within the green range, so I wouldn't go by that alone. Good luck.
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Old Apr 10, 2013 | 05:03 AM
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Knowing how much oil to put in at this point is tough,Usualy the condensor is 3 to 6 oz and dryer 3 oz and evap 11/2 or 2 and compressor 3oz but that is an empty system,of standard issue depending on the size coud be more or less.
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Old Apr 10, 2013 | 08:45 AM
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Great suggestions all, just dont own a service manual and still dong know what pag viscosity to purchase
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Old Apr 10, 2013 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by REDC4CORVETTE
Knowing how much oil to put in at this point is tough,Usualy the condensor is 3 to 6 oz and dryer 3 oz and evap 11/2 or 2 and compressor 3oz but that is an empty system,of standard issue depending on the size coud be more or less.
if the system has been opened for a year and you are not replacing the receiver dryer there is no real reason to add oil but spec is 1 oz of pag oil for the condenser.

sorry we use universal pag oil from gm the viscosity is 150 if you get it at auto zone......
normally if a a/c system suffers from an abrupt loss of a/c ref. you should add additional oil to compensate but I don't know your particular circumstance and you don't want to add too much oil...
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Old Apr 10, 2013 | 09:36 PM
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Thanks for all of the replies. I ended up going to a GMC dealership and a Chevy dealership to ask them what they used and they just showed me a bottle of PAG fluid that said on the bottle it was for all PAG viscosities. I found that a bit odd. I ended up talking to one of my buddies that works at Oriley auto parts and he had to look up in a "Murray" book (whatever that is) for the viscosity. He told me for my car, it's 150. So I picked up a little bottle of it and will add 1 oz tomorrow and then charge it.

Also, Walmart is having a 9.99 134a sale right now....but they were sold out at the local store
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